Is the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr a bad year?
229 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Zephyr years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr are in line with other Zephyr 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 2006 Zephyr 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 89,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 142 (62%) | 76k–138k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 26 (11%) | 50k–99k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Body structure | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 13 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (2%) | 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 89,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 229 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 8 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr: 5
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.
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 certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules 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.
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: 7
Repair instructions Lincoln sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ford/lincoln/mercury: some vehicles, with diagnostic codes (DTCs) P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355…
Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan…
Every Lincoln Zephyr year
2003 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2011 · All Zephyr 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 · Lincoln MKZ Hybrid · Lincoln Nautilus · Lincoln Navigator · Lincoln Town Car. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr a bad year?
229 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Zephyr years. At 89,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (142), wheels (26), body structure (13), brakes (13), electrical system (11).
How many recalls does the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-158), Brakes (NHTSA 19V-904), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-024), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-384) 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.