Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln Zephyr vs FORD F 150
How the Lincoln Zephyr and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Lincoln Zephyr vs FORD F 150: The Zephyr has 229 complaints in 1 year, with 142 about airbags, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years, led by 3,553 powertrain issues. The Zephyr's annual rate is higher, but the F-150's total is larger. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln Zephyr or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln Zephyr
The Lincoln Zephyr is a luxury sedan that, based on owner complaints, suffers from a high rate of airbag inflator issues and wheel problems. With 229 complaints in one year, it has a relatively high complaint rate for a single model year, but the total number is small compared to the F-150. Owners report serious safety concerns like airbags not being repaired and wheels causing tire leaks.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive number of complaints over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The most common issues involve the powertrain, particularly transmission problems, and electrical system glitches. While the total number is high, it's spread across many trucks, but the frequency of transmission complaints is notable.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln Zephyr | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 229 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 229.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Lincoln Zephyr
- 01AIR BAGS142
- 02WHEELS26
- 03SERVICE BRAKES13
- 04STRUCTURE13
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
Owners report that recall repairs for airbag inflators are not being performed by dealers, leaving them with unrepaired safety defects. Some also describe airbags deploying unexpectedly or failing to deploy in crashes.
The wheel plating peels, causing tires to lose air and leading to blowouts and repeated flats. Owners have to inflate tires every few days, which is a major safety and inconvenience issue.
Complaints include brake pedal being slow to respond, especially in snow, and rusted components preventing recall repairs. This can lead to longer stopping distances and potential accidents.
Window scratching due to poor fit in door panels is reported, and in one case, a car unexpectedly moved and hit a wall, deploying the airbag. This suggests potential issues with window mechanisms and unintended movement.
“SINCE 2 YEARS AGO FORD RECALLED THESE AIRBAGS AND DO NOTHING! I WENT TO 2 DEALERS LINCOLN IN MY AREA BECAUSE I RECEIVED LETTER FROM FORD STATING THAT THEY WILL PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR UP TO 45$/DAY UNTIL THIS RECALLED CAR IS DONE AND NONE OF DEALERS WANTED TO PR…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN ZEPHYR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS SPUN AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO T…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners frequently report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking from the 10-speed automatic transmission, sometimes leading to loss of power. This can be dangerous in traffic and indicates potential transmission failure.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission area and warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing on the dash. These electrical glitches can affect safety features and driver awareness.
This category captures miscellaneous issues not classified elsewhere, which can range from minor annoyances to serious problems. Buyers should be aware that some complaints may not fit standard categories.
Headlight issues are common, with recalls related to exterior lighting. Problems may include flickering, failure, or poor illumination, affecting visibility and safety.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Lincoln Zephyr — 5 recalls
The defect: 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…
The risk: 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 th…
The defect: 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 c…
The risk: 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.…
The defect: 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 Maria…
The risk: 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 an…
The defect: 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 registe…
The risk: 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…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Lincoln Zephyr or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Zephyr has a much higher complaint rate per year (229) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131 per year over 10 years, but that's across many more vehicles). In practice, the Zephyr's issues are concentrated in critical safety areas like airbags and wheels, while the F-150's are more spread out but include frequent transmission problems. The Zephyr's lower total complaints but high annual rate suggests a problematic single model year, whereas the F-150's issues are ongoing across many years.
Key differences
- The Lincoln Zephyr has 229 complaints in 1 year, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 over 10 years, but the Zephyr's annual rate is higher.
- Airbag inflator issues dominate Zephyr complaints (142), often due to unrepaired recalls, whereas F-150 complaints are led by powertrain (3,553) and electrical (2,071) problems.
- Zephyr owners report wheel plating peeling causing tire leaks, a specific defect not highlighted in F-150 complaints.
- F-150 owners frequently report transmission jerking and loss of power, a pattern not seen in Zephyr data.
- Check if the airbag inflator recall has been completed; many owners report dealers refusing or unable to perform the fix.
- Inspect wheels for peeling plating and tire pressure loss, as this can lead to blowouts.
- Test drive the truck extensively, especially at highway speeds, to feel for hard shifts or jerking from the transmission.
- Check for dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' that may indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are repaired, especially airbag and brake recalls for the Zephyr and lighting/electrical recalls for the F-150.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic focusing on transmission (F-150) and airbags/wheels (Zephyr).
- Check tire condition and wheel integrity on the Zephyr for signs of peeling or leaks.
- Scan for stored error codes on the F-150 to detect electrical or transmission faults.
- Review the vehicle's complaint history on NHTSA.gov using the VIN to see specific issues reported for that exact vehicle.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Lincoln Zephyr or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln Zephyr vs FORD F 150
- Lincoln Zephyr total complaints
- 229
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Lincoln Zephyr total recalls
- 5
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Lincoln Zephyr avg complaints/year
- 229.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln Zephyr
- Lincoln Zephyr top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN