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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Lincoln MKZ problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

114 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

68,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 114 complaints (57.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2723.7%
Steering behavior32.6%
Transmission and shifting10.9%
Engine operation10.9%
Electrical and battery issues10.9%

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.

Air Bags
66
Service Brakes
18
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7
Power Train
5
Unknown Or Other
5
Wheels
5
Engine
4
Vehicle Speed Control
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags66
Service Brakes18
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Power Train5
Unknown Or Other5
Wheels5
Engine4
Vehicle Speed Control4

Air Bags: 66; Service Brakes: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Power Train: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Wheels: 5; Engine: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 76 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.

2010
1
2011
2
2012
2
2013
2
2014
4
2015
3
2016
5
2017
39
2018
26
2019
2
2020
12
2021
9
2022
3
2023
1
2025
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20101
20112
20122
20132
20144
20153
20165
201739
201826
20192
202012
20219
20223
20231
20253

2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2017: 39; 2018: 26; 2019: 2; 2020: 12; 2021: 9; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2025: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10505683 · 2013-04-09 (April 9, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY REQUESTED A BLACK BOX DATA RECORDER TO BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEVICE WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND IT DETECTED A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES AND THE THROTTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIM…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,195 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505683 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10631762 · 2014-09-09 (September 9, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A DRIVEWAY WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND EXCESSIVE PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 10/07/14*LJ UPDATED 10/22/14*CN UPDATED 3/16/2015 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631762 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10468488 · 2012-07-31 (July 31, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WOULD CONSTANTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED AND REALIGNED THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,198. UPDATED 08/30/12 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 30,198 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468488 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10641875 · 2014-10-06 (October 6, 2014)

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN STEERING WAS LOST AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CAR WENT INTO THE OPPOSING LANE BUT THANKFULLY THERE WERE NO CARS AT THE LIGHT. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AGAIN, THE STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. TOOK CAR INTO LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING BUT SAID THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BAD AND THERE WAS AN ISSUE COMMUNICATING WITH THE PCM. THE THROTTLE BODY AND PCM WERE BOTH REPLACED. WE HAVE NOT HAD IT OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 25,341 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641875 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10851337 · 2016-03-24 (March 24, 2016)

THE AWD PTU UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MY CAR TWICE IN UNDER 85,000 MILES AND JUST OVER 6 YEARS. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 51,000 MILES AND THE SECOND TIME WAS JUST AROUND 85,000 MILES. BOTH TIMES, I NOTICED A DARK OIL SPOT ON MY CEMENT DRIVEWAY. THE SECOND TIME, I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS AN OIL LEAK, SINCE I HAD JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND DIDN'T MAKE AN APPOINTMENT RIGHT AWAY BUT THEN REALIZED IT WAS TOO DARK FOR OIL AND WAS ACTUALLY THE PTU UNIT AGAIN. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I DIDN'T NOTICE THE LEAKING GEAR OIL AND TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 85,508 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851337 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11143595 · 2018-10-29 (October 29, 2018)

"TAKATA RECALL" COMING OF HIGWAY ON RAMP CAR ACCELERATED TIRES FELT LIKE THEY WERE GONNA COME OFF ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED THEN DASHBOARD WENT OUT THEN LOSS OF POWER. SO TIRED OF THIS CAR BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND THE ONLY RECALL I GET IS POWER STEERING. MY DOOR LOCK AND WINDOW ON DRIVER SIDE IS NOT WORKING AGAIN!!!~THE DOOR AND WINDOW WERE ALREADY BROKE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. SHOULD BE A LAW AGAINST LEMONS.. ONE BIG MONEY BAG!!!

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11143595 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10644165 · 2014-10-12 (October 12, 2014)

GREETING....ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE WARNING INDICATOR/LIGHT RELATIVE TO DRIVER'S SEAT BELT/AIR BAG. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE MATTER WAS CORRECTED. HOWEVER TODAY 12 OCT. 2014 THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE TECH REPORTED THAT PERSONS RIDING BEHIND THE DRIVER DID/MAYBE CAUSED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS IS EXPOSED. THE SECOND INCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN I WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644165 at NHTSA ↗