MotorDeets

2010 Lincoln Mkz: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2010 Lincoln Mkz: 7 recalls, 169 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.

7vehicle recalls
169owner complaints
14mention a crash
21best combined mpg
2010 Lincoln Mkz
Photo: IFCAR · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Airbags Vehicle recall #16V384000 · 2016 · 1,892,343 vehicles

What's wrong: 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,…

Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: 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…

Airbags Vehicle recall #18V046000 · 2018 · 327,796 vehicles

What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2010 Ford edge, fusion, mustang and ranger, Lincoln mkx and zephyr/mkz, and Mercury milan vehicles ever registered in the states of 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,…

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: 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.

Airbags Vehicle recall #18V775000 · 2018 · 215 vehicles

What's wrong: In the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing May deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out.

Why it matters: If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018.

Airbags Vehicle recall #19V001000 · 2019 · 782,384 vehicles

What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford ranger and Mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford fusion and Lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina,…

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: 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.

Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V904000 · 2019 · 600,166 vehicles

What's wrong: 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.

Why it matters: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel May be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: 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…

Airbags, Airbags Vehicle recall #21V081000 · 2021 · 1,067 vehicles

What's wrong: These vehicles May be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: 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.

Airbags Vehicle recall #21V158000 · 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles

What's wrong: 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.

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: 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.

2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #14E028000 · 2014 · 82,579 vehicles

What's wrong: The affected floor mats May move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.

Why it matters: 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.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014.

Airbags, Airbags Equipment recall #21E013000 · 2021 · 249 vehicles

What's wrong: The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford mustang and mustang gt500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln mkz, 2010-2012 Ford fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury milan, 2007-2011 Ford ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln mkx vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the…

Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: 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.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 10 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Airbags96
Brakes26
Exterior lights11
Brakes (hydraulic)11
Speed control / throttle10
Electrical10
Engine5
Transmission & drivetrain4

What owners describe

The 2010 Lincoln Mkz has 169 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 15 Mkz model years for complaints (1.5× the average Mkz year). Complaints peaked in 2018 (53 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 72,233 miles. Neighboring years: 2009 (114 complaints, 6 recalls), 2011 (145 complaints, 5 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
3.5 L 6-cylAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel Drive182721Regular
3.5 L 6-cylAutomatic (S6)All-Wheel Drive172419Regular

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2010 Lincoln Mkz.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2010 Lincoln Mkz manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2010 Lincoln Mkz manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 2010 Lincoln Mkz manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2010 Lincoln Mkz manual

Heads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure

FAQ

Does the 2010 Lincoln Mkz have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2010 Lincoln Mkz, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2010 Lincoln Mkz problems?

Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (96), brakes (26), exterior lights (11).

What gas mileage does the 2010 Lincoln Mkz get?

EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2010 Lincoln Mkz repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Mkz years

200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020