Lincoln models we see most
| Model | US model years | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Town Car | 1981-2011 | 2005-2011 Town Cars in salt states, Illinois included, are in steering shaft corrosion recall 13V385000. |
| Continental | 1961-2002, 2017-2020 | The 1995-2002 front-drive Continental used a 4.6-liter double-overhead-cam V8. |
| Aviator | 2003-2005, 2020-present | The first Aviator was a V8 luxury version of the Ford Explorer, sold for three model years. |
| LS | 2000-2006 | A rear-drive sport sedan that shared its platform with the Jaguar S-Type. |
| Zephyr / MKZ | 2006-2020 | 2006-2010 Zephyr and MKZ are in ABS valve recall 19V904000; 2013-2016 MKZ in steering bolt recall 19V632000. |
| MKX | 2007-2018 | The 2016 MKX is in salt-state recall 19V632000 for power steering motor bolts that corrode. |
Known Lincoln problems that end up at the scrapyard
Seized steering shaft on 2005-2011 Town Car
Recall 13V385000 covers 2005-2011 Lincoln Town Cars, Ford Crown Victorias and Mercury Grand Marquis registered or sold in Illinois and other salt states. Severe corrosion can seize the lower intermediate steering shaft, which can collapse the upper shaft and separate the steering column's lower bearing, causing loss of steering. A Town Car with stiff or notchy steering should not be driven. source
Corroded power steering motor bolts on MKZ and MKX
Ford recalled 2013-2016 Lincoln MKZ and 2016 MKX vehicles, along with Fusions and Edges, sold or registered in salt states including Illinois, because road salt can corrode the bolts holding the electric power steering motor to the gear housing (19V632000). If the bolts fail, the motor can detach and power assist disappears, making low-speed steering very heavy. source
ABS valve reaction on 2006-2010 Zephyr and MKZ
Recall 19V904000 covers 2006-2010 Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ sedans plus Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. Valves in the ABS hydraulic control unit can react with brake fluids that contain certain corrosion-preventing additives and fail to close properly, so the pedal needs more travel to stop the car. A long, soft pedal on one of these sedans can be this issue. source
Where older Lincolns give out in Chicago
On older Lincolns the costly problems tend to be steering, brakes and suspension, and Ford’s recalls point straight at them. The Town Car’s body-on-frame chassis is tough, but Ford’s recall notice says that in salt states the lower steering shaft can corrode until it seizes. On the MKZ and MKX, Ford found the bolts holding the electric power steering motor can rust in the same climate. The first Zephyr and MKZ sedans had an ABS valve problem that showed up as a soft, long brake pedal.
The last front-drive Continental, built through 2002 with a 4.6-liter double-overhead-cam V8, packs a lot of complexity into a car that is now more than two decades old. When a repair estimate on a luxury car is bigger than its private-sale value, junking it is often the cleaner choice.
How we figure an offer on a Lincoln
A Town Car brings more weight than an MKZ, and Lincoln interiors, lighting and trim are worth something to the next owner when they aren’t damaged. Running and driving still counts most. The catalytic converters, wheels and a complete body help, while fire, flood and frame damage pull the offer down. Tell us about anything unusual, like a stretched limousine body or a missing key.
Paperwork and SYNC reset before pickup
Have your title ready and keep a written record of the sale. Our guide to writing an Illinois bill of sale for a junk car shows what it should include. For Lincolns with SYNC, Ford’s master reset erases paired phones, call history, texts, saved favorite destinations, personal keypad entry codes and the modem activation, so do it before we arrive. If you used Lincoln’s phone app for remote start or tracking, remove the vehicle from your account there as well. Our list of car makes covers the rest of Ford’s family too.
Selling a junk Lincoln: questions
My MKZ lost its power steering. Will you still buy it?
Yes. Heavy steering on a 2013-2016 MKZ can be the corroded motor bolts named in Ford's salt-state recall, and we buy the car either way. Don't drive it if steering is hard at low speed; we tow it free.
What paperwork should I have for selling a Lincoln for junk?
The title signed over to us is the main document, plus your ID. A bill of sale is a useful record of the sale for both sides. If the title is missing, tell us what you do have and we'll confirm on the call what Illinois allows for a scrap sale.