YearToAvoid

2009 Lincoln MKX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

54/100

#7 most-complained of 14 MKX years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Lincoln MKX has 66 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 54 out of 100 — #7 highest of 14 MKX model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is airbags (35 complaints, 53% of the total).

Complaints
66
Recalls
6
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16 city / 23 hwy

Top 2009 Lincoln MKX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags35 (53%)
  2. Brakes11 (17%)
  3. Electrical System7 (11%)
  4. Other6 (9%)
  5. Engine3 (5%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain3 (5%)
  9. Fuel System2 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (2%)
2009 Lincoln MKX complaints: complaints filed per month7Mar 2010Apr 2015Dec 2016Dec 2017Oct 2018Dec 2019Feb 2022Sep 2026
75 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2010 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2018 (7).

2009 Lincoln MKX recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2009 Lincoln MKX →

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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid1002985 !18.5
2008Avoid922536 !18.5
2009Caution54666 !18.5
2010Avoid851116 !19.5
2011Caution69149320

All Lincoln MKX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Lincoln MKX a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Lincoln MKX ranks #7 of 14 among MKX model years (Complaint Index 54/100, verdict: Caution). It has 66 complaints and 6 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Lincoln MKX?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (35 complaints), brakes (11 complaints), and electrical system (7 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 86,500 miles.
Does the 2009 Lincoln MKX have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2009 Lincoln MKX, most recently reported 2021, covering airbags and fuel system. At least one carries a Do Not Drive advisory.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Lincoln MKX?
EPA rates the 2009 Lincoln MKX at 18.5 MPG combined (16 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.