VehicleVerdict

2006 Lincoln Zephyr problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 277 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 277.0 times the median Zephyr year — the 2006 model ranks #1 of 8 Zephyr years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 18 injuries in total across these filings.

The trouble concentrates in one system: airbags issues account for 51% of all reports (142 of 277), far ahead of tires & wheels at 32.

277

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

0

Investigations

13

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

18

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2006 compare to other Zephyr years?

Zephyr NHTSA complaints by model year, 2006 highlighted277 complaints2003: 1 complaints2006: 277 complaints2007: 3 complaints2008: 7 complaints2009: 0 complaints2010: 0 complaints2011: 1 complaints2012: 0 complaints
Zephyr NHTSA complaints by model year, 2006 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Zephyr years to avoid →

What are the most common 2006 Lincoln Zephyr problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags14251%
Tires & Wheels3212%
Electrical System135%
Brakes135%
Body & Structure135%
Engine124%
Transmission114%
Other104%
Speed Control93%
Fuel System52%
Seats31%
Steering31%
Latches & Locks31%
Suspension31%
Visibility & Wipers21%
Driver Assistance21%
Lighting10%

Does the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr 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.

I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF A GROCERY STOREAND APPLIED THE BRAKE BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE NEXT THING I K NEW THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD WALL. THE CAR HIT THE WALL B WITH FORCE THAT EMPLOYED MY AIR BAG.AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · September 28, 2018 · crash

THE 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 40 AND THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW UP. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAUSE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE ORIGINAL ALUMINUM LINCOLN-FACTORY WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC ALSO INSPECTED THE OTHER THREE WHEELS AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS CONTINUING…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · October 17, 2012 · crash

I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF A GROCERY STOREAND APPLIED THE BRAKE BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE NEXT THING I K NEW THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD WALL. THE CAR HIT THE WALL B WITH FORCE THAT EMPLOYED MY AIR BAG.AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · September 28, 2018 · crash

IN NOVEMBER OF 2011, THE CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR INSTANTLY CUT OFF. THE PCM AND IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. IN JULY OF 2013 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO STUTTER AND IT CUT OFF. THE CAR WAS TAKEN…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · November 7, 2011

I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF A GROCERY STOREAND APPLIED THE BRAKE BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE NEXT THING I K NEW THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD WALL. THE CAR HIT THE WALL B WITH FORCE THAT EMPLOYED MY AIR BAG.AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · September 28, 2018 · crash

2006 Lincoln Zephyr — common questions

Is the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 277 complaints put the 2006 model at #1 of 8 Zephyr years. It is one of the Zephyr years to avoid.

What are the most common 2006 Zephyr problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (142 complaints), tires & wheels (32 complaints), brakes (13 complaints).

Does the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Lincoln Zephyr years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Zephyr years to avoid are 2006. The cleanest record among Zephyr years belongs to 2012.

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.