Chrome plating is flaking off, and tires consistently lose air pressure. I contacted ray price Ford in stroudsburg, pa and they said this sometimes happens, but not a warranty issue. I contacted my tire person and he tried to brush off the excess chrome around seal to get a bead, but no luck. A new wheel is around $400, so I got a used one. Similar issues, but not as frequent. However,…
2008 Lincoln MKZ wheels problems
moderate 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $400 · see wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
When does it fail?
Of the 26 wheels complaints filed for the 2008 Lincoln MKZ, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Lincoln MKZ we track for wheels problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 26.
Owners have filed 26 wheels complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2008 Lincoln MKZ is prone to chrome wheel corrosion and flaking that triggers chronic tire leaks, requiring constant air refills and eventual wheel replacement at significant cost. This is a known issue Ford has not recalled or addressed under warranty, despite 26+ documented complaints.
Owners of 2008 Lincoln MKZ vehicles with chrome-plated 17-inch aluminum wheels report systematic corrosion and flaking of the chrome coating, typically beginning within the first few years of ownership. The defect manifests as chrome peeling and pitting at the tire bead contact area, which destroys the seal between tire and rim. This leads to slow but persistent air loss ranging from weekly refills to refills needed every few days depending on weather and temperature.
Temporary repairs—grinding corrosion, applying bead sealer, or sanding the rim surface—provide only short-term relief before the corrosion resurfaces. Owners report averaging six or more tire services per year over three-plus years just to maintain safe pressure. Underinflated tires accelerate wear, damage tires permanently, and worsen fuel economy. One case describes explosive tire decompression. Several owners mention cold weather slows the leak; warm weather worsens it.
Ford and Lincoln dealers acknowledge the problem exists but refuse to invoke warranty coverage or issue a recall. Replacement wheels run $400–$1,500 per wheel; a full set exceeds $1,500. One owner's cumulative repair and tire costs reached $43,000. Owners across multiple tire shops and dealerships report this as a "known issue" unique to these vehicles.
Same Lincoln MKZ wheels reports on nearby years: 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Chrome plating flaking and corrosion
Chrome coating on 17-inch aluminum wheels peels, flakes, and corrodes, typically beginning a few months to a couple years after purchase. The inner edge and bead area are most affected. The corrosion creates a pitted surface that prevents the tire bead from sealing properly against the rim.
When: Most commonly 2–3 years after purchase; failures reported from 24,000 to 105,000 miles. Some began within months of purchase; others after original tires were replaced.
Symptoms owners cite: Chrome peeling and flaking off the wheel; Pitted or rough surface on the rim where tire bead seats; Tires lose air pressure and will not hold a seal; Tire pressure monitoring system light illuminates; Tire deflation ranges from slow loss (refill every 1–4 weeks) to rapid deflation requiring air refills weekly or even daily; One case reported explosive tire decompression; Vibration while driving reported in one case
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers and tire shops have attempted temporary fixes: grinding corrosion off the rim, applying bead sealer, or sanding the bead area. One owner paid $35 for this service; others reported repeated failures requiring re-service multiple times per year. Permanent solution is wheel replacement (quoted at $400–$1,500 per wheel or full set). One owner spent over $3,500 on related repairs and tire replacements.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford has refused to issue a recall or acknowledge the defect as a warranty issue. Dealers acknowledge the problem exists but refer owners to Ford; Ford declines to assist. One case mentions Ford sent a response declining to repair.
Tire seal failure from rim corrosion
The corroded rim surface prevents the tire bead from achieving an airtight seal. This is a consequence of chrome flaking but is reported as a distinct failure mode in its own right—the tire bead cannot mate to the pitted rim.
When: Typically emerges once chrome corrosion is visible, from early in ownership to higher mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Tire will not 'bead' to the rim; Continuous air leaks at the rim-to-tire interface; Bead sealer and temporary fixes fail to prevent recurrence; Air loss is temperature-dependent: slower in cold weather, faster in warm weather
Repairs/costs cited: Temporary repairs include bead sealer application and rim surface preparation (sanding, grinding). These do not address the underlying corrosion and require repeated service. One tire shop customer was told 'only solution is new wheels.' Owners report servicing tires 6+ times per year to maintain safe inflation.
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Car was bought new in 2008 from local Ford/Lincoln dealer, dempewolf Ford, henderson, ky, and always garage kept and dealer serviced. Tires begain to loose air pressure several months ago. When examined by purcell tire, henderson, ky, they said that chrome was flaking off leaving a pitted surface and that bead would not seal against pitted surface. Car is equipt with optional chrome plated 17"…
These wheels are identified as 17" 8 spoke machined & painted aluminum wheel which began to corrode and peel around 2011. They leak air around the contact of the rim and tire because of the corrosion. This condition requires having the wheel taken apart and corrosion removed then reassembling the wheel and re-balancing the tire assembly before re-installing back on to car. Depending on several…
The chrome coating on the wheels is defective and flakes off. This does not allow the tires to seat properly with the wheels, causing them to lose pressure. Eventually this can damage the tires by having them repeatedly driven under the recommended pressures. Numerous attempts by my tire dealer to remedy the situation, under their warranty, have been frustrating as the issue is not of their…
Had wheels trouble with your 2008 Lincoln MKZ?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the wheels problem on the 2008 Lincoln MKZ?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 26 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $400 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 40,000 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 41,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 55,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $400 for wheels repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Lincoln/MKZ.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.