2008 Lincoln Mkx Engine Problems

I am reporting a serious mechanical defect in my 2008 Lincoln MKX involving the internal water pump. This vehicle uses the Ford 3.5L V6 Cyclone engine, where the water pump is mounted inside the engine and driven by the timing chain. My water pump failed unexpectedly, causing coolant to leak into the engine oil. This design flaw poses a serious safety risk due to potential engine failure while driving. This could lead to the engine seizing without warning, loss of power steering and braking, and increased risk of a crash. Ford and Lincoln are aware of this issue, and many owners have reported similar failures, but no recall has been issued. Repairs cost thousands of dollars and often require full engine replacement. This is a known design defect that puts drivers and passengers in danger. I urge NHTSA to investigate and mandate a recall before someone is seriously injured or worse. This failure is unpredictable, dangerous, and affects many vehicles using this engine platform

NHTSA ID

11658100

Incident

May 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the ABS, air bag, and check engine warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the ABS sensor; however, the failure persisted. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.

NHTSA ID

11458318

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

Mileage

134,000 mi

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS AND TIRES SINCE GOT THIS VEHICLE LAST YEAR AND NOW IT'S SHACKING, RIDES LIKES I HAVE A FLAT OR WEAVING UP AND DOWN AND STARTING TO PULL/ STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG STILL HAS ALL ORIGINAL PARTS! LIGHTS GO THRU BULBS AND CAN'T SEE

NHTSA ID

11351655

Incident

Jul 24, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WILL INITIALLY HAVE THE SPEED ODOMETER DROP TO 0 MPH WHILE STILL MOVING. A "WRENCH" LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. ONCE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP, THE DRIVER MUST PUSH THE ACCELERATOR DOWN UNTIL THE TACH READS APPROX. 3000 RPMS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START MOVING AGAIN. WHEN IT IS MOVING IT SHIFTS ERRATICALLY AND "BANG" THE GEARS. IF THE DRIVER, AFTER STOPPING, TAKES THE VEHICLE OUT OF DRIVE AND PUTS IN REVERSE, IT BANGS THE TRANSMISSION SO HARD IT FEELS IT GOING TO DROP OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE IMAGE I ATTACHED I WAS GOING 55 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323414

Incident

Apr 6, 2020

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF A 2008 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,575.

NHTSA ID

11271626

Incident

Jun 28, 2019

Mileage

115,575 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, ON AN INCLINE OR DECLINE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. FURTHERMORE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY AND THE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED. ROB SIGHT FORD IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER OFFERED TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: CAS-14516361. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA ID

11083284

Incident

Mar 8, 2018

Mileage

142,000 mi

YESTERDAY (11/05/2016), I WAS GOING TO GO TO THE STORE. THE CAR STARTED FINE AND RAN FINE AS I BACKED IT OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY, BUT WHEN I WENT DOWN THE STREET IN FRONT OF OUR NEIGHBORS HOUSE, IT SUDDENLY FELT LIKE IT SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR. I TURNED THE CORNER NEXT TO MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE AND PROCEEDED DOWN A HILL THAT'S THERE, BUT THE CAR STILL WOULD ONLY GO VERY SLOWLY. WHEN I GOT DOWN THE HILL, I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO RUN FINE. I DROVE ANOTHER 7 OR 8 BLOCKS UNTIL STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT, THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING A WRENCH AND AN AIRBAG COME ON. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO MAKE IT GO, IT AGAIN WOULD ONLY GO AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. BY THE TIME I CROSSED THE STREET, THE LIGHT HAD SWITCHED BACK TO RED. TERRIFIED, I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET AND NOTICED THE ODOMETER WAS SHOWING ALL ZEROS. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WENT INTO THE STORE, SHAKING AND VERY SCARED. I CAME BACK OUT PRAYING IT WOULD START UP AND RUN FINE. IT MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND SOUNDED LOUDER, BUT THEN IT STARTED RUNNING FINE AND DID SO ALL THE WAY HOME. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR TWICE SINCE THEN FOR SHORT DISTANCES BUT HAVEN'T HAD IT HAPPEN AGAIN. WE BOUGHT THIS 2008 LINCOLN MKX USED WITH 92,474 MILES ON IT JUST 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,808 MILES ON IT. THAT'S A WHOPPING 334 MILES PUT ON IT BY US AS WELL AS OTHERS WHO TEST DROVE THE CAR SINCE THIS DEALER LISTED IT FOR SALE. SINCE THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, MY HUSBAND SUSPECTS THE POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTIONED OR A AWD FAULT OCCURRED, AS IT SHOWS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, BUT SAID HE WOULDN'T RULE OUT OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES. SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS FROM A USED CAR DEALER, THOUGH WE DID TAKE OUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH OUR CREDIT UNION, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT RIGHTS EXIST PROTECTING US.

