Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln Zephyr vs Toyota Camry
How the Lincoln Zephyr and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Zephyr has 229 complaints per year and 5 recalls, while the Camry has 214.3 per year and 31 recalls. Both show serious safety issues like air bag and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln Zephyr or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln Zephyr
The Lincoln Zephyr is a one-year model with a very high complaint rate of 229 per year, mostly about air bags. Owners report long waits for recall repairs and parts. Other issues include peeling wheels that cause air leaks and brake problems. This suggests a car that can be frustrating to own due to unresolved safety recalls.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has a lower complaint rate of 214.3 per year over 10 years, but many more total complaints and recalls. Common problems are power train, engine, and brake issues. Some owners report sudden acceleration and transmission failures. While the rate is lower, the variety of issues means buyers should check carefully.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln Zephyr | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 229 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 229.0 | 214.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 163 |
| 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
142 complaints about air bag inflator modules. Owners say Ford recalled these but dealers often refuse to do the work, leaving them without a fix. This is a serious safety risk if the air bag fails to deploy or explodes.
26 complaints about wheel plating peeling, causing tires to leak air. Owners report repeated blowouts and flats, needing to add air every few days. This can lead to dangerous tire failure while driving.
13 complaints about brake issues, including slow brake response in snow and rusted parts that dealers won't repair. One owner said the brake pedal was slow to respond, which could increase stopping distance.
13 complaints about window scratches from bad door panel fit and a case where a car suddenly moved and hit a wall. These issues affect visibility and could indicate 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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
395 complaints, including transmission grinding noises and need for replacement. Some owners report sudden acceleration when braking, leading to crashes. This is a major safety and repair cost concern.
315 complaints, such as sudden uncontrollable acceleration and coolant valve bypass issues. One owner said the car accelerated three times and crashed. These can be life-threatening.
290 complaints, including brake pedal going to the floor with no response. One owner on a steep hill had no brakes at all. This is an extreme safety hazard.
342 complaints, many about AC problems like a mildew smell or condenser damage from rocks. While not safety-critical, these are annoying and costly to fix.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Lincoln Zephyr or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Zephyr has a higher complaint rate per year (229 vs. 214.3), but the Camry has far more total complaints and recalls over 10 years. In practice, the Zephyr's issues are concentrated in air bags and wheels, while the Camry's are spread across power train, engine, and brakes. Both have serious safety complaints, so neither can be called reliable without a thorough inspection.
Key differences
- The Lincoln Zephyr has 229 complaints per year, mostly about air bags (142), while the Toyota Camry has 214.3 per year with power train (395) and engine (315) as top issues.
- Zephyr owners report dealers refusing to fix air bag recalls, while Camry owners report sudden acceleration and transmission failures requiring replacement.
- The Zephyr has 5 recalls, including air bags and brakes, while the Camry has 31 recalls covering seats, wheels, and air bags.
- Camry complaints include brake pedal failure with no response, while Zephyr complaints include wheel plating peeling causing tire leaks.
- Check if the air bag inflator recall has been completed; many owners report dealers refusing to do the work, so verify with a Lincoln dealer using the VIN.
- Inspect all four wheels for peeling chrome or plating, which can cause slow air leaks and require frequent tire inflation.
- Test drive at low speeds and listen for grinding noises from the transmission, especially during acceleration, as some owners needed a replacement.
- Check for sudden acceleration by gently applying the brake while in gear; if the car lurches forward, it could indicate a serious power train or engine issue.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are repaired, especially air bags for the Zephyr and power train for the Camry.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, including pedal feel and ABS operation, as both models have brake complaints.
- For the Zephyr, check wheel condition for peeling and tire pressure stability; for the Camry, check transmission fluid and for any grinding noises.
- Test drive on varied roads, including hills and snow if possible, to check for brake response and unintended acceleration.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and specifically inquire about any prior repairs related to the complaints listed.
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln Zephyr vs Toyota Camry
- Lincoln Zephyr total complaints
- 229
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Lincoln Zephyr total recalls
- 5
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Lincoln Zephyr avg complaints/year
- 229.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Lincoln Zephyr top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN