2008 Lincoln MKX Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MKX years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 253 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Lincoln MKX. That ranks 2nd out of 14 MKX model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (157 complaints, 62%), typically at around 73,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

- 253owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 Lincoln MKX problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 157 | 62% | 73,000 | “takata air bags” (35%) | — |
| Power Train | 30 | 12% | 92,904 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 7% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 16 | 6% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 15 | 6% | 88,620 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 5% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 4% | 93,120 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 2% | 118,120 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 2% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 2% | 105,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 2% | 34,650 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 1% | 115,575 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 1% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | 26,825 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 0% | 298 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 134,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0% | 91,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | 840 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 Lincoln MKX recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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:driver side:inflator module; air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ 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 recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. 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.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: 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 recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. 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. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Lincoln MKX, and Ford Edge vehicles, manufactured June 15, 2006, to September 22, 2008, and originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Due to corrosion from salt water exposure such as from road salt use, the affected vehicles may leak fuel from the fuel tank seam weld under the tank mounting reinforcement brackets.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 12, 2014. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and either clean and treat the fuel tank with a corrosion preventative or replace the tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S22.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: Ford is recalling 142 my 2008 edge and lincoln mkk all wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tank weld fixture may have been exposed to a contaminant during production which could cause a dimple in the bottom of the fuel tank at a spot weld.
Risk: This dimple could result in a fuel leak or a fuel drip from the tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the fuel tank free of charge. The recall began on july 11, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-437-7332.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Front suspension lower ball joint (PE09031) — opened Jul 13, 2009, closed Nov 19, 2009.
- Tire valve cracking (PE08060) — opened Oct 14, 2008, closed Apr 9, 2009.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel-burning odor on the interior…
I am reporting a serious mechanical defect in my 2008 Lincoln MKX involving the internal water pump. This vehicle uses the Ford 3.5L V6 Cyclone engine, where the water pump is mounted inside the engine and driven by the timing chain. My water pump failed unexpectedly, causing coolant to leak into…
I am reporting a serious mechanical defect in my 2008 Lincoln MKX involving the internal water pump. This vehicle uses the Ford 3.5L V6 Cyclone engine, where the water pump is mounted inside the engine and driven by the timing chain. My water pump failed unexpectedly, causing coolant to leak into…
The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…
The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the brake pedal was firm when depressed, and the vehicle was slow to respond. There was an abnormal hissing noise detected from the dashboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called…
Other Lincoln MKX years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 MKX | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 MKX | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 MKX | 31 | 5 |
| 2017 MKX | 52 | 5 |
| 2016 MKX | 156 | 7 |
| 2015 MKX | 19 | 0 |
| 2014 MKX | 35 | 1 |
| 2013 MKX | 163 | 1 |
| 2012 MKX | 84 | 1 |
| 2011 MKX | 149 | 3 |
| 2010 MKX | 111 | 6 |
| 2009 MKX | 66 | 6 |
| 2008 | 253 | 6 |
| 2007 MKX | 298 | 5 |
See all Lincoln MKX problems by year, every Lincoln model, or the Lincoln VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Lincoln MKX?
Owners most often report air bags, power train, service brakes problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 157 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Lincoln MKX?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2008 Lincoln MKX a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MKX model years, the 2008 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.