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2008 Lincoln MKZProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 281 owner complaints about the 2008 Lincoln MKZ, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-024 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.

34
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.0× the MKZ median · #1 of 13 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 22%Owner complaints28114 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage70kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 6, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Lincoln MKZ has problems

281 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags1663
Service brakes528
Wheels320
Service brakes, hydraulic243
Electrical system80
Power train60
Structure61
Engine51
Vehicle speed control51
12 other systems163

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2008 Lincoln MKZ recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

27%repaired · 2023 Q1

Driver side: inflator module

Recall 21V-158 · Mar 10, 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles · 699,731 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

28%repaired · 2023 Q1

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Recall 19V-904 · Dec 18, 2019 · 600,166 vehicles · 166,504 repaired

Risk. If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

22%repaired · 2019 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 17V-024 · Jan 10, 2017 · 654,695 vehicles · 144,579 repaired

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

24%repaired · 2019 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 16V-384 · May 31, 2016 · 1,892,343 vehicles · 462,303 repaired

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Lincoln.

Mileage at failure

When do air bags problems start?

70kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 25 air bags complaints. 72% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 42% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
4under 30k miles18under 100k miles7100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other MKZ year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MKZ median. How we score

'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2008 Lincoln MKZ safety ratings

2008 Lincoln MKZ 4-DR. w/SAB (Later Release) in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Rollover: 5 stars (9.2% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Lincoln MKZ, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Floor mat interference with acceleratorEA12009 · closed Jun 12, 2014
    Led to recall 14E-028
  2. Extended Braking DistanceEA18002 · closed Jan 15, 2021
    Led to recall 19V-904
  3. TIRE VALVE CRACKINGPE08060 · closed Apr 9, 2009
    No recall
  4. Accel Pedal Interference - Acc FloormatPE10019 · closed Jan 11, 2013
    No recall
In owners' words

What MKZ owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Bought vehicle from owner 02/2023. Check brake system light came on a few months after, breaks started to skip and making a sound. Took it in to Ford dealership and they showed 2 recalls but never said it would be fixed.
Complaint 11549234 · Oct 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated, and smoke was coming inside the cabin through the A/C vents. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle and noticed that coolant was leaking…
Complaint 11491847 · Nov 1, 2022 · 122,416 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…
Complaint 11467954 · Jun 7, 2022

Own a 2008 MKZ?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.