2010 Lincoln MKX Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year split into two themes: long-running air bag inflator recalls, where owners describe waiting years for parts, and brake booster trouble, where owners describe a hissing noise followed by a hard or spongy pedal. Brake reports arrive across a wide mileage range, while the air bag complaints are mostly about recall completion rather than a new failure.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal hard or spongy, hissing from booster

   • 18 complaints (16%)
   • median 105,000 mi at 9.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners describe a hissing or air-rushing sound when the brake pedal is pressed, after which the pedal becomes hard or, in some reports, sinks toward the floor and takes longer to stop the vehicle. Several say a shop diagnosed a failed brake booster and replaced it; some note their vehicle was not included in the extended warranty coverage others received. A few reports mention the problem first appearing intermittently before becoming more frequent. Mostly reported between roughly 70,000 and 140,000 miles, with the earliest report near 69,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Press the brake pedal with the engine running and listen for a hissing or leaking-air sound; the pedal should feel firm and consistent. Ask whether the booster has been replaced and whether any extended warranty coverage applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the highway to school with my children in the vehicle, as traffic began to slow I went to depress the brake pedal and the vehicle would simply not slow. The pedal literally was down to the floor. I luckily had provided myself with enough distance to have time to slow down and avoid an accident. I will not jeopardize the safety of my children, myself or other drivers on the road. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11132977, filed 2018-10, 141,580 miles

   “My brake booster went out. I did find that there was a extended warranty for some but my VIN number did not qualify. Sounds like a lie to me. This is a life threatening. I am not the only one with this problem as others have been given the extended warranty coverage. The fact that this is was done on some but not all, does not make safety sense to me. My car was assembled at the designated site that had the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11232295, filed 2019-07, 86,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Driver and passenger air bag inflator recalls

   • 50 complaints (45%)
   • median 66,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2024

   Much of the air bag complaint volume is about recall repair rather than a new part failure: owners describe receiving notices and then waiting months or years for the dealer to have inflator parts, sometimes being told not to use the front passenger seat in the meantime. A smaller number describe an inflator rupturing or the air bag deploying with fragments during a crash. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 42,000 to 120,000 miles, and often tied to notice dates years before the complaint was filed.

   Recall 21V158000Recall 21V081000Recall 19V001000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V046000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVE2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the VIN against open recalls and confirm both front inflators were replaced, asking for documentation rather than a verbal assurance. A service bulletin describes an inspection of the air bag modules for affected vehicles.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata inflators: we haven't had a problem yet but the last few years the front driver's and passenger's airbags have rattling noises when on bumpy roads. Hearing the rattling noises makes me believe there are parts loose in both which could put the driver and passenger in danger. I have been patiently waiting for a recall. If I choose to have them replaced on my own, will I be reimbursed? …”

   NHTSA complaint #11144623, filed 2018-11, 50,000 miles

   “Takata recall was in june of 2016 and all I have from the Lincoln motor company saying parts may become available in the spring of 2018, with no indication when my car will be fixed. They say do not use the front passenger seat which makes the car virtually useless for a family of 5. Is this acceptable?”

   NHTSA complaint #11093562, filed 2018-05, 110,000 miles
3. 3
   Seats

   Seat track play and seat movement

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 68,450 mi at 5.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2012–2022

   Owners describe the driver or front passenger seat rocking or sliding forward and back under braking and acceleration, sometimes with a metal-on-metal noise in turns. One owner was told by the dealer that a broken seat track was a common occurrence; others describe the movement worsening over time near the track. Reported from around 35,000 to 100,000 miles, with several owners noting the movement developing gradually over years.

   What to check: Sit in both front seats and push back and forth against the cushion, and listen for a clunk during a slow stop or turn. Ask whether either seat track has been repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am not sure if this is the right place to present this issue, but will explain my concern here. I have an issue with the location of the driver's seat location in my Lincoln MKX. I am 6'2 tall and have long legs. I have had a knee replacement which left me with reduced range of motion in my leg. My issue is that I cannot straighten my leg out enough to be comfortable while driving due to the limited rearward motion of the seat. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10486682, filed 2012-12, 29,000 miles

   “For the past 5 years, my driver's seat has made a metal on metal loud slipping noise when making turns and braking. The dealer advised me (out of warranty) that it was a broken seat track and is common occurrence. I lived with the annoyance, but it has recently turned much worse allowing the seat to move a greater distance and more frequent. I am afraid the seat will come apart or not withhold in an accident. Many forums identify this issue amongst many ford and lincolns.”

   NHTSA complaint #11405646, filed 2021-03, 101,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Door handles and tailgate not latching or opening

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe exterior and interior door handles separating or failing to release the latch during ordinary use, and a power tailgate that closes only by hand with the ajar warning flashing. In the door handle reports the vehicle was stationary and in park when the part broke. Spread widely, from about 19,000 to 101,000 miles, with no clear mileage pattern.

   What to check: Open and close every door from both inside and outside, and cycle the power tailgate through a full open and close, watching for the ajar indicator.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall, NHTSA recall no. 16v384, Lincoln recall no. 16s26 11-23-16, I turned steering wheel to begin to park in shopping mall garage. Driver airbag immediately deployed prior to impact which caused me to hit the concrete wall ahead. There were no other passengers in the vehicle. Recall notice received july 2016 on passenger airbag. Obviously, there is a problem with the driver airbag also. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10937664, filed 2016-12, 60,000 miles

   “I opened my car door from the inside drivers seat and heard a loud pop. My door handle doesn't seem broken, but will not open from the inside now. The car was in park when it happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #11407056, filed 2021-04, 101,000 miles
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration reports

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   A small set of owners describe the vehicle accelerating when they did not intend it, including while braking in reverse or while stopped at a light with the brake applied. Others describe a delayed throttle response with the instrument panel flickering, which a mechanic attributed to the throttle body. These complaints are few and reach different conclusions about cause. Reported between roughly 10,000 and 125,000 miles, with no shared conditions across the reports.

   What to check: During a test drive, check that throttle response is smooth from a stop and that no warning lights or panel flicker appear; ask whether the throttle body has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Lincoln in question belong to my wife who is the title holder of the car. I was using my wife's car on 06/14/2018 and was backing out of a parking area at union and liberty street in milford, mi,I came to the street at the end of the parking area, I pushed the break to stop so that I could continue onto union street as soon I applied the break, the car accelerated at high speed backward and even though I was pressing the break it didn't stop until crashing into a home next to the parking area. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11103094, filed 2018-06, 125,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln mkz. While stopped and in reverse with the brakes applied, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a concrete wall. The contact sustained injuries to the left arm. The vehicle was towed to a local auto body shop. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10455020, filed 2012-04, 10,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, confirm that both front air bag inflators have actually been replaced and get the brake booster checked for a hissing pedal, since those two items account for most of the owner reports. Seats and door hardware are worth a quick hands-on check during a test drive.

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.