2008 Lincoln MKX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2008 Lincoln MKX ranks 2nd worst of 14 model years, with a complaint index of 92 and 253 complaints, most tied to airbags. NHTSA lists 6 recalls, including two do-not-drive airbag campaigns, earning it an Avoid verdict relative to other MKX years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 92/100
- #2 of 14 MKX years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 253
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 15.5 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2008 Lincoln MKX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags157 (62%)
- Transmission & Powertrain30 (12%)
- Engine22 (9%)
- Fuel System22 (9%)
- Brakes18 (7%)
- Electrical System13 (5%)
- Structure & Body10 (4%)
- Other7 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (3%)
- Steering3 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in a side-impact crash, leaving occupants with shoulder, arm, and whiplash injuries.
- A deployed airbag cut a driver's forearm during a collision.
- The passenger heated seat caught fire even though the heater was not turned on.
- The rear liftgate reopened on its own after closing, in one case while the vehicle was backing up, causing damage to the rear window.
- A liftgate lacked an interior release, trapping an owner inside the vehicle for over half an hour.
- The throttle body failed more than once on the same vehicle, first around 21,158 miles and again near 62,978 miles.
2008 Lincoln MKX recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V158000Mar 10, 2021Airbags2,602,668 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
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.
- NHTSA 21V081000Feb 16, 2021Airbags1,067 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
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.
- NHTSA 17V024000Jan 10, 2017Airbags654,695 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
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. 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.
2008 Lincoln MKX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15.5 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 18.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,500
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other MKX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Lincoln MKX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 MKX ranks 2nd worst among 14 model years with a complaint index of 92, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other MKX years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Lincoln MKX?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 157 of 253 complaints (62%), with a median failure mileage of 73,000 miles.
- Does the 2008 Lincoln MKX have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag recalls for this model year, including two do-not-drive campaigns for driver and passenger airbag inflators.
- How many recalls does the 2008 Lincoln MKX have?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2008 Lincoln MKX, covering airbags and the fuel system, with 2 of those recalls carrying a do-not-drive warning.
- How does the 2008 MKX compare to the 2007 MKX?
- The 2007 MKX has a higher complaint index (100) and is the worst year, while the 2008 MKX follows close behind at 92, both rated Avoid.