2010 Lincoln MKX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
70/100
#4 most-complained of 11 MKX years
The 2010 Lincoln MKX has 111 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 70, and 6 recalls, ranking 4th worst among 11 model years. Airbags account for 49% of complaints, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other MKX years.
- Complaints
- 111
- Recalls
- 6
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 9 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 17.5 city / 24 hwy
Top 2010 Lincoln MKX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
What owners report
- Driver-side airbag inflators have deployed unexpectedly while parking or at low speeds, sometimes causing the vehicle to strike nearby objects.
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration or forward movement while stopped at lights or backing out, even with the brake pedal applied.
- Brakes have made noise and reportedly failed to stop the SUV, with one owner steering into a ditch to avoid a collision at 160,000 miles.
- Tailgates have failed to close automatically and intermittently triggered a tailgate-ajar warning light on the instrument panel.
- Electrical issues have included alarm systems locking owners out, air conditioning turning on unpredictably, and a malfunctioning heated seat causing a burn.
- Airbag deployment during side-impact crashes has been linked to owner-reported injuries including unconsciousness and brain injury.
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:driver side:inflator module
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 lists 111 complaints and 6 recalls for the 2010 MKX, giving it a complaint index of 70 and a Caution verdict compared with other MKX years. It ranks 4th worst out of 11 model years tracked.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Lincoln MKX?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 49% of all complaints (54 of 111), with a median failure mileage of 73,000 miles and 3 related crashes.
- Does the 2010 Lincoln MKX have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag recalls covering the 2010 MKX, including three marked do-not-drive due to defective driver or passenger airbag modules and inflators.
- How does the 2010 MKX compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 70, the 2010 MKX ranks better than 2011 (80), 2013 (100), and 2016 (90), all rated Avoid, but worse than 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Lincoln MKX?
- EPA rates the 2010 MKX at 19.5 mpg combined (17.5 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325.