2010 Lincoln Mkz: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2010 Lincoln Mkz
On the 2010 Lincoln Mkz, the failure owners report most often is airbag inflator rupture, and the reports cluster around 75,000 miles. The earliest to appear is tail light, brake light or signal failure, reported by a median of 55,000 miles. Overall it scores 70 out of 100, high risk for a 2010.
High risk for a 2010 — 150th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. 197 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2010 Lincoln Mkz
Owners have reported 28 named failure modes on the 2010 Lincoln Mkz, and the three most-reported carry 49% of everything filed.
Airbag inflator rupture leads with 66 reports, about 1.0 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 47k to 115,000 miles.
Other brake problem follows with 21 reports, usually reported between 73k to 125,000 miles.
Tail light, brake light or signal failure follows with 10 reports, usually reported between 56k to 75,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into airbag (76), brakes (35) and lighting (18).
The mileage the reports cluster at
94 of the reports on the 2010 Lincoln Mkz came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 65,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 34% by 50,000 miles, 66% by 100,000 miles and 91% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, which alone holds 15% of the dated reports.
18% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: tail light, brake light or signal failure around 56k, airbag inflator rupture around 73k and other brake problem around 100k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 28. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 21 mention a crash and 10 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 5.70, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: airbag inflator rupture at $0–$0, other brake problem at $300–$1,800, tail light, brake light or signal failure at $100–$900 and master cylinder or brake booster failure at $450–$2,200. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
5% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 66 | 10 | 47k | 73k | 115k | 1.0 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 21 | 13 | 73k | 100k | 126k | 0.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 10 | 9 | 56k | 56k | 75k | 0.2 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 7 | 7 | — | 169k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 7 | 7 | — | 27k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 7 | 7 | — | 55k | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 6 | 6 | — | 43k | — | 0.1 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 6 | 4 | — | 48k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 5 | 3 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 5 | 3 | — | 56k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 3 | 3 | — | 11k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 3 | 3 | — | 45k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 92k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 115k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 121k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 116k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 110k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 122k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 35k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 49k | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 98k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 58k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 91k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 30 | 2 | — | 58k | — | 0.5 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2010 Lincoln Mkz draws about 3.0 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 86th percentile of complaint rates among 2010 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 65,066 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2010 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Airbag inflator rupture
Takata recall - dealer never contacted me. When I called dealer they told me replacement airbags are unavailable. This is total [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Takata recall--I received notification of NHTSA recall 16v-384 in a letter from lincoln motor company dated july, 2016, which stated that I would be notified when parts were available for the repair. In december, 2017 a 2nd letter arrived from lincoln advising me that I should not allow anyone to sit in the front row passenger seat, and that lincoln expected remedy parts to be available in the spring of 2018. On 6/11/18 a 3rd letter arrived from lincoln dated may,2018 advising me that parts are anticipated to be available during the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2018, and that lincoln would pay up to $45 per day for a rental vehicle while waiting for parts. However, $45 per day will not cover the cost of renting an equivalent vehicle. A call to lincoln informed me that that car rental allowance has been increased to $55 per day (which will still not cover the cost of renting an equivalent vehicle. I live in south florida where the hot humid climate puts my car at greater risk. In the more than two years since the first recall notice ford and lincoln have continued to build and sell new vehicles (presumably with safe passenger air bags)…
Other brake problem
While backing into a parking spot, the car's rear sensors sounded. Since I thought there was still 3 or 4 feet of space to a chain link fence behind the car, I got out to investigate. There was room, so I got back into the car & continued to back up slowly while looking out the open driver door. When I applied the brake, the car would not stop. I applied the brakes a few more times, but still couldn't get the car to stop. I believe I moved my right foot more to the left & tried to stop again. When that didn't stop the car, in desperation I moved my foot to the right, pressing firmly once or twice. At that point, my foot either slipped off the brake pedal on to the gas pedal or even possibly hit the gas pedal directly. The car lurched backward, knocking the fence down & damaging the driver door. My wife & I were in the car,but suffered no injury. No other people or vehicles were involved at all. The car was repaired at riverhead ford in riverhead, ny & the claim has been paid by allstate. My wife & I had experienced no brake problem prior to 6/24/10, & riverhead ford found no brake problem when the car was repaired. My concern is…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 lincoln mkz. The contact stated that while driving out of a parking lot, the contact proceeded to make a right turn and the vehicle began to accelerate independently. The brakes where depressed but failed to respond. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a snow bank. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred intermittently. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000. Updated 03/16/16*lj *js
Tail light, brake light or signal failure
Mkz right side outer LED taillight assembly is displaying all three bands of LED's at all times, instead of only when braking. The correct display without braking is only the center LED band. Also, at random times, the three LED bands flash as if a turn signal is activated, when it is not. These conditions cause other drivers to not understand whether the car might be braking or turning, when it is only proceeding straight ahead. This is an integrated LED taillight assembly that has no replaceable bulbs. The entire assembly must be replaced by a dealer at a cost of $500.00 bulbs cannot be replaced by an owner, even in an emergency. The left side (driver side) outer LED assembly operates correctly, with the center band of LED's operative and three bands lighting only when braking. This adds to the confusion of other drivers following the vehicle. Ford motor and lincoln division refuse to acknowledge a problem, and state that unless it is within a warranty period, no replacement will be made to correct the problem. It has been reported to lincoln motor division for the past 18 months and the problem continues to date. *tr
Mkz right side outer LED taillight assembly is displaying all three bands of LED's at all times, instead of only when braking. The correct display without braking is only the center LED band. Also, at random times, the three LED bands flash as if a turn signal is activated, when it is not. These conditions cause other drivers to not understand whether the car might be braking or turning, when it is only proceeding straight ahead. This is an integrated LED taillight assembly that has no replaceable bulbs. The entire assembly must be replaced by a dealer at a cost of $500.00 bulbs cannot be replaced by an owner, even in an emergency. The left side (driver side) outer LED assembly operates correctly, with the center band of LED's operative and three bands lighting only when braking. This adds to the confusion of other drivers following the vehicle. Ford motor and lincoln division refuse to acknowledge a problem, and state that unless it is within a warranty period, no replacement will be made to correct the problem. It has been reported to lincoln motor division for the past 18 months and the problem continues to date. *tr
Recalls on the 2010 model year
NHTSA has issued 9 recall campaigns covering the 2010 Lincoln Mkz, affecting an estimated 201,850 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module, air bags:frontal and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electron. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
2,602,668 vehicles 2021-03-10- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. 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.
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1,067 vehicles 2021-02-16- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
249 vehicles 2021-02-16- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. 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…
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
600,166 vehicles 2019-12-18- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. 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.
- Consequence
- If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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 began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S54.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
782,384 vehicles 2019-01-07- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.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…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
215 vehicles 2018-11-01- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16V-384, 17V-024 or 18V-046. 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.
- Consequence
- If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S34.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
327,796 vehicles 2018-01-11- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.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…
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
1,892,343 vehicles 2016-05-31- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is…
- Consequence
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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 receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
EQUIPMENT
82,579 vehicles 2014-05-29- Defect
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S07. NOTE: Vehicles built after October 31, 2010, while potentially equipped with the same floor mats, are equipped with a Brake Over Accelerator (BOA) feature that prevents simultaneous accelerator and brake application, allowing the vehicle to be safely stopped by pressing firmly and steadily on the brake pedal.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2010 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2010 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2010 — 150th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 13 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2018 comes out best at 64 and 2019 worst at 73, with 2010 itself at 70.
If the model year is negotiable, 2018, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2015 score lower than 2010 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2006–2012 generation specifically, 2007 is the strongest year at 64 and 2010 the weakest at 70.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2006-2012 generation, 2007 Lincoln Mkz scores best at 64 and 2010 Lincoln Mkz worst at 70.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: airbag inflator rupture from about 47k, tail light, brake light or signal failure from about 56k and other brake problem from about 73k.
On a 2010 Lincoln Mkz with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether airbag inflator rupture has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
197 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 197 reports, 94 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 48% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Lincoln Mkz?
The most-reported failures are airbag inflator rupture (66 reports, median 75,000 miles), other brake problem (21 reports, median 100,000 miles) and tail light, brake light or signal failure (10 reports, median 55,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2010 Lincoln Mkz problems start?
Tail light, brake light or signal failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 55,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 55,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 65,000 miles.
Is the 2010 Lincoln Mkz reliable?
It scores 70 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 150th riskiest of the 275 2010 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2010 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Lincoln Mkz is best?
Within the 2006–2012 generation, 2007 scores best at 64 out of 100 and 2010 worst at 70. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed