1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII Exterior Lighting Problems

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.

Mileage: 150,000

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 07/07/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO BEYOND 50 FEET. THE REFLECTIVE PART INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY BLACK. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED THE FAILURE PERSISTED. UPDATED 05/28/2015 *JS

Mileage: 112,000

VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION WHILE ONLY BEING ABLE TO SEE A SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR AT NIGHT. *TR

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 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 *BF

Mileage: 39,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 2

CUSTOMER WANTS UPDATE TO CASE #10176001**CC

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. *NM

Mileage: 56,000

VERY POOR HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION WHILE ONLY BEING ABLE TO SEE A SHORT DISTANCE IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR AT NIGHT. *JB

LIGHTS GOES COMPLETELY OUT WHEN PLACED ON DIM. *NM

HEAD LIGHT ON THE MARK VIII ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH (LOW BEAM). *NM

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII ARE TERRIBLE, I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR 8 YEARS AND HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH VARIOUS AFTERMARKET BULBS AND NOTHING INCREASES THE HEADLIGHT POWER. *JB

DT*: 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

Mileage: 85,000

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. *NM

THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ON THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII PROVIDES POOR NIGHT VISIBILITY DUE TO SEVER DEGRADATION OF OEM HEADLAMP SYSTEM. THE REFLECTIVE LENS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSING HAS MELTED AWAY TO THE POINT THAT THIS MAKES NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE WITH OUT SOME SORT OF AFTERMARKET LIGHTING SYSTEM OR OEM REPLACEMENTS WHICH WILL SOON FAIL AND CAUSE THE ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN. *JB

Mileage: 40,000

THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ON THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII PROVIDES POOR NIGHT VISIBILITY DUE TO SEVER DEGRADATION OF OEM HEADLAMP SYSTEM. THE REFLECTIVE LENS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSING HAS MELTED AWAY TO THE POINT THAT THIS MAKES NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE WITH OUT SOME SORT OF AFTERMARKET LIGHTING SYSTEM OR OEM REPLACEMENTS WHICH WILL SOON FAIL AND CAUSE THE ISSUE ALL OVER AGAIN. *JB

Mileage: 40,000

THE 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2005 AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DETERIORATING CONSTANTLY SINCE PURCHASE. I NOW HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAM AT ALL TIMES AFTER DARK. OTHER CARS DO NOT EVEN FLASH THERE LIGHTS AT ME BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO WEAK. ALL OF THE CHROME HAS FALLEN OFF OF THE SURFACES IN THE HEADLIGHTS SO NO LIGHT IS REFLECTED OUT OF THE LIGHTS! *NM

Mileage: 138,795

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. *NM

Mileage: 50,000

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!!!!!!!!!!! *NM

1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII HEADLIGHTS. CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT, SEVERE LACK OF ILLUMINATION, VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DISCOLORED. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW THE HEADLIGHT TO PROJECT ENOUGH LIGHT FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS, BUT THIS HAS NOT IMPROVED VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 4/6/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 60,000

POOR HEADLIGHTS ON CAR. LIGHTS ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS A TWO CELL FLASH LIGHT.*AK

Mileage: 83,000

POOR HEADLIGHT PERFORMANCE ON A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII. I UNDERSTAND THIS RESULTS FROM A DESIGN PROBLEM IN MARK VIII'S OF THAT TIME PERIOD. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

VERY POOR NIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE POORLY DESIGNED HEADLAMP FIXTURES. THE AGING FACTORY HEADLAMP FIXTURES DO NOT SEEM TO PRODUCE ENOUGH LIGHT FOR NIGHT DRIVING RESULTING IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY. THE FIXTURES SEEM TO "YELLOW" AND "FOG" ABNORMALLY WITH AGE AND IT ALSO SEEMS THAT THE HEAT PRODUCED BY THE FACTORY SPECIFIED LAMPS ACTUALLY DAMAGE THE INTERNAL REFLECTIVE MATERIAL, BOTH CONDITIONS REDUCE EFFECTIVE OUTPUT OF THE FIXTURES. THESE CONDITIONS SEEM TO OCCUR WITH AGE AND USE, NEW FIXTURE OUTPUT IS ACCEPTABLE.*AK

