The 2009 Lincoln MKX has 7 recalls, all rated at the highest severity level, with the most serious being a Takata airbag defect where both the driver and passenger frontal airbag inflators can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
The airbag inflator issue spans multiple recalls that all describe the same underlying problem: long-term exposure to heat and humidity degrades the propellant inside the inflators, causing them to explode rather than inflate normally. Some of these recalls are geographically scoped to high-humidity states and territories where temperature cycling accelerates the degradation. There is also a separate fuel system recall affecting certain vehicles originally sold or registered in northern states: the fuel tank can develop a leak, and if that fuel contacts an ignition source, a fire can result.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side air bag inflator may explode. This can happen when the propellant degrades after prolonged exposure to high heat, humidity, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with a new one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The driver or passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the air bag module and replace the module or inflator if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Heat and humidity can gradually break down the chemical propellant in the passenger front airbag, causing it to deploy with excessive force during a collision. This may send fragments toward occupants and damage the airbag assembly, reducing its effectiveness.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the passenger front airbag inflator with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost. Ford will mail recall notices and notify owners when parts are available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost once parts become available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Salt water exposure causes corrosion at the fuel tank seam weld under the mounting brackets, potentially causing fuel leaks.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and either clean and treat it with corrosion preventative or replace it.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
