The 2010 Lincoln Mks has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Engine overheating from water pump failure.” 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.
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.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2010 Lincoln Mks.
ENGINE
2 NHTSA complaints · 2016-04 → 2022-07
“The contact stated that upon placing her vehicle into park(P), the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot. The engine then failed to restart after the failure”
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING”
STEERING
15 NHTSA complaints · 2014-12 → 2026-02
“My car will intermittently (more times than not) lose its power steering assist, making it almost impossible for me to drive”
“WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING FAILED”
“I STARTED MY CAR AND THE ERROR "POWER STEERING FAILURE" CAME ON, I WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10 NHTSA complaints · 2010-05 → 2017-06
“I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF MY HOME, APPLYING THE BRAKE, WHEN THE ENGINE THROTTLED UP AND THE CAR BOLTED FORWARD”
“THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED WITH AN ABNORMAL ACCELERATION”
“I WAS DRIVING 62 MPH IN CRUISE AND DECIDED I WANTED TO GO 70 MPH. I THEN PROCEEDED TO HOLD DOWN THE "SET +" BUTTON UNTIL MY SPEED REACHED 70 AT WHICH POINT I RELEASED THE BUTTON. TO MY SURPRISE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 95 MPH AND HELD THAT SPEED”
AIR BAGS
4 NHTSA complaints · 2017-07 → 2018-10
“TAKATA RECALL. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT SINCE MAY OF 2018. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED”
“TAKATA RECALL - SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP (SABINE RIVER FORD) IN ORANGE TX AND THEY DIDN'T PERFORM WORK, SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS”
“THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V154000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE”
ENGINE
5 NHTSA complaints · 2014-05 → 2017-11
“LINCOLN MKS 2010 LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY AND STARTED SHAKING. TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO DID A TUNE-UP, CHECKED THE TURBOS AND NOW SAYS IT NEEDS THE MOTOR REPLACED DUE TO A BAD CYLINDER”
“WHILE DRIVING I EXPERIENCED ALOUD VIOLET KNOCK AND HESITATION, STALL, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING”
“WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING”
SERVICE BRAKES
4 NHTSA complaints · 2010-02 → 2015-05
“I WAS DRIVING INTO MY GARAGE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN CAR ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEEDC. I APPLIED FULL PRESSURE TO BRAKE. CAR FAILED TO STOP”
“BRAKE PEDAL INVARIABLY COLLAPSES COMPLETELY TO FLOOR WHEN THEY ARE DEPRESSED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO NOT PROPERLY FUNCTION”
“THE ANTII-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON FOR NO REASON AND THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE BRAKES ACTUALLY LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
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.
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.
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.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
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.
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.
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.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
9 crashes 2010–2024
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
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.
8
complaints mentioning a crash
0
complaints mentioning a fire
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 2010 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.