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2007 Lincoln MKZ Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2007 Lincoln MKZ has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Wheel rim cracking and finish failure causing air loss.” Lincoln uses Ford's Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor: it tracks how the vehicle is actually driven and calls for oil service when needed — up to 10,000 miles or 12 months on normal duty, much sooner with towing or repeated short trips. EcoBoost-powered Aviators and Nautilus models are turbocharged: heat is their maintenance story, so oil quality and cooling-system health matter more than on the old naturally aspirated V8s. Traditional V8 Navigators and Town Cars are long-interval machines — 100,000-mile plugs — that mostly reward fluid discipline.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Lincoln MKZ.

Reported to NHTSA

Wheel rim cracking and finish failure causing air loss

WHEELS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2019-01 → 2020-05

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11325747
“CHROME WHEELS CONSTANT PEELING AND FLAKING. HAVE HAD TIRES RE-SEALED BUT KEEP GETTING FLAT TIRES, PARKED AND DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11204727
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LINCOLN MKZ EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL TIRES, SIZE: P215/55R17 (NA). UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES WERE FLAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11169999

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Takata air bag recall parts unavailability

AIR BAGS

164 NHTSA complaints · 2017-01 → 2025-03

“I believe my car uses Takata Airbags and it has been over a year since the recall was issued. No remedy has been suggested”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11477203
“I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE NOTICES ABOUT NHTSA RECALL 16V-384 ON VIN# (XXXXX) FIRST NOTICE CONTACTED MARSHALL FORD SERVICE, CALL NEVER RETURNED. 2 ND NOTICE CONTACTED PEGUES HURST FORD LONGVIEW, TX. PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11112997
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11166253

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pedal loss of stopping power and ABS recall delay

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

37 NHTSA complaints · 2017-01 → 2026-05

“The contact owns a 2007 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that after having the rotors replaced, while driving approximately 30 MPH and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle coasted before coming to a complete stop”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11563457
“WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TO GO. SOMEONE GOING ACROSS TRAFFFIC RAN THE STOP SIGN. THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID COLLISION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11310573
“2007 MKZ PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2009 WITH 25,000MILES HAS ALWAYS HAD ISSUE WITH ABS AND CPU FAILURE WHEN ACTIVATED IN MOTION OR EMERGENCY BRAKING. VEHICLE NOW HAS 96,000 MI IN MARCH 2021. LINCOLN MOTOR CO. HAS ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE#: 19V-904, THIRTEEN YEARS LATER/OCT 2020”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11404542

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Heated seat heating element smoke and fire

SEATS

4 NHTSA complaints · 2018-12 → 2021-02

“HEATED SEAT HEATING ELEMENT IS OPEN. IF SOMEONE TURNS THE HEATED SEAT ON, IT COULD CAUSE A SHORT AND CREATE A FIRE IN THE SEAT CUSHION. VEHICLE COULD ME STATIONARY OR MOVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11267695
“USED REMOTE TO START CAR AND AFTER A I GOT IN I SMELLED SMOKE. I LOOKED AROUND AND SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT. I GOT OUT AND OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND SMOKE CAME POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE HEATING UNIT CAUGHT THE SEAT ON FIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11176225
“DRIVER SIDE SEAT WORMER WAS ON STARTED SMELLING PLASTIC AND IT STARTED SMOKING ATTACHED IS THE PICTURE OF IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11396668

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Internal water pump failure causing engine shutdown

POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 NHTSA complaints · 2019-10 → 2026-06

“Internal Water pump Failed causing immediate shutdown of vehicle. This water pump is internal to the engine and requires half of the engine be taken apart to be replaced. This affect all 3.5 and 3.7 Ford engines through 2021”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11743504
“WE WAS GOING ON HWY AND THE CAR WENT TO HOT AND WE PULLED OVER STOPPED AND THE CAR STALLED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11266833

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil-Life Monitor)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the Oil-Life Monitor calls it — up to 10,000 miles or 12 months. EcoBoost engines (Aviator 3.0T): use the specified synthetic and don't stretch the monitor; turbos cook marginal oil.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles. Heavy Navigators shift a lot of weight — even wear is a ride-quality item, not just a tire-budget item.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil service. Town Car livery duty and Navigator towing both count as severe service for brakes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 150,000 mi

Ford schedules the 10-speed (10R80) and 6-speed automatics at 150,000 miles normal duty — but 60,000 miles with towing or livery use, which describes many Lincolns. Mercon ULV / the specified Mercon type only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

V8 Navigator and Town Car: 100,000-mile plugs. EcoBoost V6 (Aviator, Nautilus 2.7T): commonly around 60,000 miles — check your year's guide; turbo engines run shorter plug lives.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles per Ford's schedule; sooner in dusty climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Rear Differential Fluid (RWD/4WD)

Every 60,000 mi

Navigator, Aviator RWD, and Town Car: replace rear axle fluid around 60,000 miles with towing or livery duty (150,000 normal per Ford). Limited-slip axles need the friction modifier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Serpentine / Accessory Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking. The 5.4L Navigator's belt also drives the cooling fan clutch on some years — a failure overheats fast.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped. (2004-era Town Cars predate cabin filters; modern Lincolns locate it behind the glovebox.)

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement

Every 100,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (OAT) on modern models: first change around 10 years / 200,000 miles per Ford, though shops commonly refresh by 100,000. Older green-coolant V8s: every 5 years. Never mix chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Feature-heavy Lincolns (air suspension compressors, power everything) expose weak batteries as electrical gremlins first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

67 crashes 1990–2024

How the 67 occupant deaths break down

52

driver deaths

14

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

67

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

14

complaints mentioning a crash

3

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Lincoln MKZ reflects Lincoln's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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