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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2008 Lincoln MKX Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
30about this part
Share
12%of 253 total for the year
Median mileage
92,904miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2008 Lincoln MKX, 12% of the 253 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,904 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“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

“Yesterday (11/05/2016), I was going to go to the store. The car started fine and ran fine as I backed it out of our driveway, but when I went down the street in front of our neighbors house, it suddenly felt like it shifted into a lower gear. I turned the corner next to my neighbors house and proceeded down a hill that's there, but the car still would only go very slowly. When I got down the hill, I stopped at a stop sign and when I stepped on the gas it suddenly started to run fine. …”

NHTSA complaint #10924525, filed 2016-11, 92,808 miles

“Driving down the highway and transmission shift to low by itself. It almost caused me to get it. The ptu is leaking transmission fluid. Youneverknow when it is low. This car had this problem since it was manufactured and they never fixed the problem. It needs to be fixed and needs a heat shield between the ptu and the engine to keep it from leaking and causing dangerous situations on the road. The car smokes so bad that it looks like it is on fire. Scared to drive because I never know what will happen if the fluid is low. You can see the leak from the ptu under the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #11378213, filed 2020-12, 220,725 miles

“The ptu leaks transmission fluid. I was told this was a problem since the car was manufactured. I wanted to know why there wasn't a recall on it. It can damage other seals on car and cause a safety hazard. I just brought my car a month ago and was never told about it. I was told not to drive it that often till I get it fixed. My car was not shifting right, smoking, and I have to add transmission fluid to it. There is no way to tell if it has too much, which will cause it to have other problems in the long run. You see the smoke when driving. It looks like the car is on fire”

NHTSA complaint #11375459, filed 2020-11, 220,675 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201813%
201736%
2016128%
2015526%
2014720%
20131610%
20121113%
2011128%
201044%
200935%
20083012%
20073512%

Other parts of the 2008 Lincoln MKX

Air bags
157 complaints
Fuel system
22 complaints
Brakes
18 complaints
Engine
15 complaints
Vehicle speed control
13 complaints
Electrical system
11 complaints
Other or unknown
6 complaints
Seats
5 complaints
Body and structure
4 complaints
Suspension
4 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Wheels
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Lincoln MKX

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology