Is the 2010 Lincoln MKZ a bad year?
170 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other MKZ years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2010 Lincoln MKZ are in line with other MKZ years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 MKZ owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 49,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 96 (56%) | 40k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (6%) | 22k–58k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 38 (22%) | 74k–126k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Exterior lighting | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 49,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 170 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 7 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2010 Lincoln MKZ: 9
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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. 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.
The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Mustang GT500. 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.
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. If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The affected floor mats may move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Lincoln: 25
Repair instructions Lincoln sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Lincoln MKZ. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A…
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0030 and/or P0130
The variable camshaft timing VCT) solenoid movement may be temporarily restricted due to debris in engine oil that is causing diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs)
Ford/mercury/lincoln: some vehicles equipped with reverse sensing system (Parking aid) intermittent tone during normal operations
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Electric power steering failure
Floor mat interference with accelerator
Accel Pedal Interference - Acc Floormat
Neighbouring years
2009 MKZ: 114 complaints, keep it · 2011 MKZ: 145 complaints, keep it.
Every Lincoln MKZ year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All MKZ years side by side
Other Lincoln models: Lincoln Aviator · Lincoln Continental · Lincoln Corsair · Lincoln LS · Lincoln MKC · Lincoln MKS · Lincoln MKT · Lincoln MKX · Lincoln MKZ Hybrid · Lincoln Nautilus · Lincoln Navigator · Lincoln Town Car · Lincoln Zephyr. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2010 Lincoln MKZ a bad year?
170 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other MKZ years. At 49,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Lincoln MKZ?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (96), speed control (10), brakes (38), exterior lighting (11), electrical system (10).
How many recalls does the 2010 Lincoln MKZ have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-158), Air bags (NHTSA 21V-081), Air bags (NHTSA 21E013000), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-904) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.