1997 Lincoln MARK VII: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 50.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System | 1 |
Steering: 1; Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002353 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
AIR RIDE SUSPENSION IS TOO LOW TO THE TIRES WHEN DRIVIN VEHICLE. TS...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 872865 · 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. STEERING WHEEL BEGAN LOST, AND WAS ABLE TO SPIN AROUND IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE. SOMEHOW, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE SAEELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 872865 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 233.3%ODI 817186WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK | 225.0%ODI 895442VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED. REPAIR SHOP CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK | 228.6% | 13.8%ODI 525023VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLS IN TRAFFIC, ACCIDENT OCCURRED TO DO VEHICLE STALLING. | 215.4% | 18.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 891691INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING AT LOW SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRING, FUEL PUMP, IGNITION, AND COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SLC |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 814408THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AS A ROCK, AND THE CAR KEPT GOING THROUGH THE LIGHT. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 13.8%ODI 708812ALONG WITH BRAKES FAILING (WHICH I JUST HAD REPLACED) THE A/C, TURN SIGNALS, POWER LOCKS, AND WINDOWS ALSO FAILED. *AK | 215.4%ODI 869673ELECTRIC PUMP FOR THE ABS IS LOCATED WITHIN THE WIRING OF ACCESSORY SIDE OF THE IGINITON SWITCH. IF THE SWITCH FAILS VHEICLE WILL LOSE ALL BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BECOME HARD AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. *AK | 216.7%ODI 800225WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY MAY OR MAY NOT WORK ON DRY SURFACES. *AK | 535.7%ODI 8002716WHEN DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER DETERMINED CAUSE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN REAR ABS SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 804311STARTED CAR, RELEASED EMERGENCY BRAKE, PUT CAR INTO GEAR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A WALL, NOJURY . *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TOP OF THE GEAR SELECTOR CAME OFF WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE ORIGINAL COMPUTER WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 1994 DUE TO HARD STARTING AND ROUGH IDLE. *SLC | 27.7%ODI 812391SLOWLY DRIVING AT 20MPH, TOOK FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL THE THROTTLE OPENED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TAKE OFF IN EXCESSIVE SPEED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 17.7%ODI 541820WHEN CAR WAS STARED IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH CAUSE IT TO HIT A WALL INJURING THE DRIVER. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 214.3%ODI 727849ENGINE WAS RUNNING, CAR WAS IN PARK, FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE, THE ENGINE REVVED WIDE OPEN CAUSING CAR TO SHOOT OUT INTO TRAFFIC CAUSING ACCIDENT. REPEATEDLY PUMPED BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. THE MOTOR STAYED WIDE OPEN. FINALLY SHUT OFF ENGINE, BUT WAS GOING TOO FAST TO AVOID BOUNCING OFF OF TRUCK INTO CURB. | 133.3%ODI 10255311THERE WERE TWO INCIDENTS SO FAR. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO AND 6 YEARS AGO. MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE SAME AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BOTH TIMES... POSSIBLE THE SPEED CONTROL? (WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MOST OTHER FORD AND LINCOLN PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD). *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 8008618WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP TRANSMISSION WILL BEGIN TO RACE. CONSUMER STATED THROTTLE STUCK, AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 225.0% | 114.3%ODI 538000IGNITION SWITCH BURNED CAUSING OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES AS WELL AS BRAKE LOSS RESULTING IN CONSUMER HITTING CURB. | 311.5%ODI 820166*IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND SHORTED OUT, CAUSING WIRING TO OVERHEAT/SMOKE, RESULTING IN STALLING. *AK | 17.7%ODI 869673ELECTRIC PUMP FOR THE ABS IS LOCATED WITHIN THE WIRING OF ACCESSORY SIDE OF THE IGINITON SWITCH. IF THE SWITCH FAILS VHEICLE WILL LOSE ALL BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BECOME HARD AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 13.8%ODI 707832HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNING BROWN WITH AGE. REPLACING BULBS DO NOT HELP. THERE IS NO AFTER-MARKET REPLACEMENT FOR THIS ITEM. MANY CARES FORM BOTH FORD AND LINCOLN ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULB IS DIMMED BY THE PLASTIC COVERING. THERE ARE A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD (BOTH FORD AND LINCOLNS THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO WORK AROUND FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DIFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD DURING RAIN AND FOG WITH THESE LIGHTS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 3100.0%ODI 747741THE HEADLIGHT ARE TO DIM TO SEE AT NIGHT THIS COULD CAUSE A ACCDIENT. *AK | 1100.0% | 133.3% | 150.0%ODI 733434FORD AND LINCOLN ARE INSISTING THAT WE PAY $675.,PLUS LABOR, TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT THAT WENT OUT. THE 97 AND 98 MODELS OF THE CAR WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME THING AND THEY WERE REPLACED AND NO COST THE THE COMSUMER. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME LIGHTING SYSTEM AND BULB, YET IF WE WERE TO PURCHASE IT OUTRIGHT IT WOULD COST $75. THE TECHNICIANS SAY THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WILL NOT MATE. HEADLIGHTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL AND NECESSAY COMPONENT OF AN AUTO AND IF THE COST IS SO HIGH TO REPLACE IT, THAN IT SHOULD NOT GO OUT. FORD AND LINCOLN ARE … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 27.7%ODI 979419ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUGHT FIRE UNDER HOOD, THEN WENT THRU DASH. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 216.7%ODI 806422CAR WAS PARKED AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, INSURANCE COMPANY IS COMING OUT TO LOOK AT CAR . *AK | 17.1%ODI 847142WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED FROM THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. OWNER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. THE DEALER WAS CALLED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. OWNER WILL HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 891691INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING AT LOW SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS REPLACED WIRING, FUEL PUMP, IGNITION, AND COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT PROBLEM.*AK POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SLC |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 311.5%ODI 802256THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT, ONCE LOCKED, IT DISCONNECTS OR UNLOCKS.*AK | 17.7%ODI 819896SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER HAD THE SEATBELT ON, WENT TO UNLATCH SEATBELT TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE ,WAS UNABLE TO, SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS STUCK INSIDE LATCH. LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE. HAD TO PULL OUT BUCKLE FROM LATCH TO GET OF VEHICLE. WHEN DOING SO, A PIECE INSIDE OF LATCH BROKE. BECAUSE OF THIS BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. *AK | 18.3%ODI 977611THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLOCK PURCHASE CAR USED . TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 546754FAILURE OF A "SNAP TOGETHER" PLASTIC BUSHING, WHICH CONNECTS THE SHIFT SELECTOR CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION BELLCRANK, CAUSED VEHICLE TO LURCH BACKWARDS. THE OWNER WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND FOOT WAS RUN OVER BY VEHICLE AS A RESULT. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 215.4% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1%ODI 861971WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD NOT SPEED UP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION CLIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1997: 0 complaints · 1998: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Steering | Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | — | 0 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.