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Lincoln MKXModel year report

2009 Lincoln MKX Problems

Compared with other Lincoln MKX years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2012

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
66filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
86,500miles, 26 complaints with mileage
Recalls
63 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 · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Lincoln MKX (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Most complaints for the 2009 MKX in this sample concern the Takata air bag inflator recalls: owners were notified but dealers had no parts, often for a year or more. The next most common theme is brake problems, especially a brake booster and hydraulic control unit that owners say made the pedal stiff, spongy or slow to respond. A smaller group of complaints covers electrical glitches, mostly the SYNC radio producing a sudden loud bang, and driveability issues such as a leaking PTU or a slipping automatic transmission at higher mileage.

  1. Air bags

    Air bag inflator recall parts unavailable

    • 27 complaints (41%)
    • median 100,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • filed 2017–2022

    Owners describe receiving recall notices for the driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator and then being told by dealers that the replacement parts were not in stock, sometimes for more than a year. Many say they had not experienced a failure but were limiting who rode in the vehicle or considering selling it. Dealers are described as confirming parts were unavailable and unable to say when they would arrive. Reported across a wide mileage range, most often in complaints filed from 2017 through 2020 and again in 2022 and 2023, with no clear mileage pattern.

    Recall 21V158000Recall 21V081000Recall 18V046000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 17V024000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVE2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether every open air bag inflator recall on this VIN has actually been completed, and get written confirmation rather than a scheduled appointment. A service bulletin describes a quality control inspection of the driver and passenger air bag modules.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall - we were notified more than 9 months ago about this recall and they still have not gotten the parts to replace this. How safe are these airbags? Why are the car manufacturers still not replacing them? We have been patient but if this is a true safety issue- how are they getting away with not correcting it?”

    NHTSA complaint #11032568, filed 2017-10, 100,000 miles

    “Takata recall - after almost 2 years, my auto dealer says they still do not have the parts to repair/replace and perform the recall. Is this not a excessive time to correct the problem? They also tell me that I am not entitled to a rental or replacement vehicle. Am I and my passenger at risk of physical harm due to this defect?”

    NHTSA complaint #11144291, filed 2018-10
  2. Brakes

    Stiff, spongy or slow brakes (booster / HCU)

    • 9 complaints (14%)
    • median 90,000 mi at 10.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2010–2022

    Owners describe a brake pedal that feels very stiff or spongy, a hissing or air-release sound when the pedal is pressed, and longer stopping distances. Several say a garage diagnosed a leaking brake booster or a faulty hydraulic control unit, and some had the booster replaced at their own cost. One owner also reports premature pad and rotor wear. Mostly reported between roughly 10,000 and 160,000 miles, with several complaints filed after 100,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Press the pedal firmly with the engine running and listen for a hiss or a pedal that sinks or stays hard; ask for service records showing whether the booster or hydraulic control unit has been replaced. A service bulletin notes that a brake warning lamp can be set on some vehicles and describes how the park brake interacts with that warning.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have to change the breaks & rotors twice in 2 years. My mechanic says it is the 'break booster'. He stated that their might be a recall. The vehicle is having issues stopping. I am afraid the will go out and cause an accident. The breaks make a released air sound and it is hard to make a complete stop. So I stopped driving it.”

    NHTSA complaint #11375844, filed 2020-11, 20 miles

    “As reported in forbes magazine on april 24, 2018 there are numerous complaints regarding brake failures with Lincoln mkz 2006-2012 model years affecting one million sedans. The Lincoln MKX model (crossover) I believe to be affected as well. In my case, what happened is that the anti lock brake system has failed on many occasions while I was operating the vehicle with my family inside resulting in several near rear end collisions. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11187087, filed 2019-03, 90,000 miles
  3. Electrical system

    SYNC radio loud bang and lockup

    Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the stereo suddenly emitting an extremely loud bang or whine while driving, after which the radio stops responding, the turn signal may flash faster and the air conditioning can quit. Some report the noise recurring and that turning the vehicle off and opening a door resets it. Complaints say dealers had no fix. Reported from about 40,000 to 80,000 miles, with some owners noting it happens more often in warm weather.

