RoadVitals

2006 Lincoln Zephyr Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
12
Latest Feb 17, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 229 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2020

THE PCM/ECM MODULE WENT OUT ON THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WERE SEVERAL TSB'S ISSUED BY FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE DATING BACK TO AT LEAST 2013 WITH ABSOLUTELY NO NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS WHOSE LIVES ARE AT RISK (SEE LIST BELOW). THIS MODULE IS THE MAIN COMPUTER, SO ALL POWER WAS LOST AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGUN RAPIDLY FLASHING NON-STOP AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AGGRESSIVELY ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT NEARLY $4000 BECAUSE ALL SPARKS PLUGS, ALL IGNITION COILS MUST BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. (TSB NUMBERS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE ARE AS FOLLOWS: NHTSA ID #10052190, NHTSA ID #10109070, NHTSA ID #10048099)

NHTSA ID
11309572
Incident
Dec 30, 2019
Mileage
170,000 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 26, 2019

I WAS LEAVING MY DOCTORS ON FEBRUARY 21,2019 I WALKED OUT TO PARKING LOT TO START AND IT MADE A NOISE THAT I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE SO IT FINALLY STARTED AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS SO WHEN I GOT GOING IT HAD ROUGH IT WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE WITH IT BUT ON MY WAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I DECIDED TO STOP AND HAVE IT CHECKED THE SCAN SHOWED 3 CYLINDERS 4 /5/6 MISFIRING SO I REPLACED THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS BUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM WAS IT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD JUMPED TIME CAUSING THE CYLINDERS TO MISFIRE AND ALSO LOOSE POWER IT DIED IN TRAFFIC TWICE ON MY WAY HOME CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.I WAS ON A PUBLIC STREET WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
11182480
Incident
Feb 21, 2019
Mileage
142,345 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (ALL STAR FORD, 2586 RANGE PARK DR, DENHAM SPRINGS, LA 70726, (225) 490-7649) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11160797
Incident
Jul 19, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Nov 13, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS SPUN AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A COUPLE OF SECONDS, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED SANTA MONICA FORD LINCOLN AT (310) 451-1588 (LOCATED AT 1230 SANTA MONICA BLVD, SANTA MONICA, CA 90404) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2018. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
11151270
Incident
Mar 14, 2018
Mileage
160,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2018

SIDE AIRBAG. VEHICLE HAS 113,000 MILES. VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK WHEN PUT INTO LOW GEAR AND HAS DONE THAT MORE THEN ONCE WHILE CONTACT WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IN LOWER GEAR. CONTACT CALLED LINCOLN AND LINCOLN STATED NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. 1RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN JUN 01,2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER16S26 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V384 RECALL STATUS RECALL INCOMPLETE, REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE SUMMARY THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE SUPPLEMENTAL FRONTAL AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY. THIS DEFECT REPORT IS IN RESPONSE TO TAKATA DIRS 16E-042, 16E-043, 16E-044. SAFETY RISK THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE SUPPLEMENTAL FRONTAL AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY. THIS DEFECT REPORT IS IN RESPONSE TO TAKATA DIRS 16E-042, 16E-043, 16E-044. REMEDY OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MAIL AND INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A FORD OR LINCOLN DEALER TO HAVE THEIR PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR REPLACED. THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE.. LINCOLN DEALERSHIP STATED VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
11064777
Incident
Jan 24, 2018
Mileage
113,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 16, 2016

CAR HAS A HARD TIME ACCELERATING/SWITCHING GEARS WHOLE DRIVING IN CITY OR ON THE HWY... CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BUCK. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR. AT TIMES MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. ..SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SENSORS MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ID
10896478
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2014

THIS CAR HAS A ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FROM A FORD FUSION, ITS SHIFTING VIOLENTLY AND IS NOT SAFE. THE TRANSMISSION BUILT FOR THIS VEHICLE IS VERY POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP AND NO RECALL WAS MADE. SEVERAL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL AT FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663041
Incident
Dec 8, 2014
Mileage
109,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Nov 20, 2014

THE PROBLEM IS RE-OCCURRING. WHEN THE WEATHER GOES BELOW FREEZING ICE BUILDS UP AROUND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. THE CAR WILL START AND AS THE ENGINE STARTS TO HEAT UP THE ICE STARTS TO BREAK UP. AS SOON AS I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR PAST 25MPH AND I LET OFF THE GAS THE ENGINE STARTS TO STALL OUT SENDING AN ERROR SIGNAL TO THE COMPUTER AND THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON. I MUST SAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS VERY RANDOM AND DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR. I HAVE LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE THAT I MUST PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. TURNING OFF THE CAR CAUSES THE COMPUTER TO RESET AND THE WRENCH LIGHT TURNS OFF AND THE CAR GOES BACK TO NORMAL. I AM UPSET BECAUSE AFTER I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN WITH THE WRENCH LIGHT STILL ON. IN REALITY, THIS MEANS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE WITH A FUEL STARVED STALLING ENGINE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING UNTIL SOMEBODY CAME TO HELP. AS SOON AS I TURN OFF THE CAR THE PROBLEM NO LONGER EXISTS. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER ONLINE POSTS AND BLOGS FROM OTHER LINCOLN AND FORD OWNERS DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE. I HOPE THAT FORD CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10659656
Incident
Dec 16, 2011
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 14, 2013

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND CAR LOST POWER. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THE LIGHT WAS AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION. STATED NOT TO DRIVE IT. GOT IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. WHEN THEY DIAGNOSED CAR THEY STATED THE PCM MODULE WENT OUT AND WAS SENDING UNINTERRUPTED ELECTRICITY TO ENGINE COILS AND SURPRISED THE CAR DIDN'T START ON FIRE. THEY ALSO STATED THE PCM MODULE WAS IN ITS 13TH DESIGN AS THEY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS BEFORE AND LINCOLN HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AS IT HAS BEEN COMMON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508157
Incident
Dec 23, 2012
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 15, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIFTH ENGINE COIL HAD MELTED AND CAUSED A SMALL ENGINE FIRE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG AND THE COIL. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PCM WAS DAMAGED DURING THE FIRE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND RECALIBRATED. ALL OF THE COILS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF

NHTSA ID
10484805
Incident
Jun 5, 2012
Mileage
93,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 5, 2012

2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SMELLS OF FUMES WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER CABIN AND THROUGH THE CRACKS BETWEEN THE HOOD AND FENDER WHEEL. HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS KNOCKING AND RUNNING ROUGH, SO HE TURNED IT OFF. HE THEN LIFTED THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED SMOKE POURING OUT OF THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. AN INSPECTION REVEALED A BAD COIL WENT BAD ON THE MOTOR, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE ROUGHNESS. THE COIL HAD MELTED SEVERELY. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE COIL WOULD NOT CONNECT WITH THE COMPUTER. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NEED TO PROGRAM IT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER FIVE MORE COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMPUTER.

NHTSA ID
10483061
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Engine
Filed Aug 5, 2010

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, BUT PARKED, THE A/C SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. AIR CONTINUED TO BLOW, BUT IT WAS HOT INSTEAD OF COOL. DIAGNOSTIC REPORT SAYS THE ACET SENSOR FAILED. REPAIR WAS DECLINED DUE TO COST ($550). NOW, EVEN WITHOUT ANY CLIMATE CONTROLS ENGAGED, THE PANEL GETS VERY HOT WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. IF THE SEAT A/C IS ENGAGED, IT WILL WORK UNTIL THE PANEL GETS HOT, THEN IT WON'T WORK ANYMORE. IF THE FAILED ACET SENSOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERHEATING BEHIND THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL, IT MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT JUST A COMFORT ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10347425
Incident
Jul 26, 2010
Mileage
53,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .