KnownCarProblems2010 Lincoln Mkz Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 169 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Lincoln Mkz, most often about the air bags (57% of complaints, typically around 66,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Mkz model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory3 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2010 Lincoln Mkz problems
Air bags
96 complaints · 57%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: side/window.
My 2010 Lincoln Mkz car was struck directly on the drivers door on december 29, 2014 by another car at an estimated 45 MPH. Side impact airbags failed to deploy resulting in driver being badly injured. This accident occurred on a city intersection where the other driver ran a red light.
I was notified of this recall for airbags and told to get a rental car as my car is not safe. My car has been sitting since 6/04/18 (130 days) I am stuck driving a ford fusion with little to no option while I make a payment on a car that I do not get to enjoy. My car is in my driveway and in the way it is sitting and…
Brakes
37 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 106,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, disc, antilock, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
One evening I got into my car and was heading home from work when I used the brakes and they went all the way to the floor. I had no brakes. The part I replaced was the hydraulic brake control unit. It cost me almost 700.00 to repair. I have the proper paperwork if you need to see the repair order. Pretty ironic that…
The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln Mkz. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle cut her off. As a result, the contactâs wife abruptly depressed the brake pedal, but extra force had to be applied to stop the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was…
Lights
11 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles.
I took my 2010 Lincoln in to a local garage for annual state inspection. I was told that it would not pass inspection due to both rear brake lights not functioning when parking/headlights are on. I then took it to an authorized ford dealer. They also failed it for a safety inspection sticker and I was told that I…
Mkz right side outer LED taillight assembly is displaying all three bands of LED's at all times, instead of only when braking. The correct display without braking is only the center LED band. Also, at random times, the three LED bands flash as if a turn signal is activated, when it is not. These conditions cause other…
Speed control
10 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
I was parked almost perpendicular to the curb (that was the way the parking spots were set.) I put the car into reverse and was about to back out when I saw a car in my rear view. I quickly shifted into drive and put my foot on the brake. The car suddenly accelerated forward about a foot or more before striking a lamp…
The contact owned a 2010 Lincoln Mkz. While pulling off from a stop sign and making a right turn, the vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into a pole. The brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained an injury to the right…
Electrical
10 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles.
I took my 2010 Lincoln in to a local garage for annual state inspection. I was told that it would not pass inspection due to both rear brake lights not functioning when parking/headlights are on. I then took it to an authorized ford dealer. They also failed it for a safety inspection sticker and I was told that I…
Mkz right side outer LED taillight assembly is displaying all three bands of LED's at all times, instead of only when braking. The correct display without braking is only the center LED band. Also, at random times, the three LED bands flash as if a turn signal is activated, when it is not. These conditions cause other…
Engine
5 complaints · 3%I was driving my vehicle on a highway when the car stalled out. I tried repeatedly to re-start but it kept stalling. The car was towed to a Lincoln dealership near my home and it was determined that the throttle body and PCM had to be replaced which cost me $2128. At the time of the incident, my car had 91,860 miles.…
The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln Mkz. The contact stated that the water pump failed causing antifreeze to leak into the oil. As a result of the failure, the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle failure was diagnosed at sioux falls ford (4901 w 26th st, sioux falls, sd 57106 ([phone]). The…
Transmission
4 complaints · 2%Backed crookedly into parking slot in public parking lot. Tried to straighten car in slot by slowly moving forward. Car on its own lurched ahead at high rate of speed; brakes had little effect and I struck a parked car. Somehow shifted into reverse and car on its own gained ferocious speed traveling backwards. This…
The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln Mkz. The contact stated that the vehicle could be shifted from park into drive without depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, on occasions the vehicle shifted out of park into drive independently and rolled away. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and attempting to…
Body and structure
4 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: body.
I was parked almost perpendicular to the curb (that was the way the parking spots were set.) I put the car into reverse and was about to back out when I saw a car in my rear view. I quickly shifted into drive and put my foot on the brake. The car suddenly accelerated forward about a foot or more before striking a lamp…
The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln Mkz. The contact stated that the interior front driver side door handle fractured. The contact lowered the driver side window glass to access the exterior door handle in order to exit the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the door handle. The manufacturer was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Lincoln Mkz recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on april 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and november 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s12.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 ranger, 2006-2012 fusion, lincoln zephyr, lincoln mkz, 2006-2011 mercury milan, 2007-2010 ford edge, and lincoln mkx vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began march 17, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s05.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 mustang, 2004-2011 ranger, 2009-2011 mercury milan, 2006 ford gt, 2008-2012 fusion, 2007-2010 edge and lincoln mkx, and 2009-2010 lincoln mkz vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with dot 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the hcu will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the hcu as necessary. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began april 1, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s54.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 ford fusion, mercury milan, lincoln zephyr and mkz vehicles. The valves within the ABS hydraulic control units (hcu) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 13, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2014 ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, ford is recalling certain 2011 ford ranger and mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 ford fusion and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles and 2011-2014 ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone b." ford is also recalling certain 2010 ford edge and lincoln mkx vehicles, 2010-2011 ford ranger and mercury mi
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began november 21, 2018. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18s34.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2010 ford fusion, mercury milan and 2010-2012 lincoln mkz vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16v-384, 17v-024 or 18v-046. In the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing may deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2013 ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, ford is recalling certain 2010 ford edge, fusion, mustang and ranger, lincoln mkx and zephyr/mkz, and mercury milan vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone b." ford is also recalling certain 2009 ford edge, fusion, mustang and ranger, lincoln mkx and zephyr/mkz, and mercury milan vehicles ever registered in the st
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on july 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 ford ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 ford fusion, mercury milan and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2007-2010 ford edge, lincoln mkx vehicles, 2005-2006 ford gt vehicles, and 2005-2011 ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 ford ranger, edge and lincoln mkx vehicles, 2006-2008 ford fusion, mercury milan and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2005-2006 ford gt vehicles and 2005-2008 ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana,
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Electric power steering failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate complaints of the loss of power steering while driving. The subject vehicles are equipped with a rack mounted electric power assisted steering (epas) unit.some of the complaints alleged that the steering assist failed and resulted in increased steering efforts that contributed to a loss of control and in some cases a crash.the epas system was manufactured by trw automotive for ford and was designated as generation I.these units were first produced and put into vehicle production in july 2008 beginning with the model year (my) 2010 ford fusion and mercury milan.the system is comprised of a mechanical stee
Floor mat interference with accelerator
Summary
On may 27, 2014, ford motor company submitted recall 14e-028 (ford recall #14s07) to correct a safety-related problem with certain driver's side ford optional all-weather floor mats sold for use in model year 2006 through 2011 model year ford fusion, mercury milan, lincoln zephyr, and lincoln mkz vehicles built at hermosillo assembly plant (hap) from november 9, 2007, to october 31 ,2010.NHTSA testing determined that the original accessory all-weather mat with a single retention clip (figure 1), may interfere with accelerator pedal return to idle with the mat retained by the clip and rotated clockwise.both the single- and double-clip (figure 2) all-weather floor mats may interfere with the a
Accel pedal interference - acc floormat
Summary
Unsecured mats may interfere with accelerator pedal return to idle. A heel blocker in the floor pan provides a platform that may lift an unsecured mat into contact with the pedal. Ford introduced new pedals as a running change early in model year (my) 2010 vehicles. Analysis of complaints received by odi and ford show elevated rates of pedal entrapment incidents in my 2008 through early 2010 production vehicles. Incidents typically occur following hard pedal applications to pass slower traffic or when merging into faster traffic. Drivers allege continued high engine power after releasing the accelerator pedal and difficulty braking, including reports that the incident was controlled by shift
Questions about the 2010 Lincoln Mkz
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Lincoln Mkz?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (96 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles); brakes (37 complaints, typically around 106,000 miles); lights (11 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Lincoln Mkz have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 10, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Lincoln Mkz?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Mkz model year since 2000, with 169 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.