Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1985 Lincoln MARK: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

6 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 6 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues233.3%
Engine operation116.7%

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.

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
3
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Electrical System:Wiring
1
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch3
Electrical System:Ignition1
Electrical System:Wiring1
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid1

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Structure:Body:Trunk Lid: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

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. 6 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.

1996
5
1998
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19965
19981

1996: 5; 1998: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 509047 · 1996-09-24 (September 24, 1996)

INDEX FINGER ON LEFT HAND WA SCRUSHED BY AUTOMATIC TRUNK-PULL DOWN CLOSING MECHANISM/ATTEMPTIN GTO OPEN THE TRUNK AND IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CLOSE AND DRIVER'S FINGER WAS SMASHED BETWEEN TRUNK AND FENDER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 509047 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 825113 · 1998-07-07 (July 7, 1998)

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLE CAUSE A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 825113 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983095 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD, ELECTRICAL SHORT ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, INVESTIGATED BY FIRE DEPT IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983095 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983117 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE CAR WAS BEING PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983202 · 1996-10-11 (October 11, 1996)

THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS PARKED. FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED AND PUT FIRE OUT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983202 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983229 · 1996-04-22 (April 22, 1996)

IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983229 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.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 6 records
83.3%Valid incident date5 / 6 records
100.0%Valid filing date6 / 6 records
83.3%Ordered incident and filing dates5 / 6 records

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 complaint heatmap
Component1985198619871988199019921993199419951996199719981999
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.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

225.0%
ODI 558529

BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 6 OCCASION BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. NLM

Look up ODI 558529 at NHTSA ↗

240.0%
ODI 10153133

1 YELLOWING OF HEADLIGHTS 2 UNABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT 3 NEW HEADLIGHTS. *JB

Look up ODI 10153133 at NHTSA ↗

222.2%
ODI 10153120

HEADLIGHTS LOSE LUMINOSITY. HEAT FROM HEADLIGHTS DEGRADES THE BACK REFLECTIVE MATERIAL AND CAUSE HEADLIGHTS TO DIM AND MAKE NIGHT DRIVING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. OEM REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS MAY BE PURCHASED FOR $250 WHICH WILL DO THE SAME IN ABOUT 1 TO 2 YEARS TIME. *NM

Look up ODI 10153120 at NHTSA ↗

342.9%
ODI 10165519

I UNDERSTAND THAT LAMPS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR MY HID HEADLIGHTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE UNSAFE AT NIGHT WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. *NM

Look up ODI 10165519 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

225.0%
ODI 10165549 · 69,900 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS ONE OF THE HEAD LIGHTS BURNED OUT. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED MANY SOURCES FOR PARTS, HOWEVER THE BULB WAS AN OUT OF THE MARKET PRODUCT. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED SALVAGE YARDS FOR THE PART. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD GUARANTEE THE VEHICLE 1998 AND PARTS.

Look up ODI 10165549 at NHTSA ↗

1100.0%
ODI 719490

THE NEW BLUE CAST HEADLIGHTS ON SOME LINCOLNS ARE WAY TOO BRIGHT FOR ONCOMING DRIVERS. THEY GLARE AND ARE DIFFICULT TO FACE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SOME OTHER LUXURY CARS HAVE THESE SAME LIGHTS. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. *AK

Look up ODI 719490 at NHTSA ↗

Unknown Or Other
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 10070015 · 154,000 mi

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A INDIVIDUAL. IT IS A USED CAR DEALER IN MAYFIELD KY. THE ABS BRAKE STAYS ON, NOW. I ONLY HAVE FRONT BRAKE'S. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WORK, I GUESS.THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH GOOD BRAKES.SOMETIMES WITH TOO GOOD OF BRAKE'S. AFTER I DRIVE IT AWHILE,THE BRAKES PEDAL WILL FELL LIKE IT HAS NO BRAKES. SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE WAS THE PROBLEM.I CAN'T EVEN FIND IT! MY DASHLIGHTS WENT OUT.THEY ONLY WORK WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR.THEN WHEN I TURN THE KEY,THEY GO OUT. I HAVE TO TURN ON THE FLOOR/DE…

Look up ODI 10070015 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

337.5%
ODI 10069606 · 55,500 mi

AUTO THEFT ALARM GOES OFF INTERRMIT

Look up ODI 10069606 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

111.1%
ODI 600535

PROBLEM WITH WEATHER STRIPPING. *AK

Look up ODI 600535 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 10068788

HORNS- ONE CORRODED SO MUCH THAT IT WONT BLOW AT ALL. THE OTHER IS ALSO CORRODED BUT DOES MAKE A SLIGHT SQUEAL. PROBLEM IS THEY ARE LOCATED BELOW AND BEHIND THE RADIATOR AND SUBJECT TO DIRT AND WATER FROM THE ROAD. SAFETY INVOLVED IN SOME SITUATIONS.

Look up ODI 10068788 at NHTSA ↗

112.5%
ODI 10806361 · 99,675 mi

THE TELESCOPE PORTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN IS NOT OPERATIONAL. IT IS ADJUSTED ALL THE WAY OUT AND WILL NOT RETRACT.

Look up ODI 10806361 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
350.0%
ODI 983095

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD, ELECTRICAL SHORT ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, INVESTIGATED BY FIRE DEPT IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

Look up ODI 983095 at NHTSA ↗

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.

112.5%
ODI 482211

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, CAUSING POWER WINDOWS/AIR CONDITIONER/DOOR LOCKS TO FAIL. *AW

Look up ODI 482211 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
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.

240.0%
ODI 504429

ANTILOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE WITH LIGHT BRAKING, CAUSING PEDAL TO RATCHET. *SD

Look up ODI 504429 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

112.5%
ODI 501425

HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO FAULTY WIRING IN HEADLIGHT SWITCH.

Look up ODI 501425 at NHTSA ↗

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.

112.5%
ODI 10029555 · 90,000 mi

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE PROCEEDS FORWARD CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Look up ODI 10029555 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling
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.

114.3%
ODI 562592

AIR CONDITIONER BEGAN TO BLOW HOT AIR. *SLC

Look up ODI 562592 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

225.0%
ODI 10055623

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. SMOKE WAS COMING IN THROUGH THE VENTS. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE COVER TO ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Look up ODI 10055623 at NHTSA ↗

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.

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.

222.2%
ODI 600608

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

Look up ODI 600608 at NHTSA ↗

114.3%
ODI 528018

VEHICLLE JUMPED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE WHILE DRIVER HAD STEPPED OUT. VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT, WHILE TRAVELING BACKWARDS, JUMPED INTO DRIVE AND RAN OVER DRIVER, SEVERELY INJURING DRIVER. NEITHER LINCOLN DEALERSHIP NOR A FORD DESING ANALYSIS ENGINEER COULD FIND THE CAUSE FOR THIS ERRATIC OCCURRENCE. *AK

Look up ODI 528018 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Steering
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.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 10006986

THE STEERING WAS LOOSE, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Look up ODI 10006986 at NHTSA ↗

225.0%
ODI 10069112

TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 55K MILES. PRIMARY SYMPTOM WAS SHUDDERING DURING OVERDRIVE GEAR SHIFTS. (79K) HEATER WILL NOT WORK. UNIT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR. VEHICLE EATS ROTORS. ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED OR REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. ELECTRIC STEERING ADJUSTMENT WON'T GO UP OR DOWN. TEMPORARILY FIXED BY BEATING ON STEERING WHEEL.

Look up ODI 10069112 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

266.7%
ODI 513151

RIGHT TIE-ROD DROPPED.

Look up ODI 513151 at NHTSA ↗

120.0%
ODI 968838

TIE ROD END SEPERATED, RESULTING IN WHEEL SPLITING. *AK

Look up ODI 968838 at NHTSA ↗

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.

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 failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
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.

1 reports2024-102026-09

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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-09 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 22 reports

1998: 2 complaints · 1999: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1998112
1999011
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1998710
1999010

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 co-occurrence matrix
ComponentElectrical System:Ignition:SwitchElectrical System:IgnitionElectrical System:WiringStructure:Body:Trunk Lid
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch—000
Electrical System:Ignition0—00
Electrical System:Wiring00—0
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid000—

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.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 16.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 825113

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLE CAUSE A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE. *AK

Look up ODI 825113 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b