2010 Lincoln MKZ

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Lincoln MKZ has 197 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (49% of all complaints), specifically: my 2010 lincoln mkz car was struck in the drivers door on 15 april 2011 by another car at an estimated 45 mph. side impact airbags failed to deploy resulting in driver and passenger being badly injured. both vehicles were totaled. *tr.

21 crash reports 15 injuries

197

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

96 complaints

49%

• MY 2010 LINCOLN MKZ CAR WAS STRUCK IN THE DRIVERS DOOR ON 15 APRIL 2011 BY ANOTHER CAR AT AN ESTIMATED 45 MPH. SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN DRIVER AND PASSENGER BEING BADLY INJURED. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. *TR
• 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.
• TL* 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“MY 2010 LINCOLN MKZ CAR WAS STRUCK IN THE DRIVERS DOOR ON 15 APRIL 2011 BY ANOTHER CAR AT AN ESTIMATED 45 MPH. SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN DRIVER AND PASSENGER BEING BADLY INJURED. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

40 complaints

20%

• WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE CAR'S REAR SENSORS SOUNDED. SINCE I THOUGHT THERE WAS STILL 3 OR 4 FEET OF SPACE TO A CHAIN LINK FENCE BEHIND THE CAR, I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE. THERE WAS ROOM, SO I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR & CONTINUED TO BACK UP SLOWLY WHILE LOOKING OUT THE OPEN DRIVER DOOR. WH
• IN A STOPPING SITUATION TODAY I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN LOST ALL BRAKE PRESSURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND A RUBBER FLEX HOSE RIGHT OFF THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD BLOWN OUT. THIS IS IN AN AREA THAT IS NOT VERY EASY TO GET TO NOR IS IT NEAR THE BOTTOM WHERE SALT AND ROAD
• 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 CO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE CAR'S REAR SENSORS SOUNDED. SINCE I THOUGHT THERE WAS STILL 3 OR 4 FEET OF SPACE TO A CHAIN LINK FENCE BEHIND THE CAR, I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE. THERE WAS ROOM, SO I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR & CONTINUED TO BACK UP SLOWLY WHILE LOOKING OUT THE OPEN DRIVER DOOR. WH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

11 complaints

• 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
• 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 CO
• PASSENGER SIDE OUTSIDE LED TAILLIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT IS NOW FLASHING, AS IF A RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WERE ACTIVATED, BUT WHEN NO TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO A PRIOR REPORTED DEFECT WHERE THE SAME PASSENGER SIDE LED TAILLIGHT DISPLAYS A LIGHT CONDITION AS IF BRAKING, WHEN CAR IS NOT ACTU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

10 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED
• DRIVING AT 35 MPH, TRIED TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. CAR WOULD NOT SLOW, BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE AGAINST THE MOTOR THAT WAS STUCK ACCELERATING. I PUT CAR IN NUETRAL ( AS CAR ENGINE RACED) AND COASTED INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT. I SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTARTED. ENGINE REVS WERE NORMAL. I PUT CAR BA
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 9 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints

• DRIVING AT 35 MPH, TRIED TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. CAR WOULD NOT SLOW, BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE AGAINST THE MOTOR THAT WAS STUCK ACCELERATING. I PUT CAR IN NUETRAL ( AS CAR ENGINE RACED) AND COASTED INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT. I SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTARTED. ENGINE REVS WERE NORMAL. I PUT CAR BA
• 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
• EXCESSIVE HEATING OF HEATED/COOLED FRONT SEATS AT APPROX. 40,000 MILES. TEMPERATURE TOO HIGH TO TOUCH. AT 50,600 MILES, DCSM MODULE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT AND ASSOCIATED PIGTAIL WIRING BURNED UP, MELTING CONNECTOR AND WIRING. DEALER EVALUATED PRIOR OVER HEATING OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS AS N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“DRIVING AT 35 MPH, TRIED TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. CAR WOULD NOT SLOW, BRAKES WERE INEFFECTIVE AGAINST THE MOTOR THAT WAS STUCK ACCELERATING. I PUT CAR IN NUETRAL ( AS CAR ENGINE RACED) AND COASTED INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT. I SHUT OFF CAR AND RESTARTED. ENGINE REVS WERE NORMAL. I PUT CAR BA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 197 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: MY 2010 LINCOLN MKZ CAR WAS STRUCK IN THE DRIVERS DOOR ON 15 APRIL 2011 BY ANOTHER CAR AT AN ESTIMATED 45 MPH. SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN DRIVER AND PASSENGER BEING BADLY INJURED. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE CAR'S REAR SENSORS SOUNDED. SINCE I THOUGHT THERE WAS STILL 3 OR 4 FEET OF SPACE TO A CHAIN LINK FENCE BEHIND THE CAR, I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE. THERE WAS ROOM, SO I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR & CONTINUED TO BACK UP SLOWLY WHILE LOOKING OUT THE OPEN DRIVER DOOR. WH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)