MotorDeets

2006 Lincoln Zephyr: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr: 4 recalls, 229 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.

4vehicle recalls
229owner complaints
9mention a crash
20best combined mpg
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Recalls

4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Airbags Vehicle recall #16V384000 · 2016 · 1,892,343 vehicles

What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford ranger, edge and Lincoln mkx vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford fusion, Mercury milan and Lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford gt vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana,…

Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will…

Airbags Vehicle recall #17V024000 · 2017 · 654,695 vehicles

What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford ranger, edge, fusion and mustang, Lincoln mkx, mkz and zephyr and Mercury milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio,…

Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1,…

Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V904000 · 2019 · 600,166 vehicles

What's wrong: 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 close properly.

Why it matters: If the valves do not properly close, additional brake pedal travel May be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush the brake system with dot 4 fluid and install a new brake fluid reservoir cap. In addition, the hcu will be tested to detect a possible stuck valve condition, replacing the hcu as necessary. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall…

Airbags Vehicle recall #21V158000 · 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles

What's wrong: The driver's side air bag inflator May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side.

1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #14E028000 · 2014 · 82,579 vehicles

What's wrong: The affected floor mats May move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.

Why it matters: The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 12 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Airbags142
Wheels26
Body & structure13
Electrical11
Transmission & drivetrain11
Other / unknown10
Brakes10
Speed control / throttle9

What owners describe

The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr has 229 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 8 Zephyr model years for complaints (7.6× the average Zephyr year). Complaints peaked in 2017 (81 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 10 years old, at a median of 82,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (3 complaints, 4 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
3.0 L 6-cylAutomatic 6-spdFront-Wheel Drive172620Regular

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2006 Lincoln Zephyr manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2006 Lincoln Zephyr manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 2006 Lincoln Zephyr manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2006 Lincoln Zephyr manual

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FAQ

Does the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2006 Lincoln Zephyr problems?

Owners have filed 229 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (142), wheels (26), body & structure (13).

What gas mileage does the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr get?

EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Zephyr years

20032006200720082009201020112012