This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
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.
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.
- Gresham, OR, USA
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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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Muskegon, MI, USA