10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,562 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #25

Jan 022019

Zephyr

  • 145,000 miles
The plating on all four of my wheels are peeling making the tires not seal properly causing air to leak from the tires. I have had four blowouts and several flat tires. I have to air up the tires every 2 or 3 days. I have taken them to several places to get them fixed and was told that they can not do anything about them other than try and put a sealant on the tire to keep it from happening. This has not fixed the problem and I still have to continue to air the tire every couple of days.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #24

Jun 272016

Zephyr

  • 89,000 miles
Tires lose air all the time. I even bought brand new tires and it still happens. Current mechanic advise its the wheels. They are original to the car and I am being told its due to the wheels. Now I am spending money to "clean" them. Not sure if it will help but this seems to be a wide spread problem.

- Wyoming, PA, USA

problem #23

Apr 152008

Zephyr

  • 25,000 miles
Wheels need replacing, will not hold an air seal thought it was a tire defect, not so, I bought a 2 hp. Air compressor to weep tires inflated. Mechanic said new rims are need before new tires, are linclon rims been upgraded//need to replace!!!

- Stevenson, MD, USA

problem #22

Dec 172015

Zephyr

  • 85,000 miles
The wheels on my car are corroded and as a result the tires will not hold air pressure I have had two sets of tires with the same problem car has 85000 miles tires were repaired but problem remained the metal shows flaking car has never been hit and shows no other signs of a problem tires lose 20 pounds of air pressure every three days.

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #21

Sep 052008

Zephyr

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. Upon inspecting the wheels of the vehicle, the contact noticed that the aluminum coating on the wheels started to peel off. As a result of the aluminum peeling off of the wheels, the tires would not hold adequate air pressure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Taylorsville, KY, USA

problem #20

Apr 072015

Zephyr

  • 99,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle pulled to the left. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road, where the contact noticed an abnormal noise emitting from the rim as if air were linking from the tire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000. The VIN was not available.

- Hayleyville, AL, USA

problem #19

Oct 272011

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
Driving at approx 30mph my tire blew out after just replacing all 4 tires 3K miles before. Took the tire back to the merchant and they replaced it because I had a hazard protection plan with tires. Replaced all 4 tires in Sept of 2014 due to normal wear and I have had to replace 3 tires due to tire coming off of the rim while driving and losing air pressure, slow leak that resulted in flat and a blowout while driving at 40mph and landed me into a ditch. The tire merchant informed me that the wheels are defective due to the chrome on rim peeling and damaging tire as well as preventing a seal between tire and rim to keep tire inflated. Replacing the wheels with manufacturer wheels will result in same problem being that it is a defect in the product. I feel Ford needs to take responsibility for this defect and reimburse customers for new wheels.

- Vernon Hills, IL, USA

problem #18

Jun 132012

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
Was traveling southbound on I-39 when tire blew out. Have had to replace tires several times and told by dealership and 2 auto service centers that the rims are so corroded they do not hold air properly and need to be replaced. All wheels have chrome flaking off. Car currently has less than 75K miles. In the 2.5 years I have owned it, probably have had to have the tires repaired/replaced 10-15 times.

- Wausau, WI, USA

problem #17

Dec 092014

Zephyr

  • 100,000 miles
I have a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr and I have noticed the chrome on my rims is peeling off and the rims are becoming very corroded. The tire keep deflating due to this problem even after you air the tires up they slowly leak air. I have seen many complaints about this happening to these rims and it could cause a blow out due to under inflation as the tire specifically says on the side of the tire. This needs to be addressed.

- Haleyville , AL, USA

problem #16

Nov 202014

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 56,346 miles
While driving I felt the car pulling to the left, after examination I noticed that the passenger left side tire was flat. I managed to get to a gas station, but was unable to inflate the tire. These tires were purchased in new in May 2014. I have driven few miles between may and November, the mileage can be verified with dealership. This is the fourth time that I have purchased tires for this vehicle. The first time was very soon after purchase while traveling out of state. I purchased a new tire then that was very hard to find because of the year and make of car. The tires continued to lose pressure never really remaining inflated. I purchased a air pump that I used to inflate the tires, because the tires would literally deflate to the rim. I again purchased a full set, but the problem remained. 2014 again purchased a full set, then 2014 purchased another tire. As you can see this vehicle with one owner has very few miles, but several tire purchases. Lincoln/Ford needs to closely monitor this complaint. It is getting to costly to continue buying tires for some reason other than the defective rim wheel. My family safety is at stake.

- University Park, IL, USA

problem #15

May 152012

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
The wheels have stopped holding air for any amount of time. Regardless of temperature, speed, mileage. Mechanics have reported that because of the flaking chrome wheels, they will not hold air correctly for any amount of time. Have paid over $20 on several occasions to have bead seal, which may or may not help until the tires have to be replaced because of unusual wear because of under inflation. Tires have been replaced at an unusually high rate until it is not worth buying new tires as they are trashed in short order. Now my mother drives around on used tires and she has to stop in instant oil change to have her tire pressure checked almost every morning. There are several complaints about this problem and these wheels specifically. Why is there no recall regarding this? this is an outrage that so many people have had this problem. This is a more than $1500 fix to have peace of mind. Please do something so that I can quit worrying about my mothers car, tires, her life!

