Lincoln Mark VIII Headlight Problems

Headlight complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Headlights
  205
• Headlights › Concealment devices
  8
• Headlights › High/low beam dimmer switch
  4
• Turn signal › Switch
  2
• Headlights › Switch
  2
• Turn signal › Flasher unit
  1
• Tail lights
  1

Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  610%
• 25k–50k
  1016%
• 50k–75k
  1829%
• 75k–100k
  1321%
• 100k–150k
  914%
• 150k+
  711%

What owners report

Update to last complaint: the passenger side HID headlight has failed, no replacement except $1000 conversion kit. Have to drive with only "brights" on from now on. Danger to myself and those I'm passing, plus if the "brights" aren't on, then I have no headlights and could get pulled over. Passenger side ball joint/control arm broke while driving and tire fell off while driving in parking lot at work. After repair, hearing a bad creaking noise. Air suspension has to fill up all the way when I start the vehicle even after 5 minutes of it being shut off. Have paid $1,200 for repairs of suspension and steering in 6 months. (that's with my dealership employee discount). Seriously, I've heard too much about defective ball joints, headlights, no heat, door handles snapping off, and the air suspension going bad. Why is Ford not doing anything about these obviously defective parts??? …

I own a 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII. I have owned this car since 1999. Recently, one of the headlight lamps burned out. I attempted to buy a replacement bulb at several auto parts stores without success. I contacted the local Lincoln dealers and found that the bulb (sylvania 9500) is no longer manufactured. I also found that there is no stock of available bulbs in the united states except for used bulbs on e-bay. (for $199). I researched this issue on the internet and determined that Lincoln's remedy for this problem was to sell a conversion kit (from HID lights to halogen) for over $1,000.00. I do not know if they are charging $1,000.00 for a pair of lights or for only one side. At this point I cannot safely drive my vehicle after dark. I cannot find a reasonably priced replacement part. I am left with Lincoln's "remedy" of spending at least $1,000 to replace a headlight bulb. …

Headlights on my 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII suddenly went out while driving on the highway at 70 MPH causing a near fatal crash. I luckily ran off the road into a muddy grassy area and became stuck and not killed. I took it to the shop only to find I could not afford to get the lights repaired because the headlights on this car cost $1600.00. The bright lights still work, it was only the dimm lights that went out for no reason. The manufacture of these lights should be punished for selling a product that's substandard to much cheaper and safer headlights. If a pair of dimm headlights cost $1600.00 they should last a lifetime. My car has 60,000 miles. I am thinking of filing a law suit.

In November of 2006, the passenger headlight, low beam, went out in my 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII. Approximately one month later, the driver's side, low beam, also failed. I have checked with my local Ford dealership, and two other dealerships. There are no replacement parts for this problem, period, in the entire united states. When you check with after market suppliers, you are told you have to go through Ford. Since the spring of 2007 I call the local dealership monthly to check on when parts will be available. Each month, they check their data base, and learn that the replacement kit, costing hundreds of dollars, has been pushed back a month before it will be available. The current target date of availability is October 2007. So, for almost a year now, I have a Lincoln that cannot be driven at night, nor can it be repaired at any price. …

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Mark VIII. The contact stated that there was poor visibility when driving the vehicle at night. The headlight lenses had a constant film, which affected the low beams. The contact cleaned the lenses several times and changed the bulbs, but the visibility remained poor. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was to be taken to the dealer for further inspection and repair. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

The headlight covers (housings?) for Lincoln Mark VIII's 93-98, cloud over (turn gray inside and out) quickly. This defective clouding in the light covers results in night driving to be very hazardous, along with rain and fog. The kits to replace the lights average around 1,000. Lincoln knows of the visibility problem when the covers cloud over and has not taken corrective action.

Dim headlights cause poor street visibility and hit vehicle parked in the street in a dark commercial area. Headlights cannot be opened to service and headlights no longer available to order new. No aftermarket options. Has been using high beams in dark areas.

Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII. While driving at approximately 15 MPH, the front headlights were dim causing the contact to coast the vehicle off the road. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 179,000.

NHTSA investigations