Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Lincoln mks. After he picked up his vehicle from the dealer, he smelled engine oil burning. He was told that because it was a new vehicle, it was normal. He continued to smell the odor, and then noticed leakage on his garage floor. He looked under the vehicle and saw that there was a fluid leaking onto the exhaust pipe and smoking. He took the vehicle back to the…
2009 Lincoln MKS powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2009 Lincoln MKS have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 MKS (this page) | 3 |
| 2013 MKS | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 3 powertrain complaints filed for the 2009 Lincoln MKS, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Lincoln mks. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the gear shift lever moved from auto to auto/manual mode independently. Woltz & wind Ford (located at 2100 washington pike, carnegie, pa 15106, (866) 384-2889) was contacted and a diagnostic appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred three times. The…
Tss/oss failure. While driving the vehicle on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power and I was unable to accelerate. I continued to press the accelerator and the vehicles RPM's increased, but the vehicle began to slow down. Then the transmission slammed into gear and made the vehicle jerk. The engine light, a service advanced trac message appeared, and the wrench light came on. I had the…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2009 Lincoln MKS?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 102,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.