Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
170–25K
325–50K
750–75K
775–100K
9100–150K
4150K+
47 reports with mileage · 9 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
56 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2024
Service BrakesSuspension
The brakes keep failing on my 09 Lincoln mks. It has happen 4 times. Each time 4 different shops said the brake booster, abs system or master cylinder is bad. Have replaced each time and it will last 6 months and it the brakes will go bad again. A few times I was in traffic and couldn’t stop until the last minute luckily I haven…
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The brakes keep failing on my 09 Lincoln mks. It has happen 4 times. Each time 4 different shops said the brake booster, abs system or master cylinder is bad. Have replaced each time and it will last 6 months and it the brakes will go bad again. A few times I was in traffic and couldn’t stop until the last minute luckily I haven’t ran into anyone yet . That’s a very scary situation. Yes I have took to a dealer and independent service centers. No it haven’t been inspected by manufacture no more than the dealership I got it from. No warnings or anything other than the brake paddle going all the way to then floor. I’ve also had problems with the sway bar. They have been replaced twice. I have been on many forums and even people I have ran into say their Lincoln is doing the same exact thing. Please we need answers
NHTSA ODI #11629525
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2023
Engine
Water pump failure.
NHTSA ODI #11502365
86,400 miles · Nov 6, 2020
Engine
AS I WAS DRVING THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING OR NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN AT 86,000 MILES AFTER BUYING IT AT 66,000 MILES FROM LEXUS OF LINCOLN. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY COLD NOT DO ANYTHING AND NOW B…
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AS I WAS DRVING THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING OR NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS BLOWN AT 86,000 MILES AFTER BUYING IT AT 66,000 MILES FROM LEXUS OF LINCOLN. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY COLD NOT DO ANYTHING AND NOW BEING STUCK WITH A $6000 LOAN ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI #11373512
124,000 miles · Feb 18, 2020
Air BagsCrashFireInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE THE DRIVER WAS AT A STOPPED SIGN AND WHILE PRECEDING INTO THE INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS A FIRE WAS STARTED. HOWEVER, THE FLAMES EXTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AND THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE THE DRIVER WAS AT A STOPPED SIGN AND WHILE PRECEDING INTO THE INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS A FIRE WAS STARTED. HOWEVER, THE FLAMES EXTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AND THE VEHICLE CABIN WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE'S RIGHT SIDE COAT SLEEVE WAS ON FIRE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HIS WIFE PATTED THE COAT SLEEVE TO EXTINGUISH THE COAT FLAMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS GASES AS THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR POLICE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WENT TO URGENT CARE FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT DUE TO SHOULDER PAIN AND THE INJURIES TO HER WRIST FROM THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS HE HAD THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
NHTSA ODI #11309952
150,000 miles · Jan 16, 2020
Engine
I GOT IN MY VEHICLE 1 MORNING AND NOTICED KNOCKING ONCE I STARTED IT. A VERY LIGHT KNOCK. I IMMEDIATELY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I CHECKED AND CHANGED MY OIL. THE OIL WAS MILKY AND I SUSPECTED THAT COOLANT WAS BEING MIXED WITH OIL. I HAVE ALWAYS GOT MY OIL CHANGED WHEN REQUIRED. MY CAR HAS NEVER RAN HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS S…
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I GOT IN MY VEHICLE 1 MORNING AND NOTICED KNOCKING ONCE I STARTED IT. A VERY LIGHT KNOCK. I IMMEDIATELY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I CHECKED AND CHANGED MY OIL. THE OIL WAS MILKY AND I SUSPECTED THAT COOLANT WAS BEING MIXED WITH OIL. I HAVE ALWAYS GOT MY OIL CHANGED WHEN REQUIRED. MY CAR HAS NEVER RAN HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY HOME DRIVEWAY. PRIOR TO HEARING THE KNOCKING MY VEHICLE WAS FINE.
NHTSA ODI #11299750
73,000 miles · Sep 17, 2019
Air BagsSteering
STEERING WHEEL WONT ADJUST AND WILL NOT MOVE AND THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WHEN YOU START VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11256222
120,000 miles · Apr 29, 2019
Air Bags
I SEE LINCOLN MKZ HAVE RECALLS ON SEAT BELT TENSIONER. WELL MY LINCOLN MKS HAS A SEAT BELT TENSIONER THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. HAVE YOU HAD ANYONE COMPLAIN ABOUT LINCOLN MKS FOR THAT PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11204360
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2019
Unknown Or Other
FAULTY DOOR LOCKS : THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB ON MKS MODEL IN WEATHER TEMPERATURES ABOVE 70 DEGREES AND IT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE CAR USING THE FOB OR KEYLESS ENTRY THE FEEDBACK IS A RAPID UNLOCK/RE-LOCK, SIMILAR TO A JACKHAMMER. THE VEHICLE IS IN STATION…
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FAULTY DOOR LOCKS : THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB ON MKS MODEL IN WEATHER TEMPERATURES ABOVE 70 DEGREES AND IT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE CAR USING THE FOB OR KEYLESS ENTRY THE FEEDBACK IS A RAPID UNLOCK/RE-LOCK, SIMILAR TO A JACKHAMMER. THE VEHICLE IS IN STATIONARY MODE IN PARKED .
NHTSA ODI #11203246
90,000 miles · Nov 7, 2018
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER MOVED FROM AUTO TO AUTO/MANUAL MODE INDEPENDENTLY. WOLTZ & WIND FORD (LOCATED AT 2100 WASHINGTON PIKE, CARNEGIE, PA 15106, (866) 384-2889) WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER MOVED FROM AUTO TO AUTO/MANUAL MODE INDEPENDENTLY. WOLTZ & WIND FORD (LOCATED AT 2100 WASHINGTON PIKE, CARNEGIE, PA 15106, (866) 384-2889) WAS CONTACTED AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TT*JB
NHTSA ODI #11149835
150,000 miles · Jul 17, 2018
Service Brakes
BREAKS ON LONDON MKS 2009, THE BREAKS ON THIS CAR CONTINUER TO HAVE PROBLEMS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE SHOPS AND NO-ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, BREAKS, ROTOR, CHECKED BREAK LINE AND THEY ARE ALL GOOD AND CONTINUE TO GREASE THE CALIPER PINS. BREAKS GO TO FLOOR WHEN TRYING TO STOP, REPLACE THE…
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BREAKS ON LONDON MKS 2009, THE BREAKS ON THIS CAR CONTINUER TO HAVE PROBLEMS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE SHOPS AND NO-ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, BREAKS, ROTOR, CHECKED BREAK LINE AND THEY ARE ALL GOOD AND CONTINUE TO GREASE THE CALIPER PINS. BREAKS GO TO FLOOR WHEN TRYING TO STOP, REPLACE THE BREAKS AND ROTORS WAY TO OFTEN.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2009 Lincoln Mks Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year