AI Damage1997 Lincoln Mark: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Lincoln Mark filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and wheels. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 50% of all complaints
- 2 Wheels 25% of all complaints
- Steering: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The steering was loose, consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle.
The wheels are cracking from underneath the chrome. A blister appears before the cracking. These wheels are aluminun under the chrome and were used on 96 to 98 lsc models only. A ford representative looked at the problem, consulted with engineering, and offered to replace the wheels at 40% off listed price.
Had taken in 2 months ago because felt vibration in steering. Didn't find any problem.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mark has 5 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Lincoln Mark?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, wheels. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (25%), rust, corrosion (25%), vibration (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Lincoln Mark?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Lincoln Mark from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.