The Lemon Index
20101st generation
Not enough data. Only 19 complaints in its first 3 years: too few to score.
Better years to buy
19 owner complaints, first 3 years 19 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
When problems show up
Only 17 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 16V247000 (airbags) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Do the seats adjust, heat and lock in place properly?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Lincoln sent dealers 11 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “The tire pressure warning light is on due to low pressure of one of the tires”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Lincoln's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 19 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 10K miles (2K to 16K km) on the car (17 of all 19 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 4.8M views · 2009–2016 Lincoln MKS
Most-watched topics
- Heat, A/C & blend door97K views
How to replace Temperature Blend Door Actuator - RH | Lincoln MKS 2013LuisMBuildz · 45K views · 5 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical76K views
How to Remove Radio / Navigation / CD Player from Lincoln MKS 2009 for Repair.HiTechElectronic · 25K views · 4 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors68K views
Replacing the crank shaft position sensor / crank sensor on a 2013 Lincoln MKS 3.7lWrenchTheory501 · 30K views · 3 videos - Transmission & shifter59K views
2014 Lincoln MKS Transmission Servicemassey706 · 59K views
Show 4 more
- No-start: theft light, key & ignition51K views
2013 Lincoln MKS fuel control module replacement Cranks but won't start quick fix!Jeff Mollan · 24K views · 3 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring47K views
Lincoln MKS - Oil Light Reset / Set to 100% (2009 - 2012)QuiteAlright · 25K views · 3 videos - Steering & suspension39K views
2011 Lincoln MKS Lower Control Arm & Sway Bar Link ReplacementAnything Auto · 33K views · 3 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors34K views
How To Find Lincoln MKS 2009 door code locationFoSeven · 30K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
The Snob Magazines Reviews the 2013 Lincoln MKSJeff's Auto · 128K views
2014 Lincoln MKS Test Drive and ReviewVehicle Virgins · 96K views
2013 Lincoln MKS Review - Interesting, or just a curiosity?AutoGuide.com · 86K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2009 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Lincoln told dealers about
Lincoln sent dealers 11 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- The tire pressure warning light is on due to low pressure of one of the tires
- Ford/lincoln: on some vehicles, transmission 5th gear start at stop, speed control drops or…
- Lincoln/ford: on some vehicles and trucks, there is a popping, squealing, binding or grinding…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,150 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 3.7L 6-cyl.
Every Lincoln MKS year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 2 Lincoln MKS years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Lincoln MKS reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 19 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2009 Lincoln MKS problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (58%), seats (21%) and speed control (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Lincoln MKS have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Lincoln MKS get?
19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2009 Lincoln MKS have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2009 Lincoln MKS cost in fuel a year?
About $3,150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Lincoln MKS have?
3.7L 6-cyl.
What Lincoln MKS year is better than the 2009?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2013 drew the fewest (about average).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works