1.9

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,766 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Lincoln MKX drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Lincoln MKX Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #26

Jun 202022

MKX

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

MKX has 75000 miles on it and the tss and oss sensors have gone out. Car goes into limp mode and will barely move, it shifts very hard, speed odometer quits and all the warning lights come on. If you stop let it sit and restart car it resets issue but you never know when it will happen again. It can happen at cruising speed or at start of car. VERY unsafe

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #25

Dec 162020

MKX

  • miles
Engine computer /transmission /alt at bill talley Ford electrical system installed alt. Then was told I had transmission problems never had before they programed engine computer two times and gave the car back back to me with problems I never had and could solve

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #24

Nov 202020

MKX

  • 220,725 miles
Driving down the highway and transmission shift to low by itself. It almost caused me to get it. The ptu is leaking transmission fluid. Youneverknow when it is low. This car had this problem since it was manufactured and they never fixed the problem. It needs to be fixed and needs a heat shield between the ptu and the engine to keep it from leaking and causing dangerous situations on the road. The car smokes so bad that it looks like it is on fire. Scared to drive because I never know what will happen if the fluid is low. You can see the leak from the ptu under the car. Not many people complained about it because they don't know about this website. This is really dangerous if it doesn't get recalled soon. When the car was manufactured it was under warranty. So they fixed it then but when the warranty was up. It was up to the customer to dishup $2500 to fix it. You can call amcco in zanesville Ohio they will tell you how many got fixed under warranty. The problem is the ptu is so close to the engine it burns the fluid in it. Eventually it wears out other seals in the transmission, which makes things worst. My car sits most of the time. Too scared to drive it. Please help me get a recall on this. If you look up problems with 2008 Lincoln Mkx you will see that is one of the main problems

- Mcconnelsville, OH, USA

problem #23

Oct 202020

MKX

  • 220,675 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The ptu leaks transmission fluid. I was told this was a problem since the car was manufactured. I wanted to know why there wasn't a recall on it. It can damage other seals on car and cause a safety hazard. I just brought my car a month ago and was never told about it. I was told not to drive it that often till I get it fixed. My car was not shifting right, smoking, and I have to add transmission fluid to it. There is no way to tell if it has too much, which will cause it to have other problems in the long run. You see the smoke when driving. It looks like the car is on fire

- Mcconnelsville, OH, USA

problem #22

Apr 062020

MKX 6-cyl

  • 77,000 miles
The vehicle will initially have the speed odometer drop to 0 mph while still moving. A "wrench" light will illuminate along with the airbag light. The vehicle will lose power and not shift properly. Once the vehicle comes to a stop, the driver must push the accelerator down until the tach reads approx. 3000 rpms before the vehicle will start moving again. When it is moving it shifts erratically and "bang" the gears. If the driver, after stopping, takes the vehicle out of drive and puts in reverse, it bangs the transmission so hard it feels it going to drop out of the vehicle. This happened to me a number of times. The image I attached I was going 55 mph.

- Hanover, PA, USA

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problem #21

Jan 012015

MKX

  • 55,000 miles
Over the last several years, while driving, although the engine stays on, the vehicle simply loses transmission power and leave me stranded and in danger on the side of the road. This has put both my wife and in me in precarious situations when the car has abruptly stalled in traffic and we have to roll to the side of the road. This happens 2 or 3 times a year. Both in the city and on the highway. As long as I slightly over fill the transmission with fluid, it will drive fine for another 3 or 4 months with no issues. The problem is that I can not find any transmission fluid leakage and have to overfill the transmission to be able to drive the vehicle. When I contacted Lincoln about the transmission problem, I was finally told that there had been a voluntary safety alert that extended the manufacturers 6 year warranty to 8 years. But, since I notified them one month after the 8 years had expired, they would not resolve the transmission safety issue under warranty. When I wrote a dispute letter to Lincoln, about the transmission safety issue and told them that the vehicle had less than 60,000 miles on it and that I was not timely notified about the voluntary safety alert, they advised me that the mileage did not matter. They also did not care when I told them that I have been a loyal customer and owned several Lincoln (and Mercury) over the years. I am retired, and afraid to drive the car any distance at all. With the two year old air bag recall, we were advised that my wife cannot even ride in the passenger seat. Although two months ago they finally provided a loaner car, it is uncomfortable for my wife who has had major back surgery.

- River Ridge, LA, USA

problem #20

Jul 122018

MKX

  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I just purchased a 2008 Lincoln Mkx in March. The car ran great until I went on a road trip in the beginning of July. I drove about a couple 1000 miles. My last day of my trip on July 12 my car started acting up. It had a hard time shifting between gears. I would push down on the gas peddle and it took it a long time to accelerate. I finally made it to my destination. I turned off the car. When I went to start it back up it started. But when I out it in drive it wouldn't move, nor in reverse and could not get it in to neutral. Had it towed to a shop. Where after further examination to transfer case went out int turn ruined the transmission. Never a sign that anything was wrong until that July 13. I talk to the shop that says he has fixed 3 other Lincoln with the same problem. If you look online there are tons of complaints about this same problem. Seems to me Ford needs to recall both the transfer case and transmission. Now I am having to put more money in it then its worth. The total cost for repair and labor is $6296.22. If it keeps happening to other people over and over with the same problem then Ford should have to be held accountable for selling defective product. I hope something can be done, especially since this as nothing to do with the driver but the manufacturer who has made a faulty product.

- Pocatello, ID, USA

problem #19

Jul 012017

MKX

  • 99,000 miles
My 2008 Lincoln Mkx starts cutting out and chugging at the speed of 45 mph you have to give it gas to get it up over 50ish to come out of it. It will do again at time out on the interstate around the speed of 60 mph but at this time the ABS and skid light come on. I'm afraid with having my granddaughters in the car that something bad will happen when I'm out on the road with them. I have taken it to the Ford dealership and they want an arm and a leg and will not just give a suggestion or advice, the transmission shop put a machine on it but can't detect any certain cause.

- Iowa City, IA, USA

problem #18

Jun 232017

MKX

  • 118,000 miles
Takata recall, shifting misfire, faulty battery and low gas mileage

- Goose Creek, SC, USA

problem #17

Jun 162017

MKX

  • miles
Transissilon has been slippinbg for months. Told it was misfire. Now car inches alolng with high acceleration attempt. Several noises and stopped. Was able to creep out of traffic and park. Now wont move at all.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #16

Mar 082017

MKX

  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ptu unit leaking out vent onto exhaust..heat has caused seals to fail as well..

- Union, ME, USA

problem #15

Nov 052016

MKX

  • 92,808 miles
Yesterday (11/05/2016), I was going to go to the store. The car started fine and ran fine as I backed it out of our driveway, but when I went down the street in front of our neighbors house, it suddenly felt like it shifted into a lower gear. I turned the corner next to my neighbors house and proceeded down a hill that's there, but the car still would only go very slowly. When I got down the hill, I stopped at a stop sign and when I stepped on the gas it suddenly started to run fine. I drove another 7 or 8 blocks until stopping for a red light, that's when I noticed the warning lights showing a wrench and an airbag come on. The light turned green and when I stepped on the gas to make it go, it again would only go at a very slow speed. By the time I crossed the street, the light had switched back to red. Terrified, I pulled into the parking lot across the street and noticed the odometer was showing all zeros. I shut the car off and went into the store, shaking and very scared. I came back out praying it would start up and run fine. It made a grinding noise and sounded louder, but then it started running fine and did so all the way home. I have driven the car twice since then for short distances but haven't had it happen again. We bought this 2008 Lincoln Mkx used with 92,474 miles on it just 3 weeks prior to this happening. When this occurred, there was approximately 92,808 miles on it. That's a whopping 334 miles put on it by us as well as others who test drove the car since this dealer listed it for sale. Since the wrench warning light came on, my husband suspects the powertrain malfunctioned or a AWD fault occurred, as it shows in the owners manual, but said he wouldn't rule out other possible causes. Since we bought this from a used car dealer, though we did take out an extended warranty through our credit union, we don't know what rights exist protecting us.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #14

Oct 262016

MKX

  • miles
Power train unit failure - 89K miles with warranty being declined due to lubrication issue. Apparently the fluid leaked and there was no way for myself to know this as fluid is very minimal in this unit that it wouldn't even spill down to the ground per the dealer.... this has caused failure to the unit - this is a huge hit to the wallet as well as the vehicle is unable to be driven large rattling noise and car shakes.....replacement costing $1600

- Gilford, NH, USA

problem #13

Apr 302016

MKX

  • 200,000 miles
Odo error. Wrench and airbag lights on. Transmission would barely move car, even when revving engine. Stopped on highway in traffic. Turned engine on/off several times then odo worked, but transmission banged really hard, then engaged normally, and ran normally. Happened 2 more times in two weeks. With just 200,000 miles, the ptu leaked and was replaced by dealer. After one week, the odo error firs T occurred. I believe that the ptu replacement might have caused this problem!

- Saint Charles, IL, USA

problem #12

Feb 142015

MKX

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln Mkx. While making a right turn at approximately 35 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. In addition, the gear shift failed to go into the reverse position without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to the an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 55,000.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #11

Sep 202015

MKX

  • 145,000 miles
Driving on interstate highway at 65 mph and I notice the odo fault light on with airbag and wrench symbols lit. The odometer read only dashes but seemed to be okay at that speed. Seemed to be in 3rd gear" when I stopped at a red light, the car had no power at all. Took forever to get it up to 20 mph. Very dangerous as I was almost stuck in an intersection. Does someone need to die before you recall this"

- Frederick, MD, USA

problem #10

May 102014

MKX

  • 99,120 miles
I recently filed a complaint about this truck not accelerating in traffic and replaced the turbo speed sensor aprox 1 month prior to this. This trip engine light flashed on and car struggled to accelerate, I assumed same issue, put it in cruise control, car stabilized for about 3 miles then started jerking forward, I took cruise off, and whole truck stopped accel, then engine light came on and then entire truck shut down! no power steering, no heat, no nothing! I pulled into on ramp V section to get out of slow lane (I95S) it was 6:20 am so still dark. Very dangerous! known issue with this truck. Had to get tow. He changed price from $75 $4 amile to $175 $4 a mile as soon as my truck was on his carrier. Dealership said if truck had caught fire it'd be a recall. Fix cost me $1100 plus $465 for rental car, then after repair I got home with truck, next am I started it and engine light on with code display saying exhaust issue catalytic converter or oxygen sensor or pistons. I tried to trade truck noone will take it!! fix is 299-"??" serious issue and very dangerous vehicle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Pikesville, MD, USA

problem #9

Apr 112015

MKX 6-cyl

  • 93,000 miles
When I start my car it makes a clunk then when I shift it into gear it will go into reverse but will clunk and when I put it in drive and I can't go over 5 mph. It's happening more and more started about 3 years ago but when I took it into the dealer nothing they could do cause it wasn't happening then. It's happened when I've been sitting at a light or stop sign as well. We will then unhook the batter for a few mins and then everything is fine.

- Creighton, MO, USA

problem #8

Apr 142014

MKX 6-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
Without warning or driver action, vehicle shifts into high gear and remains there for some period of time while warning lights come on including, engine, airbags and others, odometer and speedometer go blank or display error. This condition has lasted from 4 min to 20 min and has happened approximately 20 times since first incident. Sometimes shutting off vehicle and restarting after several minutes seems to help but until the problem corrects itself, putting it in gear results in a bang and jolts the vehicle as it goes into high gear. When in high gear, the vehicle has no power until it reaches higher speeds. At speeds below 55, the vehicle does not respond well to pressing the accelerator. It becomes dangerous when entering or crossing an intersection and it goes into high gear on its own. The internet has many posts of this problem with this vehicle.

- Oxford, NJ, USA

problem #7

Jan 052015

MKX

  • 71,000 miles
This has actually happened to me once before about two months ago, but after it happened again yesterday I decided to take my car in to the shop. I got in and started my car. When I put it in reverse there was a pause then a very loud 'bang' as I thought it settled into gear. Because I was backing out of a driveway that is on a hill, I didn't realize the car really wasn't functioning. But when I went to put it in drive, there was a pause again and then a very loud 'bang'. the car then proceeded to inch down the street even though I was applying gas. I took it to aamco and they told me after running the computer diagnostics there was nothing they could find that was wrong with the car and that they wanted to run some more tests. Good thing I happened upon this site. I'm very disappointed that Lincoln / Ford could get away with problems such as this without a recall to fix a problem they know has been occurring for years!

- Gardena, CA, USA

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