RoadVitals

2006 Lincoln Zephyr

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

NHTSA has issued a “do not drive” advisory affecting this model year.

Campaign 17V024000. Confirm whether your specific vehicle is covered using its VIN before acting on this.

Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
229
Latest Aug 20, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest Mar 10, 2021
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
10
12 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 229 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, most frequently naming the airbags, other / unspecified and brakes categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 18 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Mar 10, 2021
2,602,668 units potentially affected
The defect: 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. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: 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.
Ford Motor CompanyManufacturer number 21S12View on NHTSA.gov

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Dec 18, 2019
600,166 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Ford Motor CompanyManufacturer number 19S54View on NHTSA.gov
17V024000NHTSA advisory: do not drive

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jan 10, 2017
654,695 units potentially affected
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Ford Motor CompanyManufacturer number 19S01View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Aug 20, 2024

I tool my car in for a recall, they said they could not fix the recall cux it was too rusted. They said the wouldn't even put it on a lift cuz of the rust, however it was just on a lift a week ago at an auto shop. Also when I dropped off my car the air conditioner blower worked, I go to pick it up and turn it on and nothing, I call and ask and they tell me they only touched the steering wheel, I said to him then why was power cux to my vehicle? You didn't disconnect the battery or anything he said no, however when I left the car with then it was on 9.83 fm radio and when I got it back it was on a 500 station from am radio. So I know power was cut somehow. I need to know what to do. I can't keep driving with my brakes like this.

NHTSA ID
11609712
Incident
Aug 20, 2024
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2023

The airbag sensor light is indicating a sensor needs replacement. I have replaced airbags on both the driver and passenger side due to recall. Diagnostics state it is the sensor, passenger side. I have attempted to have repaired, and after 5 weeks and 4 mechanics, no one can seem to get the new sensor to connect to the system and work properly. I did not have a vehicle for weeks! PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA ID
11510766
Incident
Jan 18, 2023
Brakes
Filed Nov 7, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11492653
Incident
Nov 7, 2022
Airbags
Filed Oct 5, 2022
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph and making a turn, an unknown truck crashed head-on into the vehicle. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be driven after the crash. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to his tongue and neck but medical attention was not provided. There were no reported fire or air bag deployments. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted.The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 ( Air bags) after the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

NHTSA ID
11488078
Incident
Sep 1, 2022
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 19, 2022

The contact owned a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list as he no longer owns the vehicle. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ID
11485301
Incident
Sep 19, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 17, 2022

UNKNOWN

NHTSA ID
11447765
Incident
Aug 12, 2021
Brakes
Filed Jul 21, 2021

The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the brake caliper needing to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that unless the caliper was fixed, the recall repair would not be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure but provided no further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ID
11425841
Incident
Jul 21, 2021
Mileage
38,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 22, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

on May 17, 2021 I was involved in a wreck which the airbags did not deploy after impact. There is a police report and an insurance claim pending on the wreck.

NHTSA ID
11418173
Incident
May 17, 2021

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

22B05 S1

AIR BAGS

Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion and MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control Inspection REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT • Updated Ranger Technical Information to include images of a pass and fail airbag inflator inspection for 2007-2011 model years.

22B05

AIR BAGS

Certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion & MKZ/Zephyr, 2006-2011 Milan, and 2007-2010 Edge & MKX Vehicles Driver & Passenger Airbag Module Quality Control Inspection: Ford Motor Company has determined that some vehicles claimed by dealers as repaired under Takata Airbag Safety Recalls 15S21, 17S42, 18S02, 19S01, and 21S12 may not have received the claimed repairs. The propellant in certain Takata airbag inflators can experience an alteration over time with exposure to certain climate conditions. A combination of time, high temperature fluctuations, and humidity contribute to the degradation of the propellant in the inflators. This degradation can cause the propellant to burn too quickly, creating high pressure inside the inflator, and in extreme cases causing the inflator to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment. A ruptured inflator can send inflator parts toward vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Additional information regarding Takata recalls can be found at www.nhtsa.gov and www.safercar.gov.

21N11-S3

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Certain 2006-2010 Model Year Fusion/Milan/MKZ/Zephyr Vehicles Equipped with Anti-Lock Brake Systems DOT 3 Brake Fluid and Anti-Lock Brake System Function In some of the affected vehicles, customers may return to the dealer with complaints of extended brake pedal travel after either 19S54 or 20S14 was previously performed and the program is closed

17B23-S1

AIR BAGS

Certain 2006-2008 Model Year Fusion and Milan, 2006 Zephyr, 2007-2008 MKZ and 2007-2008 Edge, MKX and Ranger Vehicles - Driver Airbag Inflator Replacement

17B23-S1

AIR BAGS

Certain 2006-2008 Model Year Fusion and Milan, 2006 Zephyr, 2007-2008 MKZ and 2007-2008 Edge, MKX and Ranger Vehicles - Driver Airbag Inflator Replacement

17B23

AIR BAGS

Certain 2006-2008 Model Year Fusion and Milan, 2006 Zephyr, 2007-2008 MKZ and 2007-2008 Edge, MKX and Ranger Vehicles - Driver Airbag Inflator Replacement

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lincoln Zephyr by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012030
2011130
2010040
2009040
2008740
2007340
2006Viewing2295048.8
2003100

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.