There are 4 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2008 Lincoln MKZin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
2008 Lincoln MKZ AWD. Driver's door won't open from inside. Multiple Online mentions of this dangerous problem. Can't get out of vehicle in case of emergency.
OUR VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO NHTSA RECALL 19V-904. IN 2020, LINCOLN STOPPED REPAIRING VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, MY VEHICLE IS SUFFERING FROM THIS BRAKE PROBLEM AND I HAVE LOST USE OF MY BRAKES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON JUNE 26, 2020, MY BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A PROPERTY DAMAGE ACCIDENT. AFTER BODY DAMAGE REPAIR, MY BRAKES HAVE AGAIN FAILED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FINALLY AGREED TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. NEVERTHELESS, IN ADDITION TO THE THOUSANDS PAID TO REPAIR MINE AND THE OTHER PARTY'S VEHICLE'S DAMAGE, I'VE HAD TO PAY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP $1093.80 TO FIX THE CAR. THE BRAKE FAILURE IS DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY. LINCOLN'S DELAY IN REMEDYING THE ISSUE IS THE DIRECT CAUSE OF MY CAR ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD DETACHED AND WAS CRACKED AROUND THE VENT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COCONUT CREEK LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 4970 NORTH, FL-7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073, (888) 406-4853), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. *TT *TR PHOTOS ATTACHED *JB
WITHOUT WARNING, THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE CAR WAS TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE EXTERIOR HANDLE. *TR THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT THE DOOR HANDLE WAS WORN OR HAD A DEFECT. I HAVE DISASSEMBLED THE DOOR AND I SEE THAT AN INTERIOR SECTION OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE HAS FRACTURED. THIS SECTION ACTS AS A CAM TO PULL THE CABLE THAT OPENS THE DOOR. IT IS A POOR DESIGN BECAUSE THE PLASTIC IS IN PURE TENSION AND ALLOWS A CRACK TO CATASTROPHICALLY PROPAGATE. I BELIVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT TRAPS AN OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. MANY FAILURE MODE EFFECTS ANALYSIS EVENTS ASSUME THE DRIVER CAN EXIT THE CAR TO RECEIVE A LOW SCORE. THIS MAKES SEVERAL OTHER POSSIBLE FAILURE MODES MUCH MORE DANGEROUS.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026