2008 Lincoln MKZ problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
281 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
80,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 164 of 281 complaints (58.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 71 | 25.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 1.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 1.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 164 |
| Service Brakes | 52 |
| Wheels | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
Air Bags: 164; Service Brakes: 52; Wheels: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 22; Electrical System: 6; Power Train: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Engine: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 33 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 164 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 90 |
| 2018 | 66 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 11; 2015: 13; 2016: 28; 2017: 90; 2018: 66; 2019: 11; 2020: 19; 2021: 23; 2022: 5; 2023: 2; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 71 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10300470 · 2010-01-20 (January 20, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN SLIGHTLY AND DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT MADE A RIGHT TURN, ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AGAIN AND FORCED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LINCOLN DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE DEALER W…
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10300470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367740 · 2010-11-24 (November 24, 2010)
THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ON MY LINCOLN MKZ ARE LOCATED SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AND AT THE SAME HEIGHT THAT I HAVE TWICE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION INSTEAD OF BRAKING WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE I DID NOT MOVE MY FOOT ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE INQUIRED TO MY DEALER ABOUT MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE BRAKES PEDAL HEIGHT OR SPACING BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THIS COULD NOT BE DONE. THIS DESIGN IS AN "ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN" AND I AM LUCKY THAT IN BOTH INSTANCES I WAS ABLE TO REACT IN TIME TO AVOID ONE. IF THIS HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11103681 · 2018-06-24 (June 24, 2018)
CAR KNOCKS AND JOLTS WHEN SHIFTING, WON'T SHIFT GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING.
Owner-reported narrative. 182,690 miles reported. Look up ODI 11103681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10946357 · 2017-01-19 (January 19, 2017)
THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK INTO IT AND THEREFORE SHORTS OUT ELECTRICAL ITEMS. SO FAR I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY BATTERY, THE STARTER FUSE, AND THE TAIL LIGHT FUSE. REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO HAVE TAILLIGHTS AGAIN ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON THE FREEWAY ONE NIGHT BECAUSE MY TAILLIGHT FUSE SHORTED OUT DURING THE DRIVE. THE WATER IN THE HEAD LIGHT ACCUMULATED OVER TIME, SO I CANNOT PINPOINT EXACTLY WHEN THE SEAL BROKE, BUT THERE IS NO REPAIRING THE SEAL. I'VE BEEN ON MANY V…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10946357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11180100 · 2019-02-14 (February 14, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN ALL THE VEHICLE'S DOORS, THE DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED. ALSO, THE REAR LOCKS FAILED TO OPERATE THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL MOTOR SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360876 · 2010-10-18 (October 18, 2010)
2008 LINCOLN MKZ. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING UNRESOLVED DRIVER DISTRACTIONS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DISPLAYS ON THE MESSAGE CENTER SUCH AS THE ODOMETER, COMPASS AND RADIO ARE UNREADABLE ON A REASONABLY BRIGHT DAY WITHOUT SERIOUS PROLONGED DISTRACTION FROM THE ROADWAY. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION CONTROL TO INCREASE VISIBILITY AND THE DISPLAY SURFACES ARE GLOSSY, EASILY REFLECTING NEARBY IMAGES. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE ADDED SOME FLAT BLACK TAPE TO THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND WHEEL WHICH HAS HELPED A LITTLE WIT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10360876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11204464 · 2019-04-29 (April 29, 2019)
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND HEARD A BREAKING SOUND. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I FOUND THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WERE BOTH POINTED INWARDS (PIGEON-TOED) A SEVERE AMOUNT. A FLAT-BED TRUCK WAS CALLED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE REPORT FROM THE FORD DEALER IS THAT AN OUTER TIE-ROD END HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY THROUGH IN WHAT WOULD BE CHARACTERIZED AS A BRITTLE FRACTURE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THERE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821766 · 2016-01-22 (January 22, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,197.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,197 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821766 at NHTSA ↗