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2009 Lincoln MKS Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Lincoln MKS has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Front brake grinding noise and repeated pad replacement.” 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.

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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 2009 Lincoln MKS.

Reported to NHTSA

Front brake grinding noise and repeated pad replacement

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

12 NHTSA complaints · 2010-01 → 2013-11

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED FIVE TSB'S REGARDING THE BRAKES GRINDING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10344876
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COMPLETE A TURN AT 10 MPH, A LOUD METAL-ON-METAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10552401
“THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD GRINGING NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR SIX TIMES BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10322294

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Accelerator pedal sticking or acceleration during braking

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

6 NHTSA complaints · 2009-01 → 2015-09

“AS I WAS DRIVING THE GAS PEDAL GOT LOCKED AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND THE ENGINE WAS REVVING HIGH AT 5000 RPM . I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE BUT IT WILL NOT RESPOND , SO I HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN RIGHT TURN ONTO A LESS TRAVELED STREET TO AVOID HITTING OTHER CARS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10761984
“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 4000 RPMS AND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. HE DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10341860
“NEW AUTO DELIVERED 8/11/08 HAS SPENT 21 DAYS IN DEALERS REPAIR SHOP TO DATE. DEFECTS THAT BECAME KNOW ARE STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL (FORD & DEALER CLAIM "IT NEVER HAPPENED") DELUXE AUDIO SYSTEM THAT WORKED SOME OF THE TIME (DEALER REPLACED)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10255571

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power door lock or keyless entry failure to unlock

STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2009-12 → 2019-04

“THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB ON MKS MODEL IN WEATHER TEMPERATURES ABOVE 70 DEGREES AND IT POSES A SAFETY HAZARD IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11203246
“THE LOCKS RANDOMLY DO NOT FULLY UNLOCK WHEN YOU USE THE KEY REMOTE, THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DOOR, OR EVEN MANUALLY PULLING ON THE LOCK KNOB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10659201
“THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A KEYLESS IGNITION MODULE THAT WAS USED TO OPEN THE DOORS AND TO START THE ENGINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10584876

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pedal loss of pressure with pedal near floor

SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES

6 NHTSA complaints · 2014-05 → 2024-12

“The brakes keep failing on my 09 Lincoln mks. It has happen 4 times. Each time 4 different shops said the brake booster, abs system or master cylinder is bad. Have replaced each time and it will last 6 months and it the brakes will go bad again”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11629525
“WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD AND SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10592429
“WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT SLOW SPEED, THE FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (11/2014). IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TWICE SINCE THEN. DEALER HAS CHECKED IT OUT TWICE AND HAS FOUND NOTHING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10704867

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Takata air bag recall part unavailable

AIR BAGS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2016-10 → 2018-02

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10919318
“TAKATA RECAL.L I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IN MY 2009 LINCOLN MKS IN JULY OF 2016. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY MORE INFO. FROM FORD. I CHECK WITH THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX. RECALL NOTICE IS 16S26/NHTSA. RECALL 16V-384”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10971245
“IN 2016 WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. LINCOLN CANNOT SUPPLY ME A FIX BY DATE. I RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE SAYING IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE CANNOT SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. SINCE MY WIFE SUFFERS FROM VERTIGO WE CANNOT MAKE ANY LONG TRIPS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11074292

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment or post-crash fire

AIR BAGS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2015-12 → 2020-02

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10934934
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 LINCOLN MKS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10816743
“THE CONTACT STATED HIS WIFE THE DRIVER WAS AT A STOPPED SIGN AND WHILE PRECEDING INTO THE INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS A FIRE WAS STARTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11309952

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)

19 crashes 1990–2024

How the 19 occupant deaths break down

14

driver deaths

5

passenger deaths

19

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2009 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.

4

complaints mentioning a crash

1

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 2009 Lincoln MKS 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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