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2008 Lincoln MKZ brakes problems

73 complaints (26% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 100,000. 11 crashes reported.

owner complaints
73
of this car's complaints
26%
typical mileage
100,000
crashes
11
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Brake fluid low warning: lamp
    1
  • Antilock: ABS warning light
    1
  • Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
    1
  • Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Lincoln MKZ brakes problems in other years

200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018

Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Lincoln MKZ brakes

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

ABS 18Brake failure 10Spongy pedal 7

Related recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/moduleReported December 18, 2019 · 600,166 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly.
Risk
If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel may be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with DOT 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the HCU will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the HCU as necessary. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S54.

Recall number 19V904000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Extended Braking DistanceOpened April 18, 2018, closed January 15, 2021

On April 18, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA) 18-002 to investigate reports of braking concerns in model year (MY) 2006-12 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, and MY 2006-11 Mercury Milan vehicles manufactured with Continental Automotive System?s ABS hydraulic control units (HCUs). Complainants report that after an ABS braking event (initiated by slippery or uneven surfaces) the brake pedal moved towards the floor and the vehicle stopping distance increased beyond driver expectations.Inside the HCU are four hydraulic normally closed (NC) valves with zinc-coated moving armatures that control the flow of brake fluid. Unstable brake fluid can degrade over time, allow the brake fluid to gel, and corrosion to form on the armatures. The high-viscosity gelation and corrosion can cause the armatures to become stuck (open). In some cases, braking returns to normal when the armature(s) subsequently become unstuck. The intermittent condition proves difficult to diagnose with complainants reporting having (non-HCU) repairs conducted only to have the condition return.During the investigation, 14 HCUs from complaint vehicles were recovered, including seven from reported crashes. the federal safety agency?s Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) disassembled the HCUs, removed the four NC valves in each, and confirmed 22 of the 56 NC valves contained stuck armatures. On seven of the 14 HCUs, both front wheel armatures were stuck, on nine of the 14 HCUs two or three armatures were stuck. And 52 of the 56 NC armatures exhibited corrosion of the zinc coating. Forces required to extract stuck armatures from the valve sleeve were measured to range from 1.1 to 18.0 lbs. VRTC also conducted ABS braking tests on a variety of test surfaces that showed HCU failures cause increases in pedal travel and braking distances. Testing also showed that if the driver was able to apply four times the brake pedal force and two times the brake pedal travel, then high-vehicle decelerations could be achieved, however, single or multiple wheel lockups were also occurring.Based on Ford?s response to ODI?s July 20, 2018 information request letter, and complainants' reports to the federal safety agency, ODI identified a population of vehicles with an elevated level of field failure compared to vehicles produced both before and after.Further evaluation of Ford?s response identified that the brake fluid used to produce these vehicles, a specific formulation of a DOT3 fluid provided by CCI Corporation between February 2006 and July 2009, differed from the brake fluid used in other vehicle populations. ODI used the correlation of fluid specification and elevated field failures to identify a vehicle population exhibiting a defect trend. The complaints, crashes and injuries cited above, and the 14 recovered HCUs involve vehicles from this population.On December 18, 2019, Ford submitted safety recall (19V‑904) to remedy HCU failures on the MY 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and Mercury Milan vehicles manufactured with the suspect CCI brake fluid formulation. Ford will function test the HCU and replace the DOT 3 brake fluid with an improved DOT 4 brake fluid. If the HCU fails the function test, Ford will install an HCU with a different armature coating (black oxide). HCUs with black oxide coating were fully phased into Ford?s new vehicle production by MY 2016; these HCUs do not appear to be experiencing armature corrosion. ODI notes that the non-recalled EA18-002 subject vehicles, which were manufactured with a different specification brake fluid, did not display an elevated level of field failures like the recalled vehicles.Based on available information, Ford?s rec

EA18002

What 2008 Lincoln MKZ owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jul 6, 2024 · Brakes · FL

Have tried to schedule an appointment with my local Lincoln dealer to have the recall on my car fixed but they told at this time they have no way to fix it.

Filed Oct 10, 2023 · Airbags, Brakes · NC

Bought vehicle from owner 02/2023. Check brake system light came on a few months after, breaks started to skip and making a sound. Took it in to Ford dealership and they showed 2 recalls but never said it would be fixed.

Filed Nov 1, 2022 · Airbags, Brakes · 122,416 miles · SC · crash

The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated, and smoke was coming inside the cabin through the A/C vents. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle and noticed that coolant was leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the thermostat was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred on four other occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who refilled the coolant in the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that on 5 separate occasions while driving, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond, causing his vehicle to rear-end his wife’s vehicle. There were no injuries sustained. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would shudder while depressing the brake pedal. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact also stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 21V158000 (Air Bags), 17V024000 (Air Bags) and 16V384000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,416 (Air Bags) and 16V384000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,416

Filed Jun 7, 2022 · Airbags, Brakes · AZ

The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Apr 12, 2022 · Airbags, Brakes · MD

I called ford dealerships to fix the problems back in 2019 but the two recalls have not been fixed yet. Recently, my car was almost failing to stop while I was breaking down.

Filed Mar 22, 2022 · Airbags, Brakes · WA

Manufacturer Recall Number19S54 the federal safety agency Recall Number19V904 Manufacturer Recall Number21S12 the federal safety agency Recall Number21V158 I've been waiting to complete the first recall for my car for over two years and during that time a second recall for the airbag has come out. I am afraid to drive my car and put others in danger and I'm afraid to sell my car because I could be knowingly putting other people at risk of injury or death and I can't do that knowingly.

Filed Nov 18, 2021 · Brakes · 113,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal would only respond when depressed all the way to the floorboard. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle speed sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the speed sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle had passed the hydraulic control unit test. The dealer replaced the brake fluid; however, the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the hydraulic control unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer submitted a report to the manufacturer for assistance with the repair of the vehicle; however, the manufacturer informed the dealer that they would not assist as the request was beyond a reasonable amount of time for the subsequent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

Filed Sep 21, 2021 · Airbags, Brakes · IN

Acutely while driving, the brake petal went all the way to the floor. The brakes slowly slowed the car but didn’t stop it. Car was towed to the dealership May 21st. I was refused a loaner. Despite receiving two separate notices (one of which was after they had my car) telling me to go get the free fix, they have failed to provide the part. Leaving me without a car for four months. This has to be past a customary fix time.

Filed Aug 16, 2021 · Airbags, Brakes · SC

The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was notified of the issue. The manufacturer was notified of the issue but did not provide any assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Aug 12, 2021 · Airbags, Brakes · MS

The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Questions about the 2008 Lincoln MKZ brakes

Does the 2008 Lincoln MKZ have brakes problems?

Owners have filed 73 complaints about the brakes of the 2008 Lincoln MKZ, 26% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2008 Lincoln MKZ brakes problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 100,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2008 Lincoln MKZ brakes?

Yes, 1 recall: 19V904000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Lincoln MKZ have bad brakes?

The Lincoln MKZ model years with the most brakes complaints are 2008 (73 complaints), 2007 (42 complaints) and 2010 (39 complaints).

Other 2008 Lincoln MKZ problems

Airbags 166Wheels 32Electrical 8Body 6Engine 6Transmission 6Acceleration 5Lights 3Tires 3Driver assistance 1Fuel system 1Locks 1Seat belts 1Seats 1Steering 1Suspension 1Visibility 1

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