1978 Lincoln Mark V recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-21. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
3 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Body / structure
What's wrong, in plain English: Body panels, frame, doors, hood, trunk or latches. THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN ALUMINUM REAR BUMPER REINFORCEMENT ATTACHED TO TWO STEEL MOUNTING SURFACES. IN CLIMATES WHERE LARGE AMOUNTS OF ROCK SALT ARE USED, THE ALUMINUM REINFORCEMENT COULD EXPERIENCE CORROSION WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE VEHICLE.
What could happen:
The fix: DEALER WILL INSPECT ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES FOR DEGREE OF CORROSION. WHERE CORROSION IS SEVERE, THE ALUMINUM REINFORCEMENT WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE MADE OF STEEL. WHERE CORROSION IS NOT SEVERE, DEALER WILL INSTALL INSULATION MATERIALS BETWEEN THE ALUMINUM AND THE STEEL COMPONENTS. THIS WILL BE DONE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 MARK V.
- Book a repair at any authorized Lincoln dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 79V249000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
Summary: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN ALUMINUM REAR BUMPER REINFORCEMENT ATTACHED TO TWO STEEL MOUNTING SURFACES. IN CLIMATES WHERE LARGE AMOUNTS OF ROCK SALT ARE USED, THE ALUMINUM REINFORCEMENT COULD EXPERIENCE CORROSION WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE VEHICLE.
Consequence:
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES FOR DEGREE OF CORROSION. WHERE CORROSION IS SEVERE, THE ALUMINUM REINFORCEMENT WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE MADE OF STEEL. WHERE CORROSION IS NOT SEVERE, DEALER WILL INSTALL INSULATION MATERIALS BETWEEN THE ALUMINUM AND THE STEEL COMPONENTS. THIS WILL BE DONE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; REAR BUMPER REINFORCEMENT.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REINFORCEMENT, THUSPOTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE REAR BUMPER FROM THE VEHICLE. THISWOULD PRESENT A TRAFFIC HAZARD TO ONCOMING VEHICLES.
2. Vehicle Speed Control
What's wrong, in plain English: A vehicle part that may fail. SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE CARBURETORS IN WHICH, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATES MAY STICK OPEN.
What could happen:
The fix: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CARBURETOR AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 MARK V.
- Book a repair at any authorized Lincoln dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 77V161000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE CARBURETORS IN WHICH, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATES MAY STICK OPEN.
Consequence:
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CARBURETOR AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 460 CIDENGINES.SYSTEM: THROTTLE LINKAGES; THROTTLE LEVER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IN THE EVENT OF THROTTLE STICKING, THE VEHICLE MAYCONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. CONTINUOUSACCELERATION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING AND LEAD TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROLAND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE CONDITION OCCURRING CAN BE REDUCED BY AVOIDING FULLOR NEARLY FULL DEPRESSIONS OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS DURING HIGH ACCELERATIONOR FULL POWER OPERATIONS.
3. Transmission / drivetrain
What's wrong, in plain English: The parts that send engine power to the wheels. Failure can mean a sudden loss of power or the car rolling away. ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE PARK ACTUATION SUPPORT PLATES ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. AS A RESULT, FRAGMENTS FROM A BROKEN PLATE CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MECHANISM. THIS COULD PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION, OR PREVENT THE PAWL FROM BEI…
What could happen:
The fix: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PARK ACTUATION CAM SUPPORT PLATES, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1978 MARK V.
- Book a repair at any authorized Lincoln dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 77V185000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
Summary: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE PARK ACTUATION SUPPORT PLATES ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. AS A RESULT, FRAGMENTS FROM A BROKEN PLATE CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MECHANISM. THIS COULD PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION, OR PREVENT THE PAWL FROM BEING DISENGAGED FROM THE PARK GEAR.
Consequence:
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PARK ACTUATION CAM SUPPORT PLATES, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH C-6AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.SYSTEM: POWER TRAIN; PARK ACTUATION GEAR SUPPORT PLATES.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN THE PARK MODE WITHOUT THEPARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, THE PARKING PAWL MAY NOT ENGAGE THE "PARK" GEAR AND THEVEHICLE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO ROLL FREE CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONALINJURIES.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Wheels / tires (2).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (2)
04/18/1996 · Wheels / tires
WHILE DRIVING LINCOLN MARK V 1978, (2) TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEED, LOSING TREADS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
04/18/1996 · Wheels / tires
WHILE DRIVING LINCOLN MARK V 1978, (2) TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEED, LOSING TREADS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK