2009 Lincoln MKX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Lincoln MKX carries a complaint index of 54, ranking 7th of 14 model years, with a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 53% of its 66 complaints, and NHTSA has issued 6 recalls, 3 marked do-not-drive.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 54/100
- #7 of 14 MKX years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 66
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2009 Lincoln MKX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags35 (53%)
- Brakes11 (17%)
- Electrical System7 (11%)
- Other6 (9%)
- Engine3 (5%)
- Structure & Body3 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (5%)
- Fuel System2 (3%)
- Steering1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front brakes develop an abnormal rumble that persisted even after dealers replaced pads and rotors multiple times.
- The driver power seat rocks and feels unstable while driving, at times causing the driver's foot to slip off the brake pedal.
- The sound system emits a loud, sudden bang-like noise that owners say distracts them from driving, sometimes followed by the stereo locking up.
- Wires to the self-adjusting headlights become brittle and break, leading to headlight failure.
- The door ajar warning light stays on and the trunk fails to auto-release even when doors are fully closed.
- The fuel tank corrodes and leaks gasoline, with one owner reporting the same defect seen on recalled 2007 and 2008 models.
2009 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 18V046000Jan 11, 2018Airbags327,796 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles ever registered in the states of 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." Ford is also recalling certain 2009 Ford Edge, Fusion, Mustang and Ranger, Lincoln MKX and Zephyr/MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles 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 or "Zone C." 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), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and 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: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
2009 Lincoln MKX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 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.
2009 compared with other MKX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Lincoln MKX reliable?
- It ranks 7th out of 14 MKX model years based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, with a complaint index of 54 and a Caution verdict. It performs better than the 2007, 2008, and 2010 model years but worse than the 2012 through 2018 range.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Lincoln MKX?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 53% of the 66 complaints filed, with a median failure mileage of 93,500 miles.
- Does the 2009 Lincoln MKX have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2009 Lincoln MKX, including one for fuel tank corrosion and several airbag inflator/module recalls, 3 of which are marked do-not-drive.
- What year Lincoln MKX should I avoid?
- Based on complaint index and recalls, the 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2016 model years are rated Avoid, while 2009 is rated Caution, a step above those years.
- How many complaints does the 2009 Lincoln MKX have?
- NHTSA has logged 66 complaints for the 2009 Lincoln MKX, with no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths tied to those complaints.