2010 Lincoln MKZ

◆ Worse than typical
2010 Lincoln MKZ
RENDERED 2026-08-02T10:03:47.771Z

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Lincoln MKZ Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2010 highlighted. 2006: 0 complaints 2006 2007: 259 complaints 2008: 281 complaints 2008 2009: 114 complaints 2010: 169 complaints 2010 2011: 144 complaints 2012: 146 complaints 2012 2013: 108 complaints 2014: 97 complaints 2014 2015: 75 complaints 2016: 62 complaints 2016 2017: 130 complaints 2018: 31 complaints 2018 2019: 17 complaints 2020: 2 complaints 2020
2010: 169 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
20060
2007259
2008281
2009114
2010169
2011144
2012146
2013108
201497
201575
201662
2017130
201831
201917
20202

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

AIR BAGS 56%

56% of complaints: air bags — 95 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
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, 20181206

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, 20181018

SERVICE BRAKES 15%

15% of complaints: service brakes — 26 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7%

7% of complaints: exterior lighting — 11 distinct reports on file.

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, 20250504

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%

6% of complaints: electrical system — 10 distinct reports on file.

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, 20120601

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5%

5% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 9 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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, 20181018

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, 20120601

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, 20110915

SAFETY TIMELINE

2010 — complaint volume: 169
I 20100528 — PE (closed 20130111)

Accel Pedal Interference - Acc Floormat

I 20121212 — EA (closed 20140612)

Floor mat interference with accelerator

R 20140726 — equipment

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.

Campaign 14E028000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20141002 — PE (closed 20150910)

Electric power steering failure

R 20180202 — air bags

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.

Campaign 16V384000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180521 — air bags

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.

Campaign 18V046000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20181121 — air bags

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.

Campaign 18V775000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190213 — air bags

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.

Campaign 19V001000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210317 — air bags

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.

Campaign 21E013000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210317 — air bags

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.

Campaign 21V081000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210401 — service brakes, hydraulic

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.

Campaign 19V904000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210409 — air bags

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.

Campaign 21V158000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2010 Lincoln MKZ — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for air bags issues (95 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (26 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for exterior lighting issues (11 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 14E028000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V384000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V046000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V775000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V001000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21E013000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21V081000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V904000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21V158000 (air bags) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2018 ▲ 2016 ▲ 2015

WORST YEARS

■ 2008 ■ 2007 ● 2012

See all years ranked →

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 56% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2010 Lincoln MKZ have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.