2008 Lincoln MKZ: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING THE SUNLIGHT REFLECTION COMBINED WITH THE CONTRAST FROM THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL IMPAIRED HIS VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN ADDED A BLACK COVERING FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANELS SURFACE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 11/10/09 *BF UPDATED 11/13/09.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284147 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE FRONTAIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE MASSIVE IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $13,000 IN DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,458. JS

Owner-reported narrative. 22,458 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297973 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

TIRE WHEEL RIMS HAVE CHROME LIFTING OFF RESULTING IN LOW TIRE PRESSURE. LOST 10 PERCENT TIRE PRESSURE IN 30 DAYS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 41,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474107 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS PROCEEDING DOWN A RAMP TO ENTER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. I PUT MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO ANY GREAT EXTENT AS THE ENGINE WAS RACING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEM TO BE OFF THE FLOOR ( NOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR ) AT THE TIME. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT MY SPEED WAS 85 MPH WHEN I PUT THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED THE CAR IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE. AT THIS TIM…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479693 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME ON ALL FOUR WHEELS WAS FLAKING OFF AND AS A RESULT THE ALUMINUM WAS CAUSING LACK OF TIRE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SEALED THE RIMS AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,800.

Owner-reported narrative. 41,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480861 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-05-31 (May 31, 2016)

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, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2017-01-10 (January 10, 2017)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ 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 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. 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.

Reported: 2019-12-18 (December 18, 2019)

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.

Consequence: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2021-03-10 (March 10, 2021)

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.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: 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.