While pulling out into traffic on a very busy four lane street, I turned left to get into the turn lane. All of a sudden the anti-lock brake light came on, the left front wheel jerked and grabbed and the accelerator would not let me get out of the on-coming lane for a few seconds. This could have ended a lot worst. This is the second time this has happened and the dealer says there is no bulletin…
2009 Lincoln MKS brakes problems
moderate Owners of the 2009 Lincoln MKS have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 18,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
When does it fail?
Of the 18 brakes complaints filed for the 2009 Lincoln MKS, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Brakes accounts for 32% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Eighteen complaints describe brake failures across multiple categories, with the most common being front-brake grinding noise. Owners report loud grinding or metal-on-metal sounds starting at very low mileage (300 to 8,000 miles) that recur 60–90 days after each brake pad or rotor replacement. Several owners visited dealerships 4–6 times for the same noise, and dealers often could not duplicate the problem during test drives despite owner confirmation. One early-lease vehicle accumulated only 10,717 miles in two years due to owner distrust.
Brake pedal sinking to the floor is a separate recurring complaint, with one owner noting the problem worsened over several years. One dealership explained this as a "pass-through brake system" design, but the condition led to safety concerns when owners couldn't stop normally.
Three complaints describe unexpected brake lockup—one case with the ABS light illuminating, another with the left front wheel grabbing during a left turn without the driver's foot on the brake. These incidents created dangerous merge and traffic situations.
Premature brake wear appears in multiple narratives; one owner replaced pads twice in eight months at low mileage. Ford issued multiple technical service bulletins (TSB 10-17-03, TSB 09-24-14, and others), and special brackets were eventually installed on some vehicles, but repairs rarely provided lasting resolution. Owners filed lemon-law claims due to repeated failures.
Failure modes owners describe
Brake noise (grinding/metal-on-metal) - front brakes
Loud grinding or metal-on-metal noise from front brakes, occurring intermittently or consistently when braking. Often one-sided (passenger/right front wheel reported in multiple complaints). Noise sometimes stops or lessens as vehicle speed increases or after initial hard braking. Problem recurs 60-90 days after brake pad replacement despite multiple pad/rotor changes.
When: From as early as 300 miles to 25,000 miles and beyond; often very early in vehicle life (3,000-8,000 miles on demo and lease units)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding noise when brake applied; Metal-on-metal sound; Vibration in steering wheel or entire vehicle; Burning smell during braking; Noise intermittent or persistent; Noise sometimes stops as speed increases
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple brake pad replacements (2-6 visits for same issue); rotor resurfacing or replacement; caliper pin greasing; brake booster replacement; special brackets installed per TSB. Parts repeatedly ordered with 2-week delays. One owner reports $X cost implied by extensive repeated service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 10-17-03 (newly designed brake pads); TSB 09-24-14 (grinding brakes); Five TSBs issued per one complaint; TSB mentioned for front brake issues. One dealership claimed noise was 'normal.' Dealer unable to duplicate noise in multiple cases despite owner reports.
Brake pedal sinking to floor
Brake pedal travels all the way to the floor when braking or even at idle. One owner reports Ford-dealer explanation of 'pass-through brake system' (pedal solid when engine off, sinks when running). Problem worsens over several years. One complaint also describes brakes locking unexpectedly during this condition.
When: Reported as occurring over several years; one owner complaint active from July 2015 to Jan 2016 with problem for past year; another case at 73,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to floor; Occurs at idle or while braking; Gets progressively worse; Vehicle may accelerate when brakes applied (foot position noted as contributing factor in one complaint); Brakes lock up after pedal sinks
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer held car from late July 2015 to Jan 5, 2016 attempting warranty repair under 7-year coverage; problem persisted. Another case: brake booster replaced twice without resolution. Rotors not turned initially (throwing brake dust), later required rotor replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealership blamed owner's foot position ('my fault'); another dealership explained 'pass-through brake system' design. No TSBs or recalls mentioned for this specific failure.
Brake lockup during driving
Brakes lock unexpectedly while driving, causing vehicle to come to abrupt halt or making continued driving difficult. One case involved ABS light activation and left front wheel grabbing. Another case: spontaneous front brake lockup without foot on pedal during left turn.
When: Reported from 3,000 miles onward; one case at unknown mileage; one case reported Nov 2014 with two additional occurrences after
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock up unexpectedly; Vehicle comes to complete stop or nearly stops; ABS light illuminated (one case); Left front wheel jerks/grabs (one case); Accelerator may be unresponsive for seconds during incident; Dragging sensation at highway speeds followed by lockup
Codes mentioned: ABS light activation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer advised installing black box/Event Data Recorder to log failures. One case: brake booster replaced twice without resolving issue. Dealer unable to duplicate failure in multiple visits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer could not duplicate the failure; manufacturer contacted but no recalls or TSBs issued for this specific problem. One dealer claimed 'no bulletin for this problem.'
Early brake wear / brake dust
Brake pads and/or rotors wear prematurely, requiring replacement far sooner than normal. One owner replaced pads twice in eight months at early mileage; rotors not initially turned and were throwing excessive brake dust.
When: Evident early in ownership; one case at 6,000 miles after initial service at 1,532 miles; another case twice in eight months
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive brake dust; Brake pads worn quickly; Rotors required replacement after short interval
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads replaced twice in eight months; rotors not turned initially (factory spec issue), later replaced. Special brackets mentioned as needed for brakes.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB referenced for brake work; special brackets being expedited from factory.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Multiple instances of front brakes grinding when braking. Purchased car as a demo in december 2009 with 7800 miles. Brakes were grinding within 30 days. Has been in the dealership multiple times. Going for fourth (?) repair as soon as parts arrive. Apparently there is an tsb issued by Ford/Lincoln.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Lincoln mks. 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. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage…
We leased the 2009 Lincoln mks with 71 miles on it in february 2009. The problem is a grinding noise and vibration occurring when the brake is applied coming from the right front wheel (passenger side of vehicle). Took the car into the dealership starting in aug.2009 vehicle had 3476 miles and they stated they had to order parts. Brought the vehicle in for the fix- new brake pads. Had to bring…
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Lincoln mks. 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. The brakes have been repaired five times. When the vehicle was repaired the…
Had brakes trouble with your 2009 Lincoln MKS?
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 brakes problem on the 2009 Lincoln MKS?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 3,476 and 73,700 miles, with the median around 18,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,476; a quarter make it past 73,700. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2009/Lincoln/MKS.
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.