2007 Lincoln MKZ

midsize luxury car / 4-door sedan

2007 Lincoln MKZ 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
M
Moderate overlap front: original test
G
Side: original test
A
Roof strength
A
Head restraints & seats
M

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2007-12 models built after January 2007

Tested vehicle: 2012 Lincoln MKZ 4-door

The Lincoln MKZ was introduced in the 2006 model year, when it was named the Lincoln Zephyr. The name was changed to MKZ in 2007.

Beginning with 2007 models manufactured after January 2007, structural reinforcements were added to the floor ahead of the front seats, and a hard plastic "ramp" bolted underneath the carpeting near the base of the accelerator pedal was modified to improve occupant protection in frontal crashes with moderate overlap. (Note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door.)

Evaluation criteria Rating
M
Structure and safety cage
P
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
A
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head and chest completely missed the frontal airbag as the steering column moved 18 cm to the right. The side curtain airbag deployed but does not have sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
M

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space wasn't maintained well.

During the crash, the steering column moved so far to the right that the dummy's head and chest completely missed contacting the frontal airbag.

Despite extensive intrusion of the door hinge pillar, driver footwell, and instrument panel, risk of injury was moderate and limited to the left knee.

Technical measurements for this test

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2007-12 models built after January 2007

Tested vehicle: 2007 Ford Fusion SE 4-door

The Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr were introduced in the 2006 model year. The Zephyr was renamed the MKZ beginning with 2007 models. All three cars were restyled beginning with the 2010 model year, and the Mercury Milan was discontinued after the 2010 model year.

Beginning with 2007 models manufactured after January 2007, structural reinforcements were added to the floor ahead of the front seats, and the hard plastic "ramp" bolted underneath the carpeting near the base of the accelerator pedal was modified to improve occupant protection in frontal offset crashes. In addition, the standard side airbags were changed so that they would deploy in severe frontal offset crashes. (Note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door.)

The tested car was manufactured after all modifications had been made.

Evaluation criteria Rating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
A
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
A
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G

Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head brushed across the side curtain airbag and hit the roof rail during rebound, producing high forces on the neck.

Postcrash photo with carpeting removed indicating the modified "ramp" intended to reduce loading on the right leg and ankle in frontal offset crashes.

Technical measurements for this test

Rating applies to 2007 models built before February 2007

Tested vehicle: 2006 Ford Fusion SE 4-door

The Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr were introduced in the 2006 model year. The Zephyr was renamed the MKZ beginning with 2007 models.

All 2006-07 Fusion, Milan, and Zephyr/MKZ models manufactured after January 2006 include a hard plastic "ramp" bolted above or below the carpeting near the base of the accelerator pedal designed to decrease right leg and foot injury risk in frontal offset crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door).

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has evaluated the crashworthiness of a Fusion with the added part in a 40 mph frontal offset crash test into a deformable barrier.

Evaluation criteria Rating
Overall evaluation
A
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
P
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G

Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the roof rail during rebound. Head acceleration from this hit was low.

Postcrash photo indicating the added "ramp" intended to reduce loading on the right leg and foot in frontal offset crashes. (Cars built later in 2006 have the ramp hidden underneath the carpeting; Ford says hiding it does not affect performance.)

Technical measurements for this test

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2007-09 models

Tested vehicle: 2006 Lincoln Zephyr 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Lincoln Zephyr was introduced in the 2006 model year and renamed the MKZ beginning with the 2007 model year.

Evaluation criteria Rating
Overall evaluation
A
Structure and safety cage
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
P
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis/leg
G
Rear passenger head protection
G

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2007-10 models built before May 2010

Tested vehicle: 2010 Ford Fusion SE 4-door

Overall evaluation
A
Curb weight 3,394 lbs
Peak force 11,300 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio 3.33

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual-power cloth seats

Overall evaluation
M
Dynamic rating
M
Seat/head restraint geometry
A
Technical measurements for this test

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.