Vehicle recall 98V009000 · January 21, 1998
Lincoln Continental, Lincoln Mark Viii and 2 more models
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The headlights can flash intermittently as a result of the circuit breaker opening. The vehicle's headlights can go out for brief intervals.
- Consequence
- Loss of headlights during vehicle operation can affect a driver's ability to navigate the roadway and reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a headlight switch that incorporates a cricuit breaker of revised design and installation of a wiring harness connector and wiring, if needed.
- Notes
- Owner notification is expected to begin April 15, 1998. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.ALSO contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 98V009000
- Reported to NHTSA
- January 21, 1998
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- April 15, 1998
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 506,000
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford Taurus (1993-1994): 1994, 1993
- Lincoln Continental (1993-1994): 1994, 1993
- Lincoln Mark Viii (1993-1994): 1994, 1993
- Mercury Sable (1993-1994): 1994, 1993
Has your Ford been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. Recall repairs are free.