Lincoln MKX Airbag Problems

Owners have filed 410 complaints about air bags problems with the Lincoln MKX — 29% of all MKX complaints. The worst model years are 2008 (157), 2007 (154) and 2010 (54). Problems typically start around 82,000 miles. 7 related recalls have been issued.

410complaints
2008worst year
82ktypical miles
7related recalls
14crashes
1fires

Airbag complaints by model year

2007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720181541573554141112
Airbag complaints per model year, Lincoln MKX.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
201826%16,000 miles
201712%14,000 miles
201611%35,000 miles
201311%—
201245%—
201111%127,000 miles
20105449%73,000 miles
20093553%100,000 miles
200815762%73,000 miles
200715452%96,000 miles

Which parts fail

  • Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
    1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    23%
  • 25k–50k
    814%
  • 50k–75k
    1119%
  • 75k–100k
    1525%
  • 100k–150k
    1424%
  • 150k+
    915%

What owners report

DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR SENSOR SAYS CAR DOOR IS OPEN EVEN WHEN DOOR IS FIRMLY SHUT. CAUSES DOORS NOT TO LOCK, INTERIOR AND PUDDLE LIGHTS REMAIN ON, DRAINS BATTERY, DOORS WON'T LOCK EVEN WITH CAR IN MOTION. Severe Rust problems under carriage Air Bag light remains on

2012 MKX · May 2023

2012 Lincoln MKX. Consumer writes in regards to airbag system problems. The consumer stated while on a short local trip, the air bag light illuminated and stayed on. The next day, the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where they found the wiring harness chaffing near the seat weight sensor located under the front passenger seat.

2012 MKX · Jan 2015

The contact owned a 2010 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH and crossing an intersection, another vehicle crashed into the passenger's side of the vehicle and pushed the vehicle into oncoming traffic. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle. The contact was knocked out unconscious. The contact was later informed that the driver's side air bag had exploded and projected sharp fragments that caused injuries to her body. The contact was transported to the hospital with the assistance of emergency units. The contact was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma on both sides of the brain, six broken ribs, bruised sternum, subdural hematoma on the right breast, knee injuries, neck stenosis, bruises on the ankle, and on the entire right side of the body. Additionally, the contact sustain brain hemorrhage that required brain surgery. …

2010 MKX · 133,000 miles · Aug 2021 · crash · 1 injury

O.C. Welch Ford-Lincoln of Hardeeville, SC 29927 has not completed the safety recall on the airbags for the 2010 Ford Lincoln MKX. After trying to get them to repair the airbags for over a year, they finally fixed the passenger side airbag. They originally stated they had the parts to fix driver's side, but told us they were on back-order. They said they would get in touch with us once the parts came in. It has been over 5 months and we have not heard anything from them in regards to fixing the driver's side airbag.

2010 MKX · Oct 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Lincoln MKX. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

2009 MKX · Apr 2022

My car has a Recall for the AIRBAGS . The car started life in south Texas where it is hot and humid which makes the problem worse. My dealer hasn't complied with the RECALL, [redacted] , Stone Lake, WI [redacted]

2009 MKX · Dec 2023

The contact owned a 2008 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V001000 (Air Bags) and later Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact had made several attempts to set up recall appointments, however, the dealer kept advising her that the parts were not available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH and following a right bend on the road she crashed into a parked vehicle. The contact stated that it was raining and the road surface was wet. The contact's vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the parked car, damaging the rear quarter panel and both doors. The contact's vehicle had damage to the front driver-side bumper and headlight, and the passenger door which was crushed by the impact. …

2008 MKX · 230,000 miles · Nov 2022 · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while his son was pulling up to a stop sign prior to pulling into oncoming traffic and noticed a dump truck speeding that lost control and eventually crashed into the passenger side door. No air bags deployed. The driver had received injuries to their shoulder, arm, and minor whiplash. No medical attention was needed. The driver of the truck had not received any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle had been towed to a body shop. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

2008 MKX · 75,000 miles · Nov 2022 · crash · 1 injury

Related recalls (7)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 21V-158 · Mar 10, 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles

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.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.

Air bags › Frontal

NHTSA recall 21V-081 · Feb 16, 2021 · 1,067 vehicles

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.

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-001 · Jan 7, 2019 · 782,384 vehiclesDo not drive

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.

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 18V-046 · Jan 11, 2018 · 327,796 vehiclesDo not drive

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.

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-123 · Feb 27, 2017 · 27,531 vehicles

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles and 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles. In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal air bag may not fully inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag module.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Show 2 more recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-024 · Jan 10, 2017 · 654,695 vehiclesDo not drive

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…

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V-384 · May 31, 2016 · 1,892,343 vehiclesDo not drive

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,…

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.

NHTSA investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.

Frequently asked questions

Which Lincoln MKX years have airbag problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (157), 2007 (154), 2010 (54) and 2009 (35) model years. Airbag complaints make up 62% of all complaints for the 2008.

Is there a recall for Lincoln MKX airbag problems?

Yes — 7 recalls, including 21V-158 (inflator module, Mar 10, 2021); 21V-081 (frontal, Feb 16, 2021); 19V-001 (inflator module, Jan 7, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do Lincoln MKX airbag problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles; 17% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the frontal › passenger side › inflator module (1 mentions).

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.