The 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 3,600,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence
THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL…
Complaints by component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
73
2crashes
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
3
AIR BAGS
2
2crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
2
TIRES
2
Total complaints120
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lincoln mark viii. The contact stated that the headlights were very dim and caused poor visibility. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000. Updated…”
“Driving on tollway about 60 mph and tire blew out. No knowledge of hitting anything. *tr”
“My name is j.m. Carter and I reside in henrico county virginia. On may 12, 2009, one of the four cooper tires, golden fury gft on my car exploded. Thank god neither I nor anyone else was injured, but the vehicle sustained significant damages. I submitted a claim in good faith to cooper, and have…”
“Tl*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…”
“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…”
“Product recall = -speed control. Aug. 2007. Dealer disconnected in 2007-not replaced...car now w/no overderive/speed control = wastes gas. *tr”
“Product recall = -speed control. Aug. 2007. Dealer disconnected in 2007-not replaced...car now w/no overderive/speed control = wastes gas. *tr”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Lincoln Mark Viii as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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