2010 Lincoln MKX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2010 Lincoln MKX has 111 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 85, and 6 recalls including 3 do-not-drive campaigns, ranking it 3rd worst among 14 model years with an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 49% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 85/100
- #3 of 14 MKX years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 111
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 9
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 17.5 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2010 Lincoln MKX problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags54 (49%)
- Brakes25 (23%)
- Structure & Body11 (10%)
- Engine9 (8%)
- Electrical System6 (5%)
- Fuel System4 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (4%)
- Other3 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report unintended forward or reverse acceleration while stopped or idling with the brake applied, sometimes ending in a crash into a wall or another vehicle.
- Driver or passenger airbags reportedly deployed without a crash or deployed improperly during low-speed parking maneuvers, in some cases causing the driver to lose control.
- Some owners describe brakes that made noise and failed to stop the vehicle, forcing evasive action like steering into a ditch.
- Electrical problems were reported affecting the alarm system, air conditioning, and heated seats, in one case causing a burn injury, along with a check engine light and overheating.
- A tailgate that would not close automatically and an instrument panel warning light for the tailgate ajar condition were reported as intermittent issues.
- An advanced traction control warning light reportedly stayed on due to defective sensors that required a dealer parts order.
2010 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 19V001000Jan 7, 2019Airbags782,384 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or 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 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY 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. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
2010 Lincoln MKX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 19.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,325
- 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.
2010 compared with other MKX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Lincoln MKX reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 111 complaints and a complaint index of 85 for the 2010 MKX, the 3rd worst among 14 model years, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other MKX years.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2010 Lincoln MKX?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 54 complaints, or 49% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 73,000 miles.
- Does the 2010 Lincoln MKX have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2010 MKX, 3 of which are do-not-drive recalls, mostly related to airbag inflators and modules.
- How does the 2010 MKX compare to other years?
- The 2010 MKX (complaint index 85, Avoid) ranks worse than the 2009 (54, Caution) and 2011 (69, Caution) model years, but better than the 2007 (100, Avoid) and 2008 (92, Avoid) model years.
- What mileage do 2010 Lincoln MKX problems typically appear at?
- Across all reported issues, the median mileage at failure is 89,000 miles, though airbag complaints show a lower median of 73,000 miles.