Problems · by component

2006 Lincoln Zephyr air bags problems

142 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr cite air bags, 62% of all 229 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
142
62% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph and making a turn, an unknown truck crashed head-on into the vehicle. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be driven after the crash. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to his tongue and neck but medical attention was not provided. There were no reported fire or air bag deployments. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted.The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 ( Air bags) after the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2022Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11488078
“The contact owned a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list as he no longer owns the vehicle. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2022Air bagsODI 11485301
“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
“I HAVE AN AIRBAG LIGHT THAT COMES ON IN THIS CAR, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE EXTENDED COVERAGE FROM WHEN THEY REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY FOR 1ST RECALL, DEALER TRYING TO SAY I MIGHT HAVE TO PAY TO DIAG IT BECAUSE IT COULD BE UNRELATED, BUT ALSO I JUST READ AN ARTICLE DATED 1/22/2021 STATING THERE IS ANOTHER AIRBAG RECALL FOR 2006 ZEPYHR BUT MY VIN ISNT SHOWING UP. HTTPS://WWW.CARANDDRIVER.COM/NEWS/A35283747/FORD-AIRBAG-RECALL-3-MILLION/”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2021Air bagsODI 11391104
“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

Showing 6 of 142 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

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

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
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

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

Other 2006 Zephyr problem areas