FaultScore

Lincoln Mark Viii window and wiper problems

72 of the 984 complaints filed about the Lincoln Mark Viii are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

72

Complaints

7%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year

1993 Mark Viii 14 19.4%

Median failure at 150,852 miles

Median failure at 147,000 miles

1997 Mark Viii 22 30.6%

Median failure at 78,000 miles

1998 Mark Viii 29 40.3%

Median failure at 52,994 miles

What owners said

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii Green BAY, WI

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I'VE HAD THIS GEM SINCE 2010, BOUGHT WITH 30,000 MILES...NOW HAS 104,000 MILES. IT WAS GREAT UNTIL 2014. WHERE DO I START? (1) NO HEAT- BROKEN BLENDER DOOR ACTUATOR...MANUALLY SET IT TO THE WARM SETTING FOR THE WINTER BEHIND GLOVE BOX. (2) DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED LAST YEAR(REPLACED FOR $100)...AND NOW THIS YEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE SNAPPED. (3) DOORS ARE CONSTANTLY "AJAR", ALTERNATING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. (4) BALL JOINT IS STARTING TO WEAR BADLY, (5) DRIVER'S SEAT WON'T RECLINE, (6) STEERING WHEEL WON'T MOVE FORWARD/BACKWARD ANYMORE, (7) SUSPENSION IS STARTING TO GO...FRONT END LOWERS TO GROUND AFTER SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE. I'M SURE THERE'S MORE THAT I CAN'T THINK OF.

NHTSA complaint #10824162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Lincoln Mark Viii at 147,000 miles VAN Nuys, CA Crash

VISIBILITY/WIPER

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AND DO NOT REFLECT ENOUGH LIGHT. AFTER MY MOTHER COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND RAN OFF AND HAD AN ACCIDENT I INSTALLED HID BULBS BUT STILL THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO THE HOUSING GIVING VERY LITTLE REFLECTION OUT TO THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10823046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Lincoln Mark Viii at 150,852 miles Brookings, SD

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1993 THROUGH EARLY 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII'S HAVE A SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEM AT NIGHT DUE TO THEIR INFERIOR HEADLIGHT DESIGN. BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHT PROFILE IS SO SLIM AND THE LENSES YELLOW SO EASILY WITH USE, YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING WHEN IT IS DARK. I FIND MYSELF CHECKING TO MAKE SURE MY HEADLIGHTS ARE IN FACT ON THEY ARE SO BAD. NO PRECAUTIONS CAN BE TAKEN TO PREVENT THIS LOW VISIBILITY SITUATION, IT IS A BAD DESIGN. FORD SWITCHED OVER TO HID IN 1996 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT US OLDER VEHICLE OWNERS WERE LEFT OUT WITH A DANGEROUS CAR AND OUR ONLY CHOICE IS TO PAY ONE THOUSAND PLUS DOLLARS FOR A RETROFIT KIT THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR.

NHTSA complaint #10491618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 49,789 miles Moorhead, MN

VISIBILITY

THE HEATER WILL NOT BLOW HOT AIR, NO DEFROSTER, CAN'T SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA complaint #10425496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 49,789 miles Moorhead, MN

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

THE HEATER WILL NOT BLOW HOT AIR, NO DEFROSTER, CAN'T SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA complaint #10425496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 49,789 miles Moorhead, MN

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

THE HEATER WILL NOT BLOW HOT AIR, NO DEFROSTER, CAN'T SEE OUT OF WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA complaint #10425496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Lincoln Mark Viii 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.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 23,000 miles Knoxville, TN

VISIBILITY

WEATHER CHANGE. HEATER BLEND DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. NO DEFROSTER OR HEATER IN WINTER WEATHER CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH SEEING OUT WINDSHIELD AND HYPOTHERMIA. I'VE HAD FIXED TWICE AT A COST OF $900 EACH TIME. ON ANY FORUM DEALING WITH THE MARK VIII IT IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART. IT SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS WHICH CAUSE TRAFFIC HAZARDS, I.E., FAILURE TO DEFROST DUE TO BLEND DOOR NOT OPENING. PART IS LESS THAN $10, REPAIR IS LABOR INTENSIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10259728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Lincoln Mark Viii 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.

