MYRModel Year Report

2010 Lincoln MKZ

◆ Worse than typical
2010 Lincoln MKZ
RENDERED 2026-11-01T13:57:12.652Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
169
Recalls
9

Campaigns on file for 2010

Investigations
3

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

57% of complaints

Complaints per year

2007: 259 complaints 2007 2008: 281 complaints 2009: 114 complaints 2010: 169 complaints 2010 169 2011: 145 complaints 2012: 146 complaints 2013: 109 complaints 2013 2014: 97 complaints 2015: 80 complaints 2015 2016: 65 complaints 2017: 139 complaints 2017 2018: 36 complaints 2019: 21 complaints 2019 2020: 2 complaints
2007: 259 complaints 2007 2008: 281 complaints 2008 2009: 114 complaints 2009 2010: 169 complaints 2010 169 2011: 145 complaints 2011 2012: 146 complaints 2012 2013: 109 complaints 2013 2014: 97 complaints 2014 2015: 80 complaints 2015 2016: 65 complaints 2016 2017: 139 complaints 2017 2018: 36 complaints 2018 2019: 21 complaints 2019 2020: 2 complaints 2020
2007: 259 complaints 2007 2008: 281 complaints 2008 2009: 114 complaints 2009 2010: 169 complaints 2010 169 2011: 145 complaints 2011 2012: 146 complaints 2012 2013: 109 complaints 2013 2014: 97 complaints 2014 2015: 80 complaints 2015 2016: 65 complaints 2016 2017: 139 complaints 2017 2018: 36 complaints 2018 2019: 21 complaints 2019 2020: 2 complaints 2020

2010: 169 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
20060
2007259
2008281
2009114
2010169
2011145
2012146
2013109
201497
201580
201665
2017139
201836
201921
20202

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

57% · 96 reports

Most commonly citing side/window.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Lincoln MKZ. While the contact was driving at an unknown speed and turning left, the front driver's side was struck by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-12-06

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln MKZ. While driving on a rocky driveway, the vehicle skidded to the left and accelerated at a high rate of speed. The vehicle crashed into a ditch. The driver sustained a head injury.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-10-18

Also filed under Vehicle speed control

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2011-06-08

Service brakes

24% · 40 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Exterior lighting

7% · 11 reports
Show complaint excerpts

I bought this car and it started making a tick sound and when I got it home the drive train was hanging

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-05-04

Also filed under Power train

Electrical system

6% · 10 reports
CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-06-01

Also filed under Vehicle speed control and power train

Vehicle speed control

6% · 10 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2011-09-15

Safety timeline

9 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2010Complaint volume 169 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    2010-05-28Preliminary evaluationClosed 2013-01-11 Accel Pedal Interference - Acc Floormat
  3. I
    2012-12-12Engineering analysisClosed 2014-06-12 Floor mat interference with accelerator
  4. R
    2014-07-26Equipment14E028000 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,...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2014-10-02Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-09-10 Electric power steering failure
  6. R
    2018-02-02Air bags16V384000 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...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2018-05-21Air bags18V046000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the...

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2018-11-21Air bags18V775000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16V-384, 17V-024 or 18V-046.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S34.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2019-02-13Air bags19V001000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the...

    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. The recall began February 13, 2019.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2021-03-17Air bags21E013000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair.

    Remedy: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2021-03-17Air bags21V081000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2021-04-01Service brakes, hydraulic19V904000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2021-04-09Air bags21V158000 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.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2010 Lincoln MKZ — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 96 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 40 reports on file for this year.
  • Exterior lighting: 11 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 14E028000 · Equipment
  • Recall 16V384000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V046000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V775000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V001000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21E013000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21V081000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V904000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 21V158000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years2 years

FAQ

Is the 2010 Lincoln MKZ reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Lincoln MKZ?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 57% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2010 Lincoln MKZ have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.