Mileage: 74,000

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM THAT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE FAR MORE BRIGHTER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE COULD NOT SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VIEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN IF HE GETS REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS THAT THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN A TWO YEAR TIME SPAN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM THAT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE FAR MORE BRIGHTER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE COULD NOT SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VIEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN IF HE GETS REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS THAT THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN A TWO YEAR TIME SPAN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION. *JB

I JUST PURCHASED A 1996 LINCOLN MARK 8, WHILE DRIVING IT HOME, IT GOT DARK AND I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS...THE LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS TERRIBLE. I COULD HARDLY SEE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HOW CAN A PERSON DRIVE AT NIGHT, IF THE LIGHTS FAIL TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE THE HIGHWAY? AS I GOT TO CHECKING, THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AS COMPLAINED ABOUT BY OTHER OWNERS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE? THESE ARE THE ORGINAL LIGHTING UNITS FROM THE FACTORY, AND THEY ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.*AK

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT DESIGN. THE PLASTIC REFLECTOR GETS BURNED FROM THE LIGHT BULB HEAT. I CAN BARELY SEE AT NIGHT TIME. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION! THERE ARE NO "EASY-FIXES" AVAILABLE AND FORD/LINCOLN WANTS A FORTUNE TO REPLACE! *JB

Mileage: 50,000

THE HEADLIGHTS THAT CAME STANDARD ON 1993-1996 MARK VIIIS ARE NOT SAFE FOR PUBLIC ROADS. THEY ARE PROBABLY THE WEAKEST HEADLIGHTS EVER PLACED INTO A VEHICLE DURING THE 1990S. IM SURPRISED THEY EVEN PASSED THE DOT REGULATIONS. THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE VERY LITTLE LIGHTING FOR THE ROAD AND THEY DO NOT EVEN GIVE ENOUGH LIGHT TO THE STREET SIGNS SO THAT THEY CAN BE READ LEGIBLY AND EASILY. DRIVING ON A POOR LIT ROAD IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT TURNING ON THE HIGH BEAMS BECAUSE OTHER WISE YOU BECOME A HAZARD BECAUSE OF POOR VISIBILITY. IVE BEEN IN COUNTLESS NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE POOR LIGHTS AND BECAUSE THEY BARELY LIGHT UP THE MARKERS ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THEY EITHER NEED TO REPLACED WITH THE HID UNITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, OR AT LEAST IMPROVED DRASTICALLY; OTHERWISE THE RISK OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR DURING THE NIGHT INCREASES AT LEAST 10 FOLD.*AK

Mileage: 50,000

I HAVE ANOTHER COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME EVENT THAT WAS JUST FILLED FOR THE LACK OF PROPER HEAD LAMPS ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE. AS I OWN TWO OF THE SAME CAR I AM ALSO FILING FOR THIS ONE AS WELL. *LA

Mileage: 20,000

HEAD LIGHTS ON BOTH OF MY 1996 LINCOLN MARK VLLL S ARE VERY POOR AND DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD SUFFICIENTLY. I JUST MISSED HITTING A DOG THIS EVENING ON MY WAY HOME AS THESE LIGHTS ON BOTH CARS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. *LA

Mileage: 24,000

"DRIVING WITHIN YOUR HEADLIGHTS" IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE 93-96 GENERATION LINCOLN MARK 8 UNLESS YOUR SPEED IS UNDER APPROXIMATELY 20MPH. DEBRIS, ANIMAL CARCASSES, AND OTHER OBSTACLES SUDDENLY APPEAR CAUSING THE DRIVER AN IMMEDIATE REACTION OF DANGEROUSLY SWERVING OUT OF THE WAY RISKING LOSS OF CONTROL AND POTENTIAL COLLISION WITH OTHER MOTORISTS, OBJECTS, PEOPLE, ETC. REPLACEMENT WITH THE SAME PART IS NOT A SENSIBLE OPTION BECAUSE THE FLAW IS INHERENT TO THE HEADLAMP HOUSINGS DESIGN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD STEP UP AND REMEDY THIS SAFETY ITEMS DESIGN DEFICIENCY.

Mileage: 42,500

I OWN A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII AND HAVE BECOME VERY CONSERNED ABOUT THE POOR LIGHTING THIS VEHICLE HAS DURING THE NIGHT HOURS. IT IS BECOMMING HARDER AND HARDER TO USE THE FACTORY LIGHTING TO HAVE A GOOD FISION OF THE AREA AHEAD AND ANY OBSTICALS THAT MIGHT BE THERE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHT OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT. *NLM

THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. *JB

Mileage: 82,000

NONE

HEAD LIGHTS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR NIGHT DRIVING. DT

WE HAVE BEEN NOTING THE HIGH NUMBER OF 1993-1996 LINCOLN MARK 8 OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTING SERIOUS HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS, YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY YOUR OFFICES. FORD & LINCOLN WILL APPARENTLY DO NOTHING BECAUSE YOU DO NOTHING. THESE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS OF THE OWNERS. THEY CAN'T SEE DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS APPARENT DESIGN FLAWS OF THEIR HEADLIGHTS. WHAT IS THE GOOD OF HAVING A GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION AGENCY THAT WILL NOT START AN INVESTIGATION WITH AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS??? FORD/LINCOLN WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM BEACUSE THEY KNOW YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING . PROBABLY THEY HOPE THAT TIME WILL RUN OUT AND EVERY ONE WILL TRASH THESE $40,000 CARS OR TRADE THEM IN . IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE LATER MODELS, 1997-1998 MARK 8S, HAVE A DIFFFERENT HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. BUT NO HELP OR RETROFIT TO THE OLDER MODEL OWNERS. WHAT GOOD IS THE GOVERNMENT IN THESE CASES WHERE THEY DO NOTHING??? A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY TO THE OWNERS WHO TRUST THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING AND INVESTIGATE. HEADLIGHTS, COME ON - HOW MUCH MORE SERIOUS CAN YOU GET??? WHEN YOU REVIEW THE YEARS IN QUESTION, YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. AND OF COURSE THESE ARE ONLY THE REPORTS OF OWNERS WHO ARE AWARE OF YOUR AGENCY. DT

MANUFACTURE INSTALLED HALOGEN (9005) HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO HOT AND HAVE DESTROYED THE HOUSING AND REFLECTIVE MATERIALS SO THERE IS LITTLE TO NO VISIBILITY WHEN USING THEM. DT

HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS INADEQUATE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE INDICATE POOR DESIGN. MR

CONSUMER STATES DUE TO A DESIGN DEFICIENCY, THE REFLECTIVE LINING INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC HEADLAMP HOUSING IS BEING BURNED OFF, SEVERELY DIMINISHING THE OUTPUT OF THE HEADLAMPS. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE EXTREME HEAT BUILD-UP FROM THE 9005 HALOGEN BULB USED IN THE LOW BEAM SECTION OF THE HEALAMP HOUSING. *TT

HEAD LIGHT LENSES HAVE TURNED YELLOW. CONSUMER HAS TO USE HIGH BEAMS TO SEE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BULBS HAVE BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE DEALER BROKE THE SEALS WHICH CAUSES WATER TO SEEP IN. *SLC

I HAVE THE HID HEADLIGHTS IN MY CAR. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM FROM DAY ONE. LAST NIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, CAUSING MY HEADLIGHTS TO COMPLETELY FAIL. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY THEY WENT OUT COMPLETELY - BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAMS. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I DROVE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS BLINKING ON AND OFF THE ENTIRE WAY. I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING INSTALLED IN THESE CARS TO RUN THE LOW AND HIGH BEAMS SEPARATELY SO THAT IF YOU LOSE ONE, AT LEAST YOU HAVE SOME LIGHT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HOPE THAT THE HID HEADLIGHTS ARE INVESTIGATED AND FORD IS REQUIRED TO MAKE THEM RIGHT. THEY ARE DEFECTIVE IN MANY WAYS MAKING THEM QUITE A HAZARD.*AK

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER HAS TO USE HIGH BEAMS TO SEE THE ROAD. *TT

HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS COVERS HAVE BECOME CLOUDED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT AT ALL BRIGHT, IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THIS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM LISTED ON THE LINCOLN OF DISTINCTION WEBSITE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS MARK VIII OWNERS COMPLAINING DIRECTLY TO FORD LINCOLN MERCURY, ALL TO NO AVAIL. AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I BELIEVE THAT ACTION ON THE NHTSA 'S PART IS REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE MARK VIII DRIVERS AND ALL OTHER MOTORISTS WHICH THEY MIGHT RUN INTO ACCIDENTALLY DUE TO THIS IDENTIFIED SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE REPLY TO MY E-MAIL ADDRESS TO LET ME KNOW THIS WAS RECEIVED AND WHAT ACTIONS HAVE, ARE , AND WILL BE TAKEN CONCERNING THIS. THANK YOU. JOE. NLM

THIS IS TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE INADEQUATE LIGHTING SYSTEM OF THE GENERATION 1 MARK VIII. I HAVE A 1996. THIS HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM IS TOTALLY INADEQUATE AT NIGHTTIME, AND FREQUENTLY REQUIRES I USE MY "HIGH BEAMS" TO SEE APPROPRIATELY, EVEN WITH LAMP POSTS ON AND SHINING. I'VE OFTEN FOUND MYSELF SWERVING TO AVOID BADLY MARKED CURBS ON THE LEFT SIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE BY THE TIME I SEE THESE CURBS, I'M ALMOST ON TOP OF THEM. THIS IS NOT AN INDICATION OF BAD DRIVING, IT'S JUST PLAIN BAD LIGHTS. FORD FIXES THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR HID LAMPS IN THE 1996 LSC, WHICH ACCORDING TO MANY, IS A "DIRECT FIT" REPLACEMENT FOR THESE GEN 1 MARK VIIIS. I AM UNSURE HOW MANY OF THESE BAD LIGHT SYSTEMS ARE OUT ON THE ROAD, BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THESE ARE A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN, THESE SHOULD BE FIXED. IT IS IMPERATIVE THIS BE ADDRESSED. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND AN EXTRA $1000 OR MORE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. IF FORD HAD PROPERLY TESTED THEIR SYSTEM, IT WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE TODAY. REPLACEMENT LENSES ALONE WILL NOT WORK, AS THEY WILL FAIL TO PROVIDE LIGHT AS QUICKLY AS THE CURRENT ONES DID, NEGATING THE BENEFITS. BRIGHTER BULBS ALSO DO NOT WORK, EITHER DUE TO THE BAD LENSES, OR FAILURE OF THE SOCKETS AND HOUSINGS DUE TO THE HIGHER HEAT. AND IF *THAT* ISN'T A SAFTEY ISSUE (ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO HIGHER WATTAGE BY AN ATTEMPT TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM) I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE, BOTTOM LINE, FOR THE SAFTEY OF NOT ONLY THE OWNERS OF THE GEN1 MARK VIIIS, BUT FOR THE OTHERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. THANK YOU .*AK

LIGHTING ON THIS VEHICLE IS HORRIBLE ! CAN NOT SEE WITH LOW BEAMS! HAVE TO USE HIGH AND THEN EVERYBODY FLICKS THEIR LIGHTS AT YOU (JUST A BIG DISTRACTION AND SAFETY ISSUE) I VISIT A LINCOLN MARK 8 CLUB AND THIS HAS BEEN I KNOW BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION BY OTHERS AND I AM JUST PUTTING MY 2 CENTS IN. THANKS! PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *AK

SIMPLY CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM FOR SAFE NIGHT DRIVING. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH ASSEMBLIES AND BULBS (RIGHT AND LEFT) WITH NEW ONES, AS WELL AS CHECKED THE ELETRICAL SYSTEM, AND THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS STILL SO WEAK THAT DRIVING AT NIGHT IS UNSAFE. I REPLACED THE ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON THE INSIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN BURNED OFF BY THE BULBS. (THE ASSEMBLY IS LESS THAN THREE INCHES IN HEIGHT. THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE BULB IN COMBINATION WITH POOR REFLECTIVE MATERIAL RESULTED IN THE MATERIAL BURNING OR FLAKING OFF.) EVEN WITH THE NEW ASSEMBLIES, WITH ALL THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INTACT, AND CLEAR UNYELLOWED LENSES, THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS STILL TOO WEAK FOR SAFE NIGHT DRIVING. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO BAD DESIGN.*AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR NIGHT DRIVING, CONSUMER HAS TO USE HIGH BEAMS. PROBLEM HAS WORSEN OVER TIME.*AK *YD

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM IT IS A HAZARD. REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER DARK BECAUSE OF POOR LIGHTING. THERE IS NO KNOWN RECALL THAT I AM AWARE OF. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER MARK VIII OWNERS OF 1993 TO 1996 CARS AND THEY ALL ARE COMPLAINING OF DIM LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY LOWBEAM HEADLIGHT THAT PUT OUT ENOUGH LIGHT TO BE SAFE DRIVEING AT NIGHT . THESE LIGHTS ARE A SAFTY HAZARD . AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THIS BEFORE HAND.*AK

HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL ARE VERY POOR FOR THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR THIS VEHICLE..EVEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE POOR FOR THIS VEHICLE.THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT FOR LINCOLN OWNERS FOR THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE IT SEEMS.*AK

THE CHROME REFLECTIVE MATERIAL ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FLAKES OFF WITH AGE. THIS VEHICLE IS A 1996 MODEL, AND ALTHOUGH JUST OVER 5 YEARS OLD, THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL HAS FLAKED OFF THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS, MEANING THE BULB ONLY HAS THE BASE PLASTIC TO REFLECT OFF, WHICH MEANS OUTPUT IS VIRTUALL NOTHING. I CAN SEND YOU ONE OF THESE DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT IT.

THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE LIGHTS ARE USELESS. THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL HAS YELLOWED & HAS ALSO FLAKED OFF TO THE POINT IS IS ALMOST ALL GONE. I CONTACTED FORD APPROX. 3 MOS. AGO & WAS TOLD THAT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAD CALLED WITH THIS PROBLEM. YA RIGHT. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE.*AK

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IN VERY DARK PLACES MOVING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT, IT CAN BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING. I HAVE JUST BEEN THE OWNER OF THIS CAR FOR TWO DAYS, BUT THROUGHT THE SMALL TIME THAT I'VE OWNED THE CAR, I CAN ALLREADY SEE THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.

THE HEADLIGHTS THAT CAME STANDARD ON 1993-1996 MARK VIIIS ARE NOT SAFE FOR PUBLIC ROADS. THEY ARE PROBABLY THE WEAKEST HEADLIGHTS EVER PLACED INTO A VEHICLE DURING THE 1990S. IM SURPRISED THEY EVEN PASSED THE DOT REGULATIONS. THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE VERY LITTLE LIGHTING FOR THE ROAD AND THEY DO NOT EVEN GIVE ENOUGH LIGHT TO THE STREET SIGNS SO THAT THEY CAN BE READ LEGIBLY AND EASILY. DRIVING ON A POOR LIT ROAD IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT TURNING ON THE HIGH BEAMS BECAUSE OTHER WISE YOU BECOME A HAZARD BECAUSE OF POOR VISIBILITY. IVE BEEN IN COUNTLESS NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE POOR LIGHTS AND BECAUSE THEY BARELY LIGHT UP THE MARKERS ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THEY EITHER NEED TO REPLACED WITH THE HID UNITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, OR AT LEAST IMPROVED DRASTICALLY; OTHERWISE THE RISK OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR DURING THE NIGHT INCREASES AT LEAST 10 FOLD.*AK

THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE VERY POOR COVERAGE. THE HOUSEING SHOW NO WEAR OR PROBLEMS. THE LIGHT OUTPUT AND BEAM ANGLES CAN NOT COVER A AVERAGE STREET AT NIGHT. THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE BEFORE A PROBLEM IS CREATED. WE HAVE TECHONOLGY TO CREATE LIGHTING THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE. MAKE THE MANUFS. DO IT. IT SHOULD BE A EASY PROBLEM TO QUICKLY SOLVE.

THE LIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DIM, BULBS REPLACED WITH NO HELP, ETREME HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY POOR. CAN HARDLY SEE AT NIGHT. OFTEN I HAVE MANY CLOSE CALLS IN THE RAIN ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. *AK

LOWBEAM HEADLAMPS ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR NIGHT TIME TRAVEL. LIGHTS ARE DIM WITH A BLOTCHY PATTERN. HIGH BEAM LAMPS ARE ADEQUATE. LAMPS ARE ACCURATELY ADJUSTED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM ON CERTAIN MARK VIII MODELS WITH HID HEADLAMPS. FORD SHOULD RECALL THE MARK VIII MODELS AND FIT ADEQUATE HEADLAMPS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE HEADLAMPS ON THE VEHICLE PROVIDED LITTLE LIGHT, AND THUS, LIMITED VISIBILTY IN LIGHTLESS SITUATIONS. ACCEPTABLE VISIBILTY IS LIMITED TO (AN ESTIMATED) 25 FT. EVEN CONSTANT USE OF THE HIGH BEAMS (WHICH IS A DANGER TO OTHER MOTORISTS, THOUGH MANY DO NOT SEEM TO NOTICE) PROVIDES LITTLE MORE THAN SLIGHTLY ACCEPTABLE LIGHT.*AK

HEADLIGHTS HAD GONE OUT. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED DEFECT EXISTED IN BALLAST WHICH WILL RESULT IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. *AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, VISIBILITY IS REDUCED, AND DRIVING IS DANGEROUS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

HEADLAMP REFLECTOR DISCOLORING, CAUSING WEAK OUTPUT-FORD WILL NOT CORRECT. *AK

HEAD LAMPS DO NOT PROJECT LIGHT OUT TO A SAFE DISTANCE. ONE SIDE (LEFT, DRIVERS) INSIDE THE LENS THE CHROME REFLECTING SURFACE HAS DISSINTEGRATED. THE OTHER SIDE JUST APPEARS DIM. ON A WET NIGHT WE DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR.*AK

WHEN TURNING ON HEADLIGHTS THEY CAME ON BRIGHT. THEN, THEY JUST FADED OUT. CONSUMER HAS TO USE HIGH BEAMS TO SEE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT BOTH LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

HEADLIGHTS HAVE GOTTEN DIMMER AS VEHICLE AGED. I DON'T EVEN LIKE TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT ANYMORE. *AK

HEAD LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM WHEN LIT. I CAN BARELY NOTICE IF LIGHTS ARE ON. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY DUE TO DECREASE OF VISIBILITY. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. *AK

LOW BEAM LIGHT FAILED. REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $1500.00. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PROVIDE VERY POOR ILLUMINATION CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE A "HAZY OR FROSTY" CORROSION ON THE REFLECTORS OF THE LOW BEAMS. THE HIGH BEAMS EXHIBIT NO SUCH CORROSION AND ARE QUITE SATISFACTORY. SOME OWNERS HAVE ADDED "FOG OR DRIVING LIGHTS" TO HELP ALLIEVIATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

