Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Lincoln Zephyr problems

Owners filed 229 complaints about the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr with NHTSA between Jun 2006 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (142).

Complaints
229
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags142
  2. Wheels26
  3. Structure13
  4. Electrical system11
  5. Power train11
  6. Service brakes10
  7. Vehicle speed control9
  8. Engine9
  9. Tires6
  10. Fuel/propulsion system5
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  12. Suspension3
  13. Steering3
  14. Seats3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20064
20071
20081
20092
20106
20115
201210
20136
201410
201511
201613
201781
201845
20195
202014
20219
20224
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

142 reports7 crashes3 related recalls
“The airbag sensor light is indicating a sensor needs replacement. I have replaced airbags on both the driver and passenger side due to recall. Diagnostics state it is the sensor, passenger side. I have attempted to have repaired, and after 5 weeks and 4 mechanics, no one can seem to get the new sensor to connect to the system and work properly. I did not have a vehicle for weeks! PLEASE HELP!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2023Air bagsODI 11510766

Wheels

26 reports1 crash
“THE PLATING ON ALL FOUR OF MY WHEELS ARE PEELING MAKING THE TIRES NOT SEAL PROPERLY CAUSING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. I HAVE HAD FOUR BLOWOUTS AND SEVERAL FLAT TIRES. I HAVE TO AIR UP THE TIRES EVERY 2 OR 3 DAYS. I HAVE TAKEN THEM TO SEVERAL PLACES TO GET THEM FIXED AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM OTHER THAN TRY AND PUT A SEALANT ON THE TIRE TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING. THIS HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM AND I STILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO AIR THE TIRE EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2019WheelsODI 11169938

Structure

13 reports2 crashes
“I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF A GROCERY STOREAND APPLIED THE BRAKE BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE NEXT THING I K NEW THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD WALL. THE CAR HIT THE WALL B WITH FORCE THAT EMPLOYED MY AIR BAG.AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE BRAKES . I ALWAYS TRY TO DRIVE A CAR LENGTH FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FOR FEAR OF THE BRAKES MALFUNCTING....”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 4, 2021Air bags, Structure, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11394737

Electrical system

11 reports
“I HAVEN'T BEING ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE 2017 I HAVE 3 DIFFERENT RECALLS ON MY CAR & I FEAR FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE I HAVE A TODDLER NO BUYOUT CHECK OR RENTER CAR HAVE BEING PROVIDED FOR US BY FORD 3 ALMOST 4 YEARS LATER I JUST WANT MY BUYOUT CHECK IT CAN'T WAIT ON FORD TO FIX MY PROBLEM ANY LONGER MY RENTER I DID HAVE WAS REPORTED STOLEN BECAUSE FORD WOULD NO LONGER PAY WHICH IS PUTTING ME IN THE HOLE OF 12000 DOLLARS I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY PLUS COURT FEES & FINES FOR A CAR THAT I DON'T WANT IN THE FIRST PLACE I'M AM NOW ASKING FOR 100,000 DOLLARS OR MORE FOR MY TIMES & TROUBLE PROBLEM & PAIN THIS HAS CAUSED ON MY LIFE I'M CAR LESS MONEY LESS & EVERYTHING WAITING ON FORD TO RESPOND PLEASE HELP MY CAR BEING SITTING FOR SO LONG IT DON'T EVEN WANNA START NOW I LOVE FORD BUT DO FORD LOVE ME...”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2020Electrical system, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11352773

Power train

11 reports
“THE PCM/ECM MODULE WENT OUT ON THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WERE SEVERAL TSB'S ISSUED BY FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE DATING BACK TO AT LEAST 2013 WITH ABSOLUTELY NO NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS WHOSE LIVES ARE AT RISK (SEE LIST BELOW). THIS MODULE IS THE MAIN COMPUTER, SO ALL POWER WAS LOST AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGUN RAPIDLY FLASHING NON-STOP AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AGGRESSIVELY ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT NEARLY $4000 BECAUSE ALL SPARKS PLUGS, ALL IGNITION COILS MUST BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. (TSB NUMBERS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE ARE AS FOLLOWS: NHTSA ID #10052190, NHTSA ID #10109070, NHTSA ID #10048099)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2020Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11309572

Service brakes

10 reports1 crash
“I tool my car in for a recall, they said they could not fix the recall cux it was too rusted. They said the wouldn't even put it on a lift cuz of the rust, however it was just on a lift a week ago at an auto shop. Also when I dropped off my car the air conditioner blower worked, I go to pick it up and turn it on and nothing, I call and ask and they tell me they only touched the steering wheel, I said to him then why was power cux to my vehicle? You didn't disconnect the battery or anything he said no, however when I left the car with then it was on 9.83 fm radio and when I got it back it was on a 500 station from am radio. So I know power was cut somehow. I need to know what to do. I can't keep driving with my brakes like this.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2024Service brakesODI 11609712
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026

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