1997 Lincoln Mark Viii 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.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 24,775 miles Buena Park, CA

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE THROUGH A SMALL PORTION OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR MIRROR. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE ENTIRE MIRROR. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,875 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,775.

NHTSA complaint #10233023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 85,500 miles Arlington Heights, IL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE BLEND DOOR THAT CONTROLS THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING HAS STOPPED WORKING AND HAS RENDERED MY HEATING / COOLING SYSTEM DYSFUNCTIONAL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS CAR (1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII LSC) - IT POSES A DANGEROUS AND TANGIBLE THREAT TO SAFETY CONSIDERING HEAT WILL NOT WORK TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND FRONT WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA complaint #10211874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii Silver Spring, MD

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH HEATER-A/C BLEND DOOR FAILURE RESULTING IN LACK OF DEFOGGING OF WINDSHIELD AND POOR VISIBILITY. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT IN CHANGING OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR OFFICES MANY TIMES IN THE PAST 5 YEARS WITH LINCOLN AND FORD VEHICLES . THE COST OF REPAIR IS BETWEEN $500-$2000 DOLLARS. FORD HAS APPARENTLY MADE CHANGES TO STRENGTHEN THE BLEND DOOR LEVER BUT REFUSES TO ADMIT DESIGN FAILURE NOR WILL WARRANT THE ITEM. NHTSA HAS YET TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON THE CONSUMER'S PART. WE ARE THE PUBLIC AND YOUR CHARTER IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO US, NOT THE AUTO MAKER.

NHTSA complaint #10142943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Lincoln Mark Viii 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.

1997 Lincoln Mark Viii 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.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 56,200 miles Redding, CT

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

HEATER/AC BLENDER DOOR-DOORS,FAIL TO OPERATE AND OR HAVE "NO" TEMPETURE CONTROL,RESULTING IN POOR VISIBLITY.FOGGING ETC,LACK OF DEFROSTING AND OR A COLD DRIVER..SEE PREVIOUS 768368,768427,768529,768796,768173.7689173,769183,769959,10003517,10005626,10023956,10075009,AND NOW MINE ! THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGED IS THE COST OF REPAIRS BY THE DEALER HAS GONE UP. I HAVE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR( THE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED) $680.00 LABOR.. PARTS AS FOUND/ TO BE $38.00,,$68.00,,$5.00,,$35.00 AND THAN MAYBE $350.00 MORE FOR A PLEMUM.. ($1,176.00) I UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS REPLACED THE PARTS WITH BETTER VERSIONS AS TO MATERIALS THAT WITH STAND THE DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES IT IS SUBJECT TOO.THIS APPARENT LACK OF ACTION BY NHTSA IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN AS TO YOUR UNINTEREST IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY NOT KNOWING HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES ARE OUT THEIR WITH THIS HAZARDOUS DEFECT. HELP US,PROTECT US ,,THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10103960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Lincoln Mark Viii 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.

1997 Lincoln Mark Viii 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.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 65,639 miles West Chicago, IL

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

ELECTRONIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL FAILURES PREVENTS WINDSHIELD CLEARING WHEN INTERNAL TO EXTERNAL TEMPERTAURE DIFFERENTIAL FOGS THE GLASS. BLEND DOOR FAILS ON A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LINCOLN MARK VIII MODELS. MINE HAPPENS TO BE A 1998. *AK IT'S BOUND TO LEAD TO ACCIDENTS

NHTSA complaint #10075009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Lincoln Mark Viii at 74,000 miles Aberdeen, NC

VISIBILITY

AT DIFFERENT TIMES THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WILL COME ON. THIS CAUSES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IN THE VEHICHLE TO LIGHT UP AND IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AT NIGHT. OFTEN TIMES IT WILL SWITCH FROM THE DRIVERS DOOR TO THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR AND ON OCCASION WILL INDICATE BOTH.(ONE GOES OUT AND THE OTHER STARTS) THIS ALSO CAUSES THE ALARM SYSTEM TO ENGAGE. WHEN I EXIT THE VEHICLE, IF SENSORS INDICATE THAT ONE OF THE DOORS IS STILL AJAR, THE ALARM ACTIVATES INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10052376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Lincoln Mark Viii problems