NHTSA ID

10924525

Incident

Nov 5, 2016

Mileage

92,808 mi

THE VEHICLE SURGES AT LOWER RPMS BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000. DEALERSHIP TESTED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. UPON REVIEW A NEW THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP THEN RE-PROGRAMMED THE PCM TO CURRENT CALIBRATION AND ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. THE CAR SURGES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND LOSES POWER. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS WHO HAVE DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH AGAIN HAVING A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE SENSOR AND THROTTLE BODY. WE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED BUT ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MAINTENANCE LIGHT COME ON WHEN THE CAR LOSES ACCELERATION POWER, BUT ONCE WE RESTART THE CAR THE LIGHTS GO OFF. AGAIN, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT HAS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-55 MPH. WE ARE SEEKING TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE RECALLED AS WE HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, OR RECEIVING A DEALERSHIP CREDIT TO HAVE THE WORK DONE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10762583

Incident

Oct 7, 2013

Mileage

78,280 mi

WHEN I START MY CAR IT MAKES A CLUNK THEN WHEN I SHIFT IT INTO GEAR IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE BUT WILL CLUNK AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND I CAN'T GO OVER 5 MPH. IT'S HAPPENING MORE AND MORE STARTED ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO BUT WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER NOTHING THEY COULD DO CAUSE IT WASN'T HAPPENING THEN. IT'S HAPPENED WHEN I'VE BEEN SITTING AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AS WELL. WE WILL THEN UNHOOK THE BATTER FOR A FEW MINS AND THEN EVERYTHING IS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705266

Incident

Apr 11, 2015

Mileage

93,000 mi

ABOUT EVERY FEW WEEKS, UPON DRIVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR IS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR OR IN LOW GEAR- IT ACCELERATES UPON STEPPING ON PEDAL, HOWEVER THE CAR IS JUST CRAWLING ALONG AND NOT PICKING UP SPEED AT ALL. CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN BACK IN DRIVE, ONCE I DO THIS IT WORKS NORMAL AGAIN. ON OTHER OCCASIONS I FEEL A HARD KICK WHEN I PUT THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE AND BACK INTO DRIVE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF I HAPPEN TO BE PULLING INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION AND I WOULD HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO GET THIS CAR GOING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628621

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

91,000 mi

VEHICLE (08 LINCOLN MKX) WAS CRUISING AT 35MPH GOING DOWN SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN SUDDENLY VEHICLE STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AT ~3,500RPM. AS THE VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWN HILL AT 35MPH IN A 30MPH ZONE WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES IN SIGHT, NEITHER GAS NOR BRAKES WERE APPLIED AS THERE WAS NO NEED. FOOT WAS OFF BOTH PEDALS UNTIL I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AT AN UNCONTROLLABLE RATE AND IT WAS THEN THAT I APPLIED THE BRAKES. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AS THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. ACCELERATION LASTED APPROXIMATELY TEN SECONDS AND THEN VEHICLE REVERTED BACK TO NORMAL. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THE FOLLOWING DAY (13MAY2014) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR KNOWN SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587827

Incident

May 11, 2014

Mileage

42,535 mi

THIS VEHICLE AFTER 5 MILES OF DRIVING SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND ENTERED WHAT THEY CALL LIMP HOME MODE DROPPING THE SPEED TO 40 MPH AND THEN TO A CRAWL INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED MY VEHICLE SAID THIS HAPPENS TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOPPED IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN THE RED ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRERS THE REPAIR BILL STATES:" THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE EEC MODULE RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE PCM CRANKS, 6 COIL PACKS" SIX SPARK PLUGS WITH A RESULTING COST OF REPAIRS AT $683.47 FOR THE EEC MODULE (THIS IS THE PART THAT CAUSED THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PCM CRANKS AND SIX COIL PACKS) THE COIL PACKS $999.48 FOR SIX, SPARK PLUGS TOTAL 45.54 FOR SIX, A PLENUM GASKET $14.90 AND $447.50 LABOR COST TO REPAIR VEHICLE. AS AN EMPLOYEE OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I GOT A 10% DISCOUNT FOR THE PARTS BRINGING THE TOTAL REPAIR COST TO A TOTAL OF $2190.05 HERE'S MY COMPLAINT. THE EEC FAILED; OK I GET THAT BUT THAT PART FAILURE CAUSED ALL THE REST OF THE PARTS TO BE DESTROYED ADDING THE COST OF THE COIL PACKS, THE GASKET AND ADDITIONAL LABOR COSTS. THE EEC WAS $ 683.47 THE REST SHOULD BE FORD MOTOR COMPANY RESPONSIBILITY AT THE LEAST. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DISTRIBUTED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN OCCURRED AND I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED MY CAR STATING TO ME THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN FUSION CARS AND FORD PICKUP TRUCKS SO THIS ONE DEALER GARAGE TALKING TO ONE MECHANIC THAT HAD SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES DO THIS. THERE HAS TO BE A LOT MORE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546836

Incident

Sep 27, 2013

Mileage

86,239 mi

ON 9.25.12, I TRIED TO ENTER AN EXPRESSWAY WITH AN INCLINE ENTRANCE RAMP DURING RUSH HOUR. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE, (SPUTTERING UNDER ACCELERATION) AND FINALLY STOPPED IN THE EXPRESSWAY. THE CAR NEVER SHUT OFF, NO ENGINE LIGHTS APPEARED, AND AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO VERY SLOWLY DRIVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. FOR THE NEXT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT 5-8 MPH UNTIL REACHING AN EXIT AND A PARKING LOT. THE CAR NEVER TURNED OFF, NEVER DIED, AND NO ENGINE LIGHTS APPEARED WHILE DRIVING TO THE PARKING LOT. ONCE IN THE PARKING LOT, I CALLED A LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER WHO ADVISED ME TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE MKZ APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO REACH MY HOME. SINCE 9.25.12, I HAVE DRIVEN THE MKZ ONCE FOR A BRIEF "RIDE AROUND THE BLOCK" AND THE CAR NOW APPEARS TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS HAD AN "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" ISSUE. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP, THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE IN A SMOOTH MOTION BUT RATHER A "CHOPPY" MANNER WHERE YOUR BODY "JERKS BACK AND FORTH". I HAVE NEVER TAKEN THE MKZ INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" AND HAVE JUST ACCEPTED THIS POOR/CHOPPY ACCELERATION FROM A DEAD STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478669

Incident

Sep 25, 2012

Mileage

23,101 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THERE WAS A HARD THUMP HEARD FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FAIL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10475945

Incident

Jul 2, 2011

Mileage

12,000 mi

I PARKED THE CAR AT A SHOPPING CENTER GARAGE IN TYSONS CORNER VA, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND REMOVED THE KEY. AS I WAS WALKING AWAY FROM THE CAR, I HEARD THIS NOISE SOUNDING LIKE THE FAN STILL RUNNING. AS I RETURNED TO THE CAR AND LISTENED CLOSER, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS THE ENGINE MOTOR STILL RUNNING. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND PLACED THE KEY AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND COULD NOT. I TURNED THE KEY TO TURN IT OFF AND REMOVED THE KEY. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THE ONLY WAY THAT I COULD GET IT TO CUT OFF WAS TO MOVE IT A FEW INCHES THEM BACK UP. THIS TIME I TURNED THE KEY TO STOP THE ENGINE AND IT CUT OFF. THE CAR WAS RUNNING WITHOUT THE KEY AND THE DOORS LOCKED FOR ABOUT 4 - 5 MINUTES. WHAT HAPPENED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10459120

Incident

May 20, 2012

Mileage

44,450 mi

DRIVING IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC ON A RAINY NIGHT. FAN CONTROLLER BROKE CAUSING THE FAN TO SHUT OFF, ENGINE OVERHEAD, COOLANT BOIL OFF AND ENGINE GO INTO LIMP HOME MODE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218770

Incident

Feb 12, 2008

Mileage

298 mi