NHTSA Complaint #10176001 — 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1996 LINCOLN MARK VIII EQUIPPED WITH LUMINARC HIGH INTENSITY HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 56,089 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS FAILED AND APPARENTLY IS NO LONGER SERVICEABLE. THE MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE SIMPLE REPLACEMENT OF A LIGHT BULB BUT INSTEAD REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $900.00 PLUS LABOR PER SIDE. 97 AND 98 MODELS ARE DESIGNED FOR SIMPLE BULB REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $260.00 PER BULB. WHILE INVESTIGATING THE FACILITATING OF HEAD LIGHT REPAIRS FOR MY AUTOMOBILE I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR 1996 MODEL CARS ARE OBSOLETE AND REPLACEMENT BULBS FOR 1997-1998 MODEL CARS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AND ARE NOT DUE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER 3-4 MONTHS. MY INTERNET RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF OWNERS IN SIMILAR PERIL. WE ARE ALL SCRAMBLING FOR SOLUTIONS TO KEEP OUR AUTOS ON THE ROAD BOTH SAFELY AND LEGALLY. INTERNET SEARCHES FOR USED PARTS (LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE ACTUALLY REFERS YOU TO PRIVATE USED PARTS DEALERS RATHER THAN SUPPLY PARTS THEMSELVES), POSSIBLE NEW PARTS AND EVEN FABRICATED NEW LIGHT SYSTEMS (QUESTIONABLE LEGALITY) ARE BEING PURSUED. IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THERE ARE NO GOOD SOLUTIONS AND WE OWNERS HAVE FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DESIGNED A VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM THAT HAS FAILED TO LAST OR BE SUCCESSFULLY SERVICED WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S USEFUL LIFESPAN. IN CLOSING, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS CREATED A CLASS OF CAR OWNER THAT CAN NOT KEEP HIS CAR STREET LEGAL OR SAFE. FORD HAS ABANDONED THESE OWNERS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN PURSUIT OF SAFETY. THESE ARE NOT ANCIENT CARS, THEY ARE WELL WITHIN THEIR USEFUL LIFESPAN AND FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FACILITATING THEIR SAFE OPERATION DURING THAT TIME. CURRENTLY, FORD HAS NO REASONABLE ANSWERS AND THE SITUATION THEY HAVE CREATED IS WHOLLY ABSURD. CORY A. DAVID. *NM