Headlights Problems of Lincoln Mark Viii - part 1

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??? because the car is rare and they don't make them anymore???.

See all problems of the 1998 Lincoln Mark Viii 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii 🔎.

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.

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.

1993 Lincoln Mark Viii. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle high beam and low beam headlights problem. The consumer stated he could not see at night with the high beams or low beams on.

Tl- the contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii. The contact stated that the headlights were very dim causing the contact¿s visibility to be diminished. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000. Pam.

Headlight lens becomes discolored and no replacement and lens cannot be removed to clean inside. Limits visualization of road and one could hit wild animals crossing the street.

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 updated 09/15/09.

See all problems of the 1997 Lincoln Mark Viii 🔎.

Poor visibility at night due to poor low beam headlights. High beams equivalent to what low beams should be. Have even replaced headlights with used parts with more reflective material intact. Have purchase polishing kits for lens. Lens remains yellowed and scratched, and lighting dim despite use of sylvania silver star bulbs. No new halogen lights available, and use parts are well over 100 a piece, and contain the same defects. Hid kits are $150+. Owner should not be responsible for aftermarket enhancements to vehicle to allow for safe night driving when headlight dimness is due to a defect in the inherent design of the headlights.

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. I am also concerned that if I do drive the car with one headlight out the other one may go out leaving me with no headlamps.

Traveling from dallas, TX to athens, al 7:30pm lights so dim I could barely see the road ahead. I have used cleaning kits several times to clean the headlight lens with no results. I also purchased and installed replacement headlight assemblies from ebay with no improvement in the lighting. I have tried several different bulbs with no improvement. This is really a safety problem. I have been lucky so far. . . Updated 01/17/2013.

The contact owns a 1997 Lincoln Mark Viii. The contact noticed that the low beam headlight on his vehicle had burned out. He went to purchase another one and was informed that they were no longer manufactured. The dealer offered a remedy kit at the cost of $740 to install another lighting system, which would total $1,200 after the installation. The manufacturer has not been notified. The current mileage was 145,000 and failure mileage was approximately 144,900. Updated 07/15/08. Updated 07/15/08.

1998 Lincoln mark vlll lsc (hid headlight bulb;passenger side). Poor night visibility due to sever degradation of oem headlamp system. This makes night driving illegal,dangerous, and just impossible with out some sort of aftermarket lighting system or oem replacements which will soon fail and cause the issue all over again. There is no after market replacement bulb. Ford did not contract with sylvania to make one. I was told that my hid headlight bulb would never burn out. Now I can't even sell my car. If I did find a buyer, it would not be legal to drive with only one working headlight. I could be liable for selling a dangerous vehicle.

The contact owns a 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii. The vehicle has high intensity headlights, but one headlight is bright while the other is dim. In 2007, the passenger side headlight was replaced and now the driver side lamp needs replacing. Ford no longer makes the part and could not provide information on how it could be obtained. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 40,000 and failure mileage was 39,000. Update 04-02-08.

The headlights on these cars (generation 1 Lincoln Mark Viii, 1993 to 1996) are awful and it is virtually impossible to find replacements-the reflective coating on the inside deteriorates, the outer lens gets yellow and dull-difficult, almost impossible to see at night, especially low beams-Ford should make good on repairs for these models, there are thousands on the road, all are a hazard to the owner and to other drivers.

Hid lights keep burning out and ruining the lenses on my Lincoln Mark Viii 1997 lsc.

Low beam headlight (hid) on right side has failed and no replacements are offered by factory or dealer.

The contact owns a 1997 Lincoln Mark Viii. The contact stated that the front headlights burned out in the vehicle. The dealer stated that the replacement bulb was unavailable and would be placed on back order. They also requested a deposit for the bulb, which cost over $100. The contact called several Ford dealers and the manufacturer, who all stated that the bulb was obsolete and would no longer be manufactured. No repairs have been made to date. The failure mileage was 45,000 and current mileage was 75,000. 4/01/09 updated 04/06/09.

The contact owns a 1998 Lincoln Mark Viii. The passenger side headlight failed. The light bulb was replaced last year, but has failed again. The dealer stated that the vehicle needed a conversion kit because the light bulb was no longer being manufactured. The failure mileage was 150,000 and current mileage was 207,199.

The contact owns a 1997 Lincoln Mark Viii. The contact stated that the front driver side low beam headlight failed. When he attempted to replace the bulb, he could not get the bulb unscrewed. The dealer replaced the headlight kit and charged him $700. The failure mileage was 49,941 and current mileage is 50,000. The consumer requested to have the recall performed on the vehicle pertaining to the speed control deactivation. The consumer provided a letter from Ford denying his claim for a partial reimbursement. The dealer stated warning lights trouble. Updated 10/03/07 the consumer is seeking reimbursement for the headlight replacement. Updated.

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. I wrote a letter to Ford motor company early in 2007 about this, and received a form letter telling to go to my local Ford dealer for parts.

I have a 97 Lincoln Mark Viii and I was told by several Ford/Lincoln Mercury dealers that the headlight low beam bulbs, hid 9500, are not available. I contacted the manufacturer, sylvania, and the customer service rep told me the light bulbs are no longer manufactured. What are the several thousand owners of Lincoln Mark Viii owners expected to do? this is a blatant safety issue and should be addressed by federal authorities. I would like to speak to a ntsb representative, if available, regarding the lighting on these vehicles. Thank you for investigating this issue.

: the contact stated the front low beam headlight burned out. When the dealer was contacted, the dealer determined the headlight was on backorder. The manufacturer offered to place an order, although the part was on backorder for two months.

Customer wants update to case #10176001*.

I am the original owner of a 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii equipped with luminarc high intensity headlights. The vehicle has 56,089 miles. The driver's side headlight has failed and apparently is no longer serviceable. The manufacturer's design did not allow for the simple replacement of a light bulb but instead requires the replacement of the entire headlight assembly at a cost of approximately $900. 00 plus labor per side. 97 and 98 models are designed for simple bulb replacement at a cost of approximately $260. 00 per bulb. While investigating the facilitating of head light repairs for my automobile I have discovered that head light assemblies for 1996 model cars are obsolete and replacement bulbs for 1997-1998 model cars have been on back order for approximately six months and are not due to be available for another 3-4 months. My internet research has led me to an unknown number of owners in similar peril. We are all scrambling for solutions to keep our autos on the road both safely and legally. Internet searches for used parts (Lincoln customer service actually refers you to private used parts dealers rather than supply parts themselves), possible new parts and even fabricated new light systems (questionable legality) are being pursued. It has become apparent that there are no good solutions and we owners have few options available to us. The manufacturer has designed a vehicle lighting system that has failed to last or be successfully serviced within the vehicle's useful lifespan. In closing, Ford motor company has created a class of car owner that can not keep his car street legal or safe. Ford has abandoned these owners to fend for themselves in pursuit of safety. These are not ancient cars, they are well within their useful lifespan and Ford should be responsible for facilitating their safe operation during that time. Currently, Ford has no reasonable answers and the situation they have created is wholly absurd. Cory a. David.

Low beam headlamp for 1998 Lincoln Mark Viii. Replacement lamp not available from Ford or the mfg. Sylvania. Unsafe to drive car at night.

Very poor headlights, causing an unsafe driving condition while only being able to see a short distance in front of your car at night.

After having replaced both headlight assemblies due to failure with condensation developing within the unit, I am now having the same problem again. It will require another new set of headlight assemblies to repair the commonly known manufacturer's defect.

Head light on the Mark Viii are not strong enough (low beam).

Lights goes completely out when placed on dim.

Neither of my two low beam headlights work so I'm having to use my high beam lights which I'm sure is difficult for oncoming traffic. I am constantly searching the internet and local sources to replace my headlights.

: the contact stated the hid headlight low beam went out on the vehicle. There is a Ford recall #98b38, regarding the headlights. The VIN was not included in the recall.

: the contact stated the silver reflectors inside the headlights burned out. This made driving at night difficult due to the lack of light produced from the headlights. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection who determined the headlights would have to be replaced to correct the problem. Updated 05/03/06.

I would like to make a complaint about my Lincoln Mark Viii headlights from 1993-1996. The headlights after a couple years begin to degrade. The reflective coating inside the parabola turns chalky and therefore does not reflect light the way it was intended. This makes for very poor lighting at night which could cause serious injury or even death. Lincoln new about this and switched to hid (high intensity discharge) units in 1996, but only on the lsc models. Ford/Lincoln sells these units but at a very very high price. This should be a safety recall and hid's installed in the cars with the defective headlamps before someone dies.

I own a 1993 Lincoln Mark Viii and at night you can barely see the road even with the brights on. The housing looks like the clear part has separated into about 3 layers. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!.