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Research · Midsize Cars

2007 Lincoln MKZRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 259 owner complaints for the 2007 Lincoln MKZ. Most complaints involve air bags (184) and service brakes (29). The EPA rates it 19–20 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–20mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Mar 2021
Owner complaints
259
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$3,100est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveRemedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 10, 2017NHTSA 17V024000

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveRemedy pending

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang 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 model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang 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." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported May 31, 2016NHTSA 16V384000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Mar 10, 2021NHTSA 21V158000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

259 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2007 – Jun 2026
  1. Air bags184
  2. Service brakes29
  3. Wheels18
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic14
  5. Power train7
  6. Electrical system7
  7. Engine6
  8. Structure5
  9. Seats4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each MKZ model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2007259
2008281
2009114
2010170
2011185
2012146
2013109
201498
201584
201664
2017140
201836
201921
20202
Crashes reported
14
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
2
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

184 reports6 crashes
“Varsity Ford Lincoln is refusing to fix open recalls. My vehicle has been sitting with them for 90 days. Lincoln is refusing to help. Now the dealership in a letter is stating they are not going to fix the open recalls because I have to pay them money to fix my brakes before they'll do that in a text. They are extorting me.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2025Air bags, Unknown or other, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11646784

Service brakes

29 reports7 crashes
“Under the following recall [XXX] Recall was performed in 2022 by Ford of Upland by replacing only the brake fluid. The problem resurfaced just as described in the recall a while back. I contacted Ford on 5/21 they contacted the dealer who refused to repair at no cost. Car is currently at independent respected shop who confirmed that the ABS pump/module is shot and is gummed up. Recall by ford of upland was not performed fully or wasn’t effective. Replacing the fluid only was not a fix. I contacted the dealer and the general manager refused to repair and fought with me on the phone. I told them I’d be filing a lawsuit if they wouldn’t provide the part at no cost and reimburse the repairs. Ford/Lincoln has stated there is nothing they can do without the dealers cooperation. I do not trust Ford of Upland to make any repairs, but that wasn’t even an option. Lincoln also stated that because Ford of Upland did the recall that they couldn’t send it to Performance Lincoln.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2026Service brakesODI 11739635

Wheels

18 reports1 crash
“2007 LINCOLN MKZ V6. THE WHEEL/RIMS ARE GARBAGE. THEY ARE FALLING APART, CRACKS IN THE METAL, FINISH PEELING, AROUND THE TIRE PIECES OF THE RIM HAS FALLEN OFF. I CAN'T BELIEVE LINCOLN WOULD USE SUCH JUNK. I HAVE TO KEEP CHECKING THE AIR PRESSURE BECAUSE THE WHEELS/RIMS ARE SO TORN UP. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR TWO WEEKS AGO. LINCOLN NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THESE WHEELS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THEM FALLING APART. THE WELDS ARE BREAKING APART. THESE WHEELS/RIMS ARE DANGEROUS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2020WheelsODI 11325747
All 2007 MKZ problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
MKZ FWD
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172520$3,100444
MKZ AWD
Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162419$3,300468
  • MKZ FWD
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    17 city · 25 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • MKZ AWD
    Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    16 city · 24 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2007 Lincoln MKZ as of Nov 9, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026Vehicle 2191
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2007 MKZ questions

How many recalls does the 2007 Lincoln MKZ have?

5 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2007 Lincoln MKZ problems?

Owners filed 259 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (184), service brakes (29), wheels (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2007 Lincoln MKZ get?

The EPA rates the 2007 Lincoln MKZ at 19–20 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026