There are 3 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2009 Lincoln MKZin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The Lincoln Mercury factory chrome plated rims leak air all the time making the tires low on air or flat very often! This is a very dangerous safety hazard that can cause loss of control and having an accident resulting in serious bodily injury or death! There are many numerous other Lincoln car owners that report the same symptoms and problems. The manufacturer never plated the rims properly with nickle prior to chrome plating, thus the chrome coating constantly peels off and corrodes; thus air leaks past the tire bead and the rim surface. This sounds like a giant class action lawsuit!! I am are both very upset and scared to drive under these horrific conditions, but I have no choice as news factory rims are very expensive and I cannot afford them since I am disabled and on a fixed income.
DUE TO POOR WHEEL CONSTRUCTION, THE CHROME PLATING ON THE LINCOLN OEM WHEELS FLAKES OFF RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF THE TIRE TO SEAL PROPERLY AGAINST THE WHEEL. THIS FAILURE TO SEAL AGAINST THE WHEEL CAUSES A PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AIR LEAK ON EVERY WHEEL. IF AN OWNER OF THIS CAR IS NOT AWARE OR OBSERVANT OF THE CONSTANTLY DECLINING AIR PRESSURE, THEY COULD DRIVE ON DANGEROUSLY UNDER INFLATED TIRES, AND POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE. IN PARTICULAR, THE WHEELS ON MY MKZ LEAK TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT EVERY MORNING, I HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE AND PUMP THEM UP TO THE PROPER PSI. BUYING NEW LINCOLN WHEELS WOULD RESULT IN THE SAME PROBLEM AS THEY ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THE SAME MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MANY OWNERS HAVE RESULTED TO BUYING AFTERMARKET WHEELS, WHICH I SEE AS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE ORIGINAL WHEELS SHOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY AND REMAIN RELIABLE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, WHEN I WENT TO HAVE AIR ADDED, WORKERS NOTICED A BULGE IN THE SIDE WALL. I CONTACTED MICHELIN, I NOTIFIED MICHELIN OF THE PROBLEM AND EXCESS TIRE TREAD WEAR AT 22,99 MILES. THEY HAD ME TAKE THE TIRE TO 2 LOCATIONS FOR INSPECTION (THEY SAID TO RULE OUT ME HITTING A CURB), BOTH PLACES SAID IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT I HAD HIT A CURB. THEY WERE TO CALL BE BACK AND I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM, I HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIRE AND THE OTHER 2 NEED TO BE REPLACED ALSO. ONE OF THE INSPECTORS SAID HE HAD SEEN THE SAME ISSUE ABOUT 2 WEEKS EARLIER WITH SAME TIRE ON SIMILAR CAR. *TR
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 25, 2026