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Lincoln MKXModel year report

2008 Lincoln MKX Problems

Compared with other Lincoln MKX years

More complaints than typical for this model

80/100 2.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2009

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
253filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
89,000miles, 97 complaints with mileage
Recalls
62 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Lincoln MKX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around two themes: a very large share of the sample is about the Takata air bag inflator recalls and owners' difficulty getting the parts, and a smaller but consistent set describes the brakes getting hard or the pedal dropping after the power brake booster or master cylinder fails. Transmission complaints mostly involve erratic shifting, a drop in indicated speed, and gear banging at stops, and fuel odor or leaks around the tank come up repeatedly, typically on higher-mileage vehicles.

  1. Air bags

    Air bag inflator recall - no parts available

    Mentioned in 11 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe receiving recall notices for the driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator and then being unable to get the repair scheduled because dealers say the replacement part is not in stock and cannot give a date. Several say they were told not to let anyone sit in the front passenger seat in the meantime, and a few mention a crash in which the air bags did not deploy. A small number describe a dealer having no record of the recall at all. Reported across a wide mileage range, mostly between roughly 30,000 and 165,000 miles, and filed over many years as parts remained scarce.

    Recall 21V158000Recall 21V081000Recall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 17V024000 · DO NOT DRIVE5 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the seller for a Lincoln dealer recall printout showing outstanding inflator campaigns are closed, and confirm which of the driver and passenger inflators were replaced and when.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall. They continue to say parts are not available and now tk holdings inc and certain of it's affiliates have filed chapter 11 bankruptcy. I just want my car fixed that's it, nothing else. This has been an ongoing issue but we just received the bankruptcy notice on the 26th on october 2017.”

    NHTSA complaint #11041011, filed 2017-10, 146,000 miles

    “Takata air bag. It has been over a year that the recall has been out and the dealer tells me that they do not have a replacement air bag to install. And they do not know when it will be addable. What am I to do with this safety problem?”

    NHTSA complaint #11042230, filed 2017-11, 96,141 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Erratic shifting, banging into gear, speedometer drop

    • 23 complaints (9%)
    • median 92,808 mi at 8.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
    • filed 2010–2024

    Owners describe the transmission suddenly downshifting or limiting speed on its own, hard bangs when shifting into drive or reverse, and the speedometer or odometer dropping to zero or dashes while warning lights come on. Some say the vehicle would only crawl until the accelerator was pressed hard, and a few mention restarting or disconnecting the battery as a temporary fix. Complaints also describe a ticking or knocking driveline noise and transmission fluid leaking from the all-wheel-drive transfer unit. Spread from about 35,000 to over 220,000 miles, often appearing at stops, on inclines, or during highway driving.

    6 related service bulletins

    What to check: Drive the car from a stop on a slight incline and shift through drive and reverse, listening for bangs; check for fluid weeping around the transfer case and ask whether the unit has been serviced or replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My 2008 Lincoln MKX starts cutting out and chugging at the speed of 45 MPH you have to give it gas to get it up over 50ish to come out of it. It will do again at time out on the interstate around the speed of 60 MPH but at this time the ABS and skid light come on. I'm afraid with having my granddaughters in the car that something bad will happen when I'm out on the road with them. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11063924, filed 2018-01, 99,000 miles

    “Driving on interstate highway at 65 MPH and I notice the odo fault light on with airbag and wrench symbols lit. The odometer read only dashes but seemed to be okay at that speed. Seemed to be in 3rd gear? When I stopped at a red light, the car had no power at all. Took forever to get it up to 20 MPH. Very dangerous as I was almost stuck in an intersection. Does someone need to die before you recall this?”

    NHTSA complaint #10766289, filed 2015-09, 145,000 miles
  3. Fuel system

    Fuel smell and leaks around the fuel tank

    • 21 complaints (8%)
    • median 116,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • filed 2012–2025

    Owners describe a strong gasoline odor inside the cabin or around the rear of the vehicle, and in several cases visible fuel leaking at the seam or top of the tank. Complaints mention the tank being replaced or quoted for replacement, with some owners told the leak came from corrosion or a weld at the tank, and some linking the symptom to recall 14V682000 or 08V301000; a few say a leak persisted after recall work. Generally reported from about 50,000 to 180,000 miles, and several complaints come from vehicles used in road-salt areas.

    Recall 14V682000Recall 08V3010002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Smell for fuel near the rear wheels and under the car after it sits, look for wet or rusted spots along the tank seam, and confirm by VIN whether the fuel tank recalls were completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was goin down highway at 65, I smelled gas pulled over an gas was leaking on ground, took to ford dealer, they said I needed a gas tank, I told them I had esp warranty, they fixed, but warranty said they would not pay , said rust was cause. Leak was at top of tank, not bottom where rust would be.”

    NHTSA complaint #10578863, filed 2014-04, 79,881 miles

    “The fuel system and tank leaked fuel in several places. The fuel line leaked fuel over the engine manifold. The fuel tank has a leak at the seam where upper and low tank halves joint. Both leaks presented a significant fire hazard. The fuel line leak was at the engine manifold. The fuel tank leak was next to the exhaust system.”

    NHTSA complaint #10495050, filed 2013-01, 89,000 miles
  4. Brakes

    Hard brake pedal, weak stopping (brake booster)

    • 15 complaints (6%)
    • median 100,000 mi at 9.8 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • filed 2012–2024

    Owners describe the brake pedal becoming very stiff or sinking to the floor, sometimes with a hissing sound from the dash, and needing heavy pressure or repeated pumping to slow the vehicle. Dealers and mechanics in the complaints diagnosed a failed power brake booster, master cylinder or hydraulic control unit; several owners say the problem returned after parts were replaced, and dealers told some that no recall covered it. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 150,000 miles, and in some cases the pedal goes to the floor briefly and then recovers on its own.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test the pedal with the engine running at a stop: it should feel firm and not hiss. Ask whether the brake booster or master cylinder has been replaced and request service records.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have been experiencing braking issues. I have brought my MKX to a dealer and was informed that I need a new brake booster. They have informed me that ford is aware of this design issue. Is this covered under any type of recall since they are aware of the issue?”

    NHTSA complaint #11110749, filed 2018-07, 150,000 miles

    “While driving my vehicle I applied the brakes. The brake pedal became very stiff and the vehicle was not slowing down. I stepped harder on the brake pedal and the vehicle finally slowed down and came to a complete stop. I pulled over the side of the road and when I pressed on the brake pedal it went to the floor slowly and a high pitched sound came from the engine compartment. I turned the engine off and checked the brake fluid reservoir to insure that I did not have a leak. I started the engine again and headed to my home. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10523260, filed 2013-07, 46,000 miles
  5. Engine

    Stalling or loss of power while driving

    • 28 complaints (11%)
    • median 88,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (23 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $1,600 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2008–2025

    Owners describe the engine cutting out, surging or dropping into a reduced-power mode without warning, sometimes with the check engine light, air bag light or wrench icon coming on. Complaints mention ignition coil and throttle body diagnosis, a control module failure, and one case of the engine continuing to run after the key was removed; some say the trouble returned after repairs. Reported from very low mileage up to about 180,000 miles, sometimes after only a few miles of driving following a cold start.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the throttle body, ignition coils or powertrain control module have been replaced or reprogrammed, and scan for stored codes during a test drive that includes both stop-and-go and highway speeds.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I recently filed a complaint about this truck not accelerating in traffic and replaced the turbo speed sensor aprox 1 month prior to this. This trip engine light flashed on and car struggled to accelerate, I assumed same issue, put it in cruise control, car stabilized for about 3 miles then started jerking forward, I took cruise off, and whole truck stopped accel, then engine light came on and then entire truck shut down! No power steering, no heat, no nothing! …”

    NHTSA complaint #10716531, filed 2015-05, 99,120 miles

    “I parked the car at a shopping center garage in tysons corner va, turned the car off and removed the key. As I was walking away from the car, I heard this noise sounding like the fan still running. As I returned to the car and listened closer, I realized that it was the engine motor still running. I got back in the car and placed the key and attempted to start the car and could not. I turned the key to turn it off and removed the key. The engine was still running. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10459120, filed 2012-05, 44,450 miles

Buying note. Check the recall status by VIN first, since air bag inflator work and fuel tank campaigns affect this model year and parts availability has been an owner complaint. Budget for brake booster and transmission or transfer-case attention on higher-mileage examples, and have a pre-purchase inspection cover the brake pedal feel, shifting and any fuel smell.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 253 consumer complaints for the 2008 Lincoln MKX. 97 of the complaints include a mileage, and 19% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 89,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 28 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 9 Lincoln MKX model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 80 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (4), Steering (3), Wheels (3), Exterior lighting (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Engine cooling (1), Equipment (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Lane departure (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Twice this auto was taken to granite ford, rochester, nh. I was told they have not received the parts yet and that ford motor corp. Has not even received this replacement.-most recent 11/28/2017. This is where I purchased the car-I am 82 years old and cannot drive to a dealer in manchester etc.”

NHTSA complaint #11053963, filed 2017-12, 69,540 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “When I start my car it makes a clunk then when I shift it into gear it will go into reverse but will clunk and when I put it in drive and I can't go over 5 MPH. It's happening more and more started about 3 years ago but when I took it into the dealer nothing they could do cause it wasn't happening then. It's happened when I've been sitting at a light or stop sign as well. We will then unhook the batter for a few mins and then everything is fine.”

NHTSA complaint #10705266, filed 2015-04, 93,000 miles

Fuel system: “Park my car after returning from work. A couple hours later my wife returned in her car and noticed the strong smell of gasoline in the garage. Upon further inspection, the weld seem on the gas tank has separated and leaking gas. There is a recall for this issue # 08s06 but the dealership has informed me that my manufacturing date does not match that of the recall. This to me seems suspicious.”

NHTSA complaint #10465516, filed 2012-07, 64,000 miles

Brakes: “I have had numerous alignments and tires since got this vehicle last year and now it's shacking, rides likes I have a flat or weaving up and down and starting to pull/ stop working while driving and can't find anything wrong still has all original parts! Lights go thru bulbs and can't see”

NHTSA complaint #11351655, filed 2020-08, 160,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

19% of the 97 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,000 and 134,000 miles.

4%0–105%10–259%25–5020%50–7525%75–10021%100–15016%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (97 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 89,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’10’13’1681’19’22’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Lincoln MKX. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
MKX · sedan FWD/AWDnot rated5 / 4——4 · 14.0% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Lincoln MKX version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
MKX AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic152218$3,700
MKX FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic162419$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Lincoln MKX → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 28 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 28 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lincoln MKX

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20183117,914552039 · TypicalRising
20175229,713552050 · TypicalStable
201615620,0007520100 · MoreStable
20151927,5000420—Falling
20143528,000142114 · FewerRising
201316459,000142149 · TypicalStable
20128465,000142132 · FewerFalling
201114981,0003—2171 · MoreFalling
201011189,0006—2084 · MoreFalling
20096686,5006—1950 · TypicalFalling
200825389,0006—1980 · MoreFalling
200729890,0005—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lincoln MKX model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Lincoln MKX?

Complaints on this model year cluster around two themes: a very large share of the sample is about the Takata air bag inflator recalls and owners' difficulty getting the parts, and a smaller but consistent set describes the brakes getting hard or the pedal dropping after the power brake booster or master cylinder fails. The issues reported most often: Air bag inflator recall - no parts available; Erratic shifting, banging into gear, speedometer drop; Fuel smell and leaks around the fuel tank.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Lincoln MKX have?

NHTSA recorded 253 consumer complaints for the 2008 Lincoln MKX as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Lincoln MKX is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 157 complaints (62% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 30.

Has the 2008 Lincoln MKX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Lincoln MKX get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Lincoln MKX (MKX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Lincoln MKX reported?

Among the 97 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 89,000 miles and the middle half falls between 55,000 and 134,000 miles; 19% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.