    What to check: Turn the radio and SYNC system on during a test drive, including at speed, and ask whether the audio system or its amplifier has been replaced or repaired.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “8/31/22 While I am driving, at 25 miles per hour in my neighborhood, or 45 mph through town, or 65 mph on the freeway, without any warning there occasionally will be an EXTREMELY LOUD BANG!! I actually duck down and cover my head for fear a huge rock has come through the windshield. Or a double-barreled shotgun was aimed at my car, or a major jetliner had fallen out of the sky and landed on my roof. Only to look up and see no damage whatsoever, but the shrill, high pitched ring piercing my ears. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11482260, filed 2022-08

    “Frequency: once every other day when temperature over 73 f. Electrical: (issue 1) the sound system while in use creates a horrendous sound/bang that sounds like an accident. This causes a loss of driver attention and distraction from traffic. (issue 2) after loud sound, the stereo will lock it self and not allowing to shut it down or anything. (issue 3) after loud sound, the turn signal will flash in a faster paced than normal. (issue 4) after loud sound, air conditioner would not work. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10607258, filed 2014-07, 40,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2009 MKX, confirm in writing that all air bag inflator recalls are closed, since owners repeatedly reported parts shortages. Also budget for brake booster or hydraulic control unit work and check the transmission and AWD driveline carefully on higher-mileage examples.

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 66 consumer complaints for the 2009 Lincoln MKX. 26 of the complaints include a mileage, and 35% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 86,500 miles. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns (3 marked do-not-drive) and 21 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 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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: Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. Have tried to get Lincoln dealership to replace the airbag and they said no parts are available to them. I want to sell or trade my vehicle and can not due to possible injury to a person. How do I get the air bag replaced so I can move on with my life and not get sued if I sell the vehicle? It has been years since I was notified I had a recall on my vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11055917, filed 2017-12

Brakes: “I have a 2009 Lincoln MKX where the brakes were so stiff that I could hardly stop my vehicle. This is such a huge safety issue. This issue has been covered under ford for certain VIN #'s but not under my 2009 VIN number. I can't understand how this is covered by them for some cars and not others? Evidently it will take injury or death for ford to realize that this isn't something that should be over looked in some vins and not others. This was a cost of close to $850 which in my opinion should be covered by ford! …”

NHTSA complaint #10822609, filed 2016-01, 69,500 miles

Electrical system: “I've replaced a starter / alternator/ battery/ coil packs/ tune up/and my truck is still having problems with staying started..I have to push the gas in park because it seems like it will shut off.”

NHTSA complaint #11395690, filed 2021-02, 153,000 miles

Other or unknown: “My 2009 MKX has scared the heck out of us as we thought a bomb had gone off, followed by the high-pitched whine which only stopped after we turned the car off and open a door for it to reset itself. We were driving with kids in the back asleep,, and all of a sudden it went off and we couldn't stand it. Turning the radio off didn't help, turning the AC off didn't help either. We were forced to pulled over in the middle of the night. Since then I can not trust my car won't go off and cause me to hit another car or god forbid something else. …”

NHTSA complaint #11140684, filed 2018-10, 80,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

35% of the 26 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 115,000 miles.

12%0–104%10–2519%25–504%50–7527%75–10019%100–15015%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (26 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 86,500 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.

’11’15’1719’19’21’23’26
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 2009 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 2009 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 automatic172419$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 2009 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. 21 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 21 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 2009 Lincoln MKX?

Most complaints for the 2009 MKX in this sample concern the Takata air bag inflator recalls: owners were notified but dealers had no parts, often for a year or more. The issues reported most often: Air bag inflator recall parts unavailable; Stiff, spongy or slow brakes (booster / HCU); SYNC radio loud bang and lockup.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Lincoln MKX have?

NHTSA recorded 66 consumer complaints for the 2009 Lincoln MKX as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Lincoln MKX is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 35 complaints (53% of the total), followed by brakes with 11.

Has the 2009 Lincoln MKX been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 3 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 2009 Lincoln MKX get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Lincoln MKX (MKX FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 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 2009 Lincoln MKX reported?

Among the 26 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 86,500 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 115,000 miles; 35% 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.