VehicleVerdict

2008 Lincoln MKZ problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 328 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.5 times the median MKZ year — the 2008 model ranks #1 of 15 MKZ years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

The trouble concentrates in one system: airbags issues account for 51% of all reports (167 of 328), far ahead of brakes at 78.

328

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

4

Investigations

20

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

7

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2008 compare to other MKZ years?

MKZ NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted328 complaints2006: 0 complaints2007: 305 complaints2008: 328 complaints2009: 129 complaints2010: 197 complaints2011: 180 complaints2012: 176 complaints2013: 146 complaints2014: 130 complaints2015: 100 complaints2016: 77 complaints2017: 176 complaints2018: 36 complaints2019: 18 complaints2020: 2 complaints
MKZ NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all MKZ years to avoid →

What are the most common 2008 Lincoln MKZ problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags16751%
Brakes7824%
Tires & Wheels3511%
Electrical System93%
Transmission62%
Body & Structure62%
Other62%
Engine62%
Speed Control52%
Lighting31%
Visibility & Wipers10%
Fuel System10%
Latches & Locks10%
Seat Belts10%
Seats10%
Steering10%
Suspension10%

Does the 2008 Lincoln MKZ have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V158000AirbagsMarch 10, 2021 · 2,602,668 units

Defect

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.

19V904000BrakesDecember 18, 2019 · 600,166 units

Defect

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.

17V024000AirbagsJanuary 10, 2017 · 654,695 units

Defect

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.

16V384000AirbagsMay 31, 2016 · 1,892,343 units

Defect

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.

14E028000OtherMay 29, 2014 · 82,579 units

Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.

Consequence

The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S07. NOTE: Vehicles built after October 31, 2010, while potentially equipped with the same floor mats, are equipped with a Brake Over Accelerator (BOA) feature that prevents simultaneous accelerator and brake application, allowing the vehicle to be safely stopped by pressing firmly and steadily on the brake pedal.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · December 15, 2009 · crash

“SOFT AND LONG TRAVEL BRAKE PEDDLE, OCCASIONALLY PEDDLE WILL TRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. SCARY STOPPING. INTERMITTENT PEDDLE TRAVEL. SOMETIMES CORRECTED WITH HEAVY PUMPING. NEVER KNOW WHICH BRAKE PEDDLE WILL OCCUR. SPONGY PEDDLE FEEL CAN OCCUR ON STOPPING AND CAN ALSO BE FELT WHEN IN PARK OR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 7, 2016 · crash

“AIR PRESSURE ISSUES ON 3 OF MY TIRES. THE RIM?S CHROME PLATING IS FLAKING OFF, AND TIRES CONSISTENTLY LOSE AIR PRESSURE. I CONTACTED MY DEALER, BUT NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. I PURCHASED THIS AUTO NEW AND IT HAS ALWAYS HAS BEEN GARAGED. I DO LIVE IN THE BOSTON AREA SO DO HAVE EXTREME WEATHER. THIS IS A…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · January 8, 2015

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT PURCHASED AN IGNITION COIL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A REPLACEMENT COIL WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 3, 2016

“THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS A FLAT TIRE AND HAS A BAD VIBRATION INSIDE THE CAR. IT DOES IT DURING MOTION AND WHEN STOPPING. SEEM TO BE BAD WHEN ITS COLD. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUR TO BAD CARRIER BEARINGS. THIS IS A AWD CAR.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · February 8, 2018

2008 Lincoln MKZ — common questions

Is the 2008 Lincoln MKZ reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 328 complaints put the 2008 model at #1 of 15 MKZ years. It is one of the MKZ years to avoid.

What are the most common 2008 MKZ problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (167 complaints), brakes (78 complaints), tires & wheels (35 complaints).

Does the 2008 Lincoln MKZ have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2008 Lincoln MKZ. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2008 Lincoln MKZ under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 4 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Lincoln MKZ years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the MKZ years to avoid are 2008, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. The cleanest record among MKZ years belongs to 2006.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.