2006 Lincoln ZEPHYR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
229 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 91 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 142 of 229 complaints (62.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 3.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.3% |
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 | 142 |
| Wheels | 25 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
Air Bags: 142; Wheels: 25; Electrical System: 11; Service Brakes: 10; Unknown Or Other: 10; Engine: 9; Power Train: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 24 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 9
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 138 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 81 |
| 2018 | 45 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2011: 5; 2012: 10; 2013: 6; 2014: 10; 2015: 11; 2016: 13; 2017: 81; 2018: 45; 2019: 5; 2020: 14; 2021: 9; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10158794 · 2006-06-01 (June 1, 2006)
BRAND NEW 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. ELECTRIC DOORS DO NOT LOCK UNTIL A SPEED OF 15-18 MPH IS REACHED. FORD'S MANUAL STATES: "DOORS LOCK AT 12 MPH". DEALER COULD NOT FIX IT. CONTACTED FORD. THEY CONSIDER IT A "NON ISSUE" AND CLOSED THE FILE. I FIND THIS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE IT TAKES A LONG TIME IN BUSY COMMUTE TRAFFIC TO GAIN THIS SPEED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160496 · 2006-06-12 (June 12, 2006)
2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR LIGHT REFLECTS INTO THE REAR WINDSHIELD AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *TS ***NAR***
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10160496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166130 · 2006-08-21 (August 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PARKED VEHICLE WAS STRUCK WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. THE PARKED VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF TRAFFIC CHANGING A FLAT TIRE AND UPON INITIAL IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, DUE TO EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE. THE POLICE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND TOOK A REPORT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 09/15/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174976 · 2006-12-02 (December 2, 2006)
PURCHASED LINC ZEPHER IN JAN 2006, AUTO HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 OR 5 TIMES TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE COOLED/HEATED SETS. THE UNIT NEVER RAN FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES AND WHEN DOWN FROM THERE TO 15 MIN THEN 5 MIN THEN NOT AT ALL. DEALER REPLACED ALL PARTS RELATING TO THIS UNIT BUT SYSTEM WILL FUNCTION ON FOR 30 MINUTES NOW AT FULL CAPACITY THEN FOR THE NEXT 30 MINUTES RUN AT A DIMINISHED CAPACITY THEN AFTER 60 MINUTES IN TOTAL DOES NOT FUNCTION. SERVICE REP. STATES THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION OF THIS EQUIPMENT IT OVERHEATS AND WILL NOT WORK. EVEN THOUGH T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10174976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200351 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
ONE MICHELIN ENERGY S8 MXVA P225/50 R17 TIRE WAS LOSING AIR ON MY 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. THE WAS VISIBLE SIDE WALL SEPARATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE AND ALSO, 180 DEGREES ON THE OUTSIDE. DEALER/MICHELIN CLAIMED IS WAS RESULT OF HITTING A POT HOLE. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. HAD 20,000 MILES AT TIME OF COMPLAINT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAD SAME ISSUES WITH MICHELIN TIRES.... *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10200351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229789 · 2008-06-03 (June 3, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF OPEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING STARTED SIMPLY BY PUSHING THE REMOTE IGNITION KEY. SHE STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF COULD BE OPENED WITHOUT HER KNOWLEDGE, ALLOWING SOMEONE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE MARCH OF 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. FORD STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE REMOTE IGNITION KEY. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10255947 · 2009-01-22 (January 22, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON AN ICY ROAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL AND DECELERATED TO 35 MPH. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, STOPPED AT A REST STOP, AND CALLED A MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO THE TRACTION CONTROL, WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE ABS. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THEN IN DRIVE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIVING NORMALLY AFTER THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED. THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10262123 · 2009-03-17 (March 17, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS ON HIS VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE WHEELS CAUSE THE TIRES TO FLATTEN AND WILL NOT HOLD AIR. THE CONTACT MUST PLACE AIR IN THE TIRES EACH WEEK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW WHEELS, BUT AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,905. UPDATED 4/16/09 *CN UPDATED 04/20/09.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 43,905 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262123 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V384000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V024000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V904000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V158000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