FaultScore

1997 Lincoln Mark Viii window and wiper problems

22 of the 103 complaints about the 1997 Lincoln Mark Viii are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 78,000 miles.

C

22

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 16 72.7%
Electrical Heating Element 2 9.1%
Visibility 2 9.1%
Fan/Motor 1 4.5%
Switch/Wiring 1 4.5%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Lincoln Mark Viii year

1993 14 21.5%
1997 22 33.8%
1998 29 44.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 61,000 miles Harrison Township, MI

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE KNOWN TO BURN OUT. THE PARTS ARE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED SO THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THEM IS WITH A KIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS SEEMED LIKE AN EXPENSIVE TEMPORARY REMEDY. IN ADDITION, THE BLEND DOOR, WHICH OPENS THE CONTROL FOR HOT AND COLD AIR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD, DOES NOT WORK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS COULD BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS FAILURE, BUT NO DECISION ON HOW THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. HE WILL WAIT UNTIL A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,985. UPDATED 09/11/09 *BF UPDATED 09/15/09.

NHTSA complaint #10277640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Rohnert Park, CA

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLINDER DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW HEAT TO COME FROM THE DEFROSTER.. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR FOUR YEARS, BUT WAS NEVER REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. THE CONTACT IS HOPING THAT THE MANUFACTURER CHANGES THE PART TO METAL. DUE TO THE BLINDER DOOR NOT WORKING, THE DEFROSTER FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,000. UPDATED 3/5/09 *CN UPDATED 03/10/09.

NHTSA complaint #10256647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,000 miles Rohnert Park, CA

VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLENDER DOOR IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND BREAKS, WHICH CAUSES THE HEATER AND THE DEFROSTER TO FAIL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HER VISIBILITY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLENDER DOOR AT AN EXPENSE EXCEEDING $1,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE COMPANY UTILIZES THE SAME PLASTIC PIECE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 11/12/08 *BF UPDATED 11/13/08.

NHTSA complaint #10246123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Oviedo, FL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

COULDN'T GET MY WINDSHIELD DEFROSTED.

NHTSA complaint #10107704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Downers Grove, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WHEN PROCEEDING TO TURN ON THE HEAT IN MY CAR TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD I DISCOVERED THAT MY HEAT DID NOT WORK, AND THAT THE A/C ONLY BLEW COLD AIR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE LINCOLN MARK VIII. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE BLEND DOOR BREAKING OVER TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT; BUT, WILL NOT PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS NEEDED. THIS REPAIR IS NEEDED ON ALMOST ALL MARK VIII'S AFTER TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10106592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,212 miles Anderson, SC

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

FAILURE OF BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR ON 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII WHICH RESULTS IN FAILURE OF HVAC. THIS PREVENTS DEFROSTER FROM FUNCTIONING TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD OF FOG OR ICE THUS RESULTING IN A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. THIS PART FAILED IN MAY 3, 2002 AND WAS REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP BY REPLACING THE PART. THE PART HAS FAILED AGAIN IN DECEMDBER 12, 2004. THIS PART HAS FAILED TWICE WITHIN A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AND LESS THAN 32,000 MILES SINCE IT WAS REPLACED IN MAY 2002.

NHTSA complaint #10102980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,000 miles Dallas, TX

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE A/C BLEND DOOR MODULE ARM HAS FAILED ON MY CAR; THIS ARM CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF HEAT THAT IS SENT THROUGH THE A/C, HEATING AND DEFROST VENTS. IF IT DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT REMOVE FROST OR FOG FROM THE WINDSHIELD, THUS CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10095779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,670 miles Spring Hill, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WINSHIELD WASHER BOTTOM, BROKE, ASSEMBLY INCLUDES SIGNAL LIGHT, WIPPERS, LOW/HIGH BEEM AND FLASHERS SWITCH, STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE PART, ABOUT TWO HOURS OF LABOR AND $200, ACCORDING TO DEALER. DEALER SHOULD MADE THIS A TWO PIECE PART TO MAKE JOB EASIERAND LESS SPENSIVE. DRIVER'S AJUSMENT HAS TO BE RESETED EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10040831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,000 miles Elgin, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

PROBLEMS WITH DEFROST BLOWING OUT COLD AIR INSTEAD OF HEAT TO DEFROST WINDSHIELD. *MR PH

NHTSA complaint #10022833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Campbell, CA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE HEATER BLEND DOOR HAS FAILED PREVENTING DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA complaint #10000929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Cordele, GA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII DEFROSTER/HEATER/AC BLEND DOOR: THE BLEND DOOR ON MY 1997 LINCOLN HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL MARK VIII LINCOLNS CAUSING A MALFUNCTION IN THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. THERE IS NO HEAT APPLIED TO THE WINDSHIELD WHILE ATTEMTING TO DEFROST. LINCOLN/FORD HAS IGNORED THIS VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED NO HELP. I AM SUGGESTING A RECALL BE MADE ON ALL 1997 AND 1998 LINCOLNS.

NHTSA complaint #10000569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,095 miles Raleigh, NC

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR WHICH ALLOWS WARM AIR TO BE DIRECTED TO THE WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST IT BROKE AT A VERY BAD TIME. MY WINDSHIELD WAS FOGGED UP ON THE INTERSTATE AND WHEN I PUT THE CLIMATE CONTROL ON DEFROST, ALL I GOT WAS COLD AIR. NOT A VERY SAFE SET OF CONDITIONS. I HAVE SINCE READ THAT OVER 40 OF MY LINCOLN CAR CLUB MEMBERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PART BREAK. SOME REPORT AS MANY AS 3 FAILURES. THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP QUOTES THE REPAIR AT APPROX. $700.00. TS

NHTSA complaint #10000486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles Colonia, NJ

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

THERE IS A PART IN THE HEATER/DEFROSTER ON THE LINCOLN MARK VIII THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF HEAT OR A/C FOR USE IN DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD. THIS PART HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY, AND AS QUICKLY AS 1 YEAR AFTER REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER. I PURCHASED A 1997 LINCOLN MARK VIII WITHIN IN THE PAST MONTH FROM WEISLEDER LINCOLN MERCURY, AMONG THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WAS THERE WAS NO HEAT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE THE BLEND DOOR, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS REPAIR WILL BE NECESSARY AGAIN IN SHORT TIME BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION/ DESIGN OF THE PART IS POOR.

NHTSA complaint #10000707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Paso, TX

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE BLEND DOOR LEVER IS A COMMON SAFETY COMPLAINT WITH THESE CARS. IT IS MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC AND MANY OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THIS PART AT CONSIDERABLE COST. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON COLD DAYS WITH HIGH HUMIDITY. THE WINDOWS FOG AND WHEN YOU TURN ON THE DEFROSTER, COLD AIR COMES OUT AND THE FOG REMAINS OR GETS WORSE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS HOW AM I TO SEE WHERE I AM DRIVING WITH WINDOWS THAT ARE FOGGY? SINCE THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AM I TO CONSTANTLY CLEAN THE WINDOWS WHILE DRIVING. THEREBY CREATING ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DT

NHTSA complaint #770717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Braenton, FL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANUFACTURER. FAILURE PREVENTS WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND CLIMATE CONTROL. DT

NHTSA complaint #770190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lewiston, ID

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THIS BLEND DOOR PART ON ALMOST ALL 97 & 98 MODEL OF THE MARK VIII FAILS IT IS A SAFTEY FACTOR. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, THERE IS NO HEAT WITH NO HEAT THE DE-FROSTER DOES NOT WORK!!. HOW MANY TIMES, HAVE HAD TO USE A TOWEL TO WIPE THE WINDOW, SO I COULD SEE! THE PART IS ABOUT $30.00 BUT THE LABOR CAN RUN BETWEEN $400 AND $600. DT

NHTSA complaint #770063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elgin, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THIS PART FAILS ON ALMOST ALL 97 & 98 MODEL YEARS FOR THESE CARS. THE REPLACEMENT PART FAILS AS WELL. IT CAN BE A BAD ISSUE IN TEMPERATURE WHERE THE WINDOW DEFOGGER IS NECESSARY. OFTEN I HAVE TO STOP ALONG THE ROAD AND WIPE MY WINDOWS DOWN AS THE DEFOGGER DOESN'T OPERATE PROPERLY DUE TO THIS FAILED PART. THE PART IS ABOUT $30.00 BUT THE LABOR CAN RUN OVER $700.00. DT

NHTSA complaint #769487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roswell, NM

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

WITH THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR BROKEN, THE WINDSHIELD CAN NOT PROPERLY CLEAR DUE TO FOG AND ICE AS THERE IS NO HEAT COMING THROUGH THE DEFROSTER DUCTS. DT

NHTSA complaint #769418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elgin, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE KEYS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT ANY DEALERSHIP OR AFTERNARKET. IMAGINE LOSING YOUR KEYS IN A STRANGE TOWN. IT TOOK THE DEALER 5 DAYS TO REPLACE THE KEY THEY LOST. AS FOR THE BLEND DOOR, GO TO THE SITE MARKVIII.ORG AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS COMPONANT THAT IS ONLY $30.00 BUT COSTS $800.00 TO REPLACE DUE TO THE LABOR TO GET AT THE PART. WITH AS MANY FAILURES THE DOT NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ASAP ABOUT THIS. DT

NHTSA complaint #769126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ontario, CA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE BLEND ACTUATOR PLASTIC ARM BREAKS ON MOST 97/98 MODELS LEAVING YOU WITH NO HEAT OR AIR. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IN COLD CLIMATES WHEN YOU NEED TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. MR

NHTSA complaint #768240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Villa Park, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE CLIMATE CONTROL WILL ALLOW THE USER TO SELECT HEAT AND WHICH AREA FOR IT TO COME OUT BUT ONCE THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR HAS BEEN SWITCHED TO AIR CONDITIONING MODE IT WILL NOT TURN BACK TO THE HEATER MODE. THIS INHIBITS THE ABILITY TO DEFROST THE WINDSHEILD AND HEAT THE CAR. MR

NHTSA complaint #768296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Riverside, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

BLEND DOOR PART FAILURE FOR CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. THERE IS NO FUNCITONAL DEFOGGER. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MARK VIII'S AND I AM JUST MAKING IT KNOWN THAT MINE IS FAULTY AS WELL AND I BELIVE IT IS A SAFTEY HAZARD. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER ENTRIES REARDING THIS TOPIC. LETS MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. MR

NHTSA complaint #768535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Lincoln Mark Viii problems

← Full 1997 Lincoln Mark Viii report