- Ferguson, MO, USA

problem #14

Dec 132013

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 152,800 miles
Tires continually loosing air pressure. Mechanics showed flaking and cracking chrome plating on wheels that create air leakage path at bead/rim contact area. Damage to tires due to repeated loss of air pressure. Mechanics at belle tire say this is a very common problem with the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr wheels. Why no recall? replacement wheels are approx $1,600!

- Spring Lake, MI, USA

problem #13

Jul 032006

Zephyr

  • 94,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. While driving 20 mph, the aluminum surface of the wheels began to rub off. As a result, the surface of the wheels became irregular and all four tires deflated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

- Excelsior, MN, USA

problem #12

Nov 302007

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • miles
I have had to replaced the tires on this car 3 times because they are always loosing air and wearing down fast.the last time I was told it was the rims thats been causing it. I cannot take the car on long trips because I have to put air in them everyday before I leave the house, nice car crappy maker this car has 62tm on it. I am the only driver and owner of it. Why is there not a recall on the rims" is that why Lincoln stop making this model? by the way the last tires were purched in 2013 still putting air everyday.what is Lincoln doing about this"there are no cheep tires for these cars.

- Bridge City, LA, USA

problem #11

Jan 142013

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 104,000 miles
I have had my 2006 Lincoln Zephyr for 1 1/2 years. I noticed within almost a month that my front driver tire was having a slow leak. Shortly after all my tires were slowly leaking and I would fill the tires to 33psi's as recommended, but by two days the psi's would be down to 8psi. My first incident that occurred was driving on the interstate and my back passenger tire blew out. I have bought all new tires and within almost 3 months the slow leak occurred again in all the tires. I have had my tires resealed numerous times ( the reseal holds for almost 3 months) and the leak is coming from the back of the rim where the rim and tire meets. I have been told by mechanics that the leaks are damaging the walls of my tire and the mechanic has put new valves on and the tires still leaks. I have invested in a air pump that plugs up to the cigarette lighter because I never know when the tires might be flat. I have contacted Lincoln/Ford and there is no recall on this vehicle. I have done research on the internet and found several articles/pages with similar people to my situation. I do not feel safe, because I never when a tire blow out may occur and with the leak damaging my tires, it looks like I might be buying new tires quit often. Will you please help my and other 2006 Lincoln Zephyr owners. Thanks

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #10

May 122010

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact stated all four chrome rims flaked and the tire pressure decreased. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated that the tires were losing pressure. The vehicle was repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Arlington Heights , IL, USA

problem #9

Jan 102012

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Had a flat tire going down the highway. Didn't think much about it...it happens. Got a couple of new tires put on and a few months later it happens again. Ruining the $250 tire again. My mechanic says the chrome is peeling off my rims and that is what is causing me to lose air pressure in the tire, and that I should replace the rims. They are about $550 a piece so thats not going to happen. These cars that have low profile tires need to have tire pressure monitoring systems because you can't look at the tire and tell its low. If Ford doesn't feel this is a safety issue they are wrong.I work at a Ford dealership and I see stupid recalls for things that might happen one time in a thousand. But I bet this is happening to all the Zephyr, Fusion, Milan, or anything they are putting these junk rims on.

- De Smet, SD, USA

problem #8

Oct 172012

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • 121,997 miles
The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr was traveling at a speed of 40 and the rear passenger tire suddenly blew up. The mechanic inspected the cause and concluded that the original aluminum Lincoln-factory wheel was defective. The mechanic also inspected the other three wheels and the same problem is continuing to occur with all the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr wheels. The manufacturing defect was described by the mechanic as follows: The chrome is peeling off the wheel, which prevents a good seal between the wheel and the tire, resulting in the loss of air pressure. The sudden loss of air pressure may cause serious injury or death.

- Exeter, PA, USA

problem #7

Apr 072010

Zephyr

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. The contact stated that the tires were constantly becoming flat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the rims were corroded. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the contact needed to go to the dealer for further repairs. The failure mileage was 58,000.

- Robbinsdale, MN, USA

problem #6

Jan 122012

Zephyr 6-cyl

  • miles
2006 Lincoln Zephyr. Consumer writes in regards to problem with brakes the consumer stated upon arriving at an intersection, he applied the brake, and the pedal nearly went to the floor, the ABS seemed to activate as he moved into the intersection. The consumer noticed the ABS was in control, as he tried to brake. The mechanic checked the brake system, including the brake fluid level, which was normal. The mechanic took the vehicle for a test drive and noticed the brake pedal nearly went to the floor, after which the ABS activated. The mechanic saw a heavy accumulation of ice/snow toward the inside section behind the right front wheel. The mechanic suggested letting the snow/ice thaw. Once it thawed, the braking system returned to normal. Updated 02/24/12

- Denver, PA, USA

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