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ProblemsByVin File / 2010-LINCOLN-MKX NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Lincoln

2010 Lincoln MKX problems

The 2010 Lincoln MKX has 6 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 111 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.

The 2010 Lincoln MKX has 111 NHTSA owner complaints and 7 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 54 complaints, typically surfacing around 77,010 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Lincoln MKX owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2007 MKX 298 6
2008 MKX 253 7
2009 MKX 65 7
2010 MKX (this page) 111 7
2011 MKX 148 3
2012 MKX 84 1
2013 MKX 163 1
2010 Lincoln MKX
Photo: Damian B Oh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Lincoln MKX
0 5 10
Reliability score
4.0 / 10

Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.

6
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2010 MKX?
High-risk ownership

Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2010 Lincoln MKX? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 77,010 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 7 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 4.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2010 Lincoln MKX

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2010-lincoln-mkx/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2010 Lincoln MKX reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2010-lincoln-mkx/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2010 Lincoln MKX reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 7 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
54 reports · fails ~77,010 mi · avg $1,100
severe
brakes
20 reports · fails ~111,945 mi · avg $450
moderate
cruise control
5 reports · fails ~70,172 mi · avg $600
severe
lighting
4 reports · fails ~79,603 mi · avg $250
moderate
powertrain
4 reports · fails ~66,155 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
engine
3 reports · fails ~115,000 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
visibility
3 reports · fails ~52,534 mi · avg $350
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2010 MKX's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2010 MKX?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2010 MKX · brakes
Brakes are extremely hard to use, takes both feet to stop vehicle, once stopped the engine will stall while brake is touched, must put vehicle in park when stopped.
2010 MKX · brakes
Ford motor company is recalling 600,000 vehicles for a faulty valve in the hydraulic braking system. The recall doesn't currently include the 2010 mkx which I own. I have had an intermittent braking problem the last three months in which I took it in and was given new brakes and…
12/28/2019 · at 196,900 mi · NHTSA ODI #11291699.0 · see brakes pattern →
2010 MKX · airbags
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln mkx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v384000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Weikert Ford (21399 us-27, lake wales,…
2010 MKX · airbags Crash
Takata recall, NHTSA recall no. 16v384, Lincoln recall no. 16s26 11-23-16, I turned steering wheel to begin to park in shopping mall garage. Driver airbag immediately deployed prior to impact which caused me to hit the concrete wall ahead. There were no other passengers in the…
12/27/2016 · at 60,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10937664.0 · see airbags pattern →
View all 111 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2010 Lincoln MKX? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 7

critical NHTSA 21V158000 March 10, 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
critical NHTSA 21E013000 February 16, 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
critical NHTSA 21V081000 February 16, 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
View all 7 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2010 Lincoln MKX reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 4.0 out of 10 based on 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Lincoln MKX has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2010 Lincoln MKX?

The 2010 Lincoln MKX is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Reliability score 4.0/10 — below the segment average; 7 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2010 Lincoln MKX?

Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 54 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 77,010 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2010 Lincoln MKX a good used car to buy?

It scores 4.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 111 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 77,010 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2010 Lincoln MKX?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 54 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 77,010 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 77,010 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Lincoln MKX has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Lincoln MKX?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 111 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Lincoln/MKX. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Lincoln. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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