DEFECTIVE DESIGN/MANUFACTURER RESULTED IN FAILURE OF HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. COST TO REPAIR IS $800 PER SIDE. TOTAL COST APPROXIMATELY $1600 NO AFTERMARKET OR SUBSTITUTE AVAILABLE. REPLACEMENT WARRANTY IS ONE YEAR AFTER INSTALLATION. LINCOLN AND OSRAM SYLVANIA BOTH CONTACTED WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE RESOLUTION. SYLVANIA AND LINCOLN ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND ALSO REFUSE TO REPLACE WITH MORE RELIABLE SUBSEQUENTLY DESIGNED/MANUFACTURED REPLACEMENTS INSTALLED IN LATER PRODUCTION RUNS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. *AK

HEADLIGHTS HAVE INSUFFICIENT BEAM POWER. THERE QUITE DIM!!!*AK

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPER DIM. IT IS VERY SCARY DRIVING IN AN UKNOWN AREA AT NIGHT.

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPER DIM. IT IS VERY SCARY DRIVING IN AN UKNOWN AREA AT NIGHT.

THE LIGHTING FROM THE ORIGINAL HID HEADLIGHTS ARE INSUFFICIENT. THIS COULD LEAD TO A WRECK AT ANY TIME. I HAVE 20/20 VISION AND HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE OF MY SURROUNDINGS AT NIGHT! I WOULD BE WORRIED TO DRIVE THROUGH AN AREA THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE EVENING. THESE NEED TO BE RECALLED WITH A BETTER LIGHTING SOLUTION GIVEN.

THIS IS A 1996 MRK VIII LINCOLN. THE HEADLITES HAVE LOST THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL OFF OF THE INSIDE OF THEM AND ARE NOW SO DIM THAT I DON'T DARE DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. I CAN'T SEE THE ROAD! IF I CAN'T GET WHERE I'M GOING BY DARK I HAVE TO STOP AND STAY AT A MOTEL, IT'S JUST TO DANGEROUS..A 4 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS. I HAVE A 50 YEAR OLD GMC THAT HAS BRIGHTER LITES AND IS FAR SAFER TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.

CAR HAS EXTREMELY DIM HEADLIGHTS, FACTORY DESIGN FLAW. BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR A CAR THIS HEAVY. ROTORS WARP AFTER ONLY 5000 MILES.

THE LIGHTING FROM THE ORIGINAL HID HEADLIGHTS ARE INSUFFICIENT. THIS COULD LEAD TO A WRECK AT ANY TIME. I HAVE 20/20 VISION AND HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE OF MY SURROUNDINGS AT NIGHT! I WOULD BE WORRIED TO DRIVE THROUGH AN AREA THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE EVENING. THESE NEED TO BE RECALLED WITH A BETTER LIGHTING SOLUTION GIVEN.

THIS IS A 1996 MRK VIII LINCOLN. THE HEADLITES HAVE LOST THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL OFF OF THE INSIDE OF THEM AND ARE NOW SO DIM THAT I DON'T DARE DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. I CAN'T SEE THE ROAD! IF I CAN'T GET WHERE I'M GOING BY DARK I HAVE TO STOP AND STAY AT A MOTEL, IT'S JUST TO DANGEROUS..A 4 YEAR OLD CAR SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS. I HAVE A 50 YEAR OLD GMC THAT HAS BRIGHTER LITES AND IS FAR SAFER TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.

CAR HAS EXTREMELY DIM HEADLIGHTS, FACTORY DESIGN FLAW. BRAKES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR A CAR THIS HEAVY. ROTORS WARP AFTER ONLY 5000 MILES.

TURN SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY FLASHER FAILURES INTERMITTANT OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR.