LINCOLN ZEPHYR · model year

2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR

277 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006LINCOLNZEPHYR carries 277 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 1 fire, 18 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 ZEPHYR is air bags with 142 filings, followed by wheels (25) and electrical system (11). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2006 ZEPHYR, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

277
Complaints
13
Crashes
1
Fires
18
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

277 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS142
WHEELS25
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10
SERVICE BRAKES10
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL9
ENGINE9
POWER TRAIN9
STRUCTURE:BODY7
TIRES6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5
STRUCTURE4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
STEERING3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2

Recalls (5)

16V38400031/05/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever register

14E02800029/05/2014

EQUIPMENT

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain all weather driver side accessory floor mats sold for use in model year 2006-2011 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, and 2007-2011 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 9, 2007, through October 31, 2010. The affected floor mats ma

19V90400018/12/2019

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not

21V15800010/03/2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to

17V02400010/01/2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marian

Recent Complaints

20240820SERVICE BRAKES

I tool my car in for a recall, they said they could not fix the recall cux it was too rusted. They said the wouldn't even put it on a lift cuz of the rust, however it was just on a lift a week ago at an auto shop. Also when I dropped off my car the air conditioner blower worked, I go to pick it up and turn it on and nothing, I call and ask and they tell me they only touched the steering wheel, I said to him then why was power cux to my vehicle? You didn't disconnect the battery or anything he said no, however when I left the car with then it was on 9.83 fm radio and when I got it back it was on a 500 station from am radio. So I know power was cut somehow. I need to know what to do. I can't keep driving with my brakes like this.

20230308AIR BAGS

The airbag sensor light is indicating a sensor needs replacement. I have replaced airbags on both the driver and passenger side due to recall. Diagnostics state it is the sensor, passenger side. I have attempted to have repaired, and after 5 weeks and 4 mechanics, no one can seem to get the new sensor to connect to the system and work properly. I did not have a vehicle for weeks! PLEASE HELP!

20221107SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

20221005CrashAIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph and making a turn, an unknown truck crashed head-on into the vehicle. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be driven after the crash. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to his tongue and neck but medical attention was not provided. There were no reported fire or air bag deployments. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted.The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 ( Air bags) after the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20220919AIR BAGS

The contact owned a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list as he no longer owns the vehicle. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

20220117UNKNOWN OR OTHER

UNKNOWN

20220117LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

UNKNOWN

20220117FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

UNKNOWN

20210721SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the brake caliper needing to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that unless the caliper was fixed, the recall repair would not be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure but provided no further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

Mileage: 38,000

20210522CrashAIR BAGS

on May 17, 2021 I was involved in a wreck which the airbags did not deploy after impact. There is a police report and an insurance claim pending on the wreck.

20210504SERVICE BRAKES

ON APRIL 21, 2021 I TOOK MY CAR TO BOB THOMAS LINCOLN, 310 W COLISEUM BLVD, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46805 PHONE (260) 482-9876 INVOICE# 687347 FOR NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 19V-904 WHICH CALLS FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO BE PRESSURE FLUSHED WITH DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AS WHEN WE GOT THE CAR BACK THE BRAKE SYSTEM RESERVOIR WAS OVER FILLED AND THE BRAKE FLUID WAS VERY RUST COLORED WITH NUMEROUS BLACK PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN THE FLUID NOT THE CLEAR OR TRANSLUCENT FLUID THAT WOULD INDICATE THE FLUID HAD BEEN PRESSURE FLUSHED, I CALLED BOB THOMAS LINCOLN AND GOT THE BIG RUN AROUND.

Mileage: 126,763

20210423VISIBILITY/WIPER

DASHBOARD ON VEHICLE IS WARPED DEFROSTER VENT IS OUT WINDSHIELD DOES NOT DEFROST PROPERLY OBSTRUCTS VISION WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 144,250

20210423UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD ON VEHICLE IS WARPED DEFROSTER VENT IS OUT WINDSHIELD DOES NOT DEFROST PROPERLY OBSTRUCTS VISION WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 144,250

20210316SERVICE BRAKES

MANUFAC RECALL #19S54 NHTA RECCALL #19V904 MASTER CYLINDER VALVE. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET AND FIRST INFORMATION WAS THAT IT WAS EXPECTED TO BE DONE IN LATE 2020 NOW 3RD MONTH IN2021. WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME FOR REPAIRS AT THIS DATE. IS THERE PROGRESS BEING MADE? AT THIS TIME BRAKES ARE WORKING OK

20210316AIR BAGS

I HAVE AN EMAIL SAYING MY CAR HAS A POSSIBLE DRIVER AIR BAG DEFECT.GIVE MORE INFORMATION PLEASE

20210204CrashAIR BAGS

I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF A GROCERY STOREAND APPLIED THE BRAKE BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE NEXT THING I K NEW THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD WALL. THE CAR HIT THE WALL B WITH FORCE THAT EMPLOYED MY AIR BAG.AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE BRAKES . I ALWAYS TRY TO DRIVE A CAR LENGTH FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FOR FEAR OF THE BRAKES MALFUNCTING....

20210204CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF A GROCERY STOREAND APPLIED THE BRAKE BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE NEXT THING I K NEW THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD WALL. THE CAR HIT THE WALL B WITH FORCE THAT EMPLOYED MY AIR BAG.AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE BRAKES . I ALWAYS TRY TO DRIVE A CAR LENGTH FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FOR FEAR OF THE BRAKES MALFUNCTING....

20210204CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF A GROCERY STOREAND APPLIED THE BRAKE BEFORE TURNING THE CAR OFF. THE NEXT THING I K NEW THE CAR WAS HEADED TOWARD WALL. THE CAR HIT THE WALL B WITH FORCE THAT EMPLOYED MY AIR BAG.AND DAMAGED THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THE BRAKES . I ALWAYS TRY TO DRIVE A CAR LENGTH FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FOR FEAR OF THE BRAKES MALFUNCTING....

20210201AIR BAGS

I HAVE AN AIRBAG LIGHT THAT COMES ON IN THIS CAR, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE EXTENDED COVERAGE FROM WHEN THEY REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY FOR 1ST RECALL, DEALER TRYING TO SAY I MIGHT HAVE TO PAY TO DIAG IT BECAUSE IT COULD BE UNRELATED, BUT ALSO I JUST READ AN ARTICLE DATED 1/22/2021 STATING THERE IS ANOTHER AIRBAG RECALL FOR 2006 ZEPYHR BUT MY VIN ISNT SHOWING UP. HTTPS://WWW.CARANDDRIVER.COM/NEWS/A35283747/FORD-AIRBAG-RECALL-3-MILLION/

20210131FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE CAR HAS 82,000 MILES ON IT. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR SEEMS TO BE ACTING UP. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE NET, IT APPEARS THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE 04 WITH FORDS. IN ADDITION, THEY ARE ON THE 3RD GENERATION SENSOR. I WAS DRIVING NORMAL SPEEDS, THEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, KILLING THE POWER TO THE ENGINE, PUT ME IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION ON A 45 50 MILE AN HR ROAD. SINCE THIS KNOWN ISSUE SINCE 04, SEEMS LIKE FORD SHOULD REPLACE THIS. IT'S A 20 DOLLAR PART, RETAIL, BUT WITH THIS MOTOR, YOU HAVE TO BUY A TOTALLY REBUILT THROTTLE BODY FOR 200+. IT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN SLOW THE CAR RIGHT DOWN AS YOU ARE DRIVING. IF YOU SHUT THE MOTOR OFF, IT 'REPAIRS' ITSELF AND WORKS NORMALLY.

Mileage: 82,000

Compare 2006LINCOLNZEPHYR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR have?
The 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR has 277 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 1 fires, 18 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR?
Yes, the 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR?
The most-complained component for the 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR is AIR BAGS with 142 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.