Lincoln MKZ Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,667 owner complaints and 32 safety recalls on file for the Lincoln MKZ, across 15 model years (2006–2020). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (281). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Lincoln MKZ years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical MKZ year: 2007, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 MKZ: 281 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2007 MKZ: 259 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2010 MKZ: 169 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Lincoln MKZ problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 674 | 12 | 37 |
| Service Brakes problems | 199 | 12 | 31 |
| Engine problems | 164 | 13 | 7 |
| Electrical System problems | 121 | 13 | 6 |
| Steering problems | 115 | 12 | 8 |
| Power Train | 94 | 13 | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 84 | 10 | 5 |
| Wheels | 81 | 11 | 4 |
| Structure | 66 | 13 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 | 10 | 22 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 37 | 12 | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 31 | 10 | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 | 9 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 26 | 6 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 25 | 10 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 7 | 1 |
| Seats | 20 | 9 | 2 |
| Suspension | 15 | 9 | 2 |
| Tires | 15 | 6 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Visibility | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| Lane Departure | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Firerelated | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Lincoln MKZ problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Lincoln MKZ model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 MKZ | 2 | 1 | 5★ | Steering | |
| 2019 MKZ | 21 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 MKZ | 35 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 MKZ | 141 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2016 MKZ | 64 | 6 | 5★ | Steering | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2015 MKZ | 84 | 10 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 MKZ | 97 | 13 | 5★ | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2013 MKZ | 109 | 12 | 5★ | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2012 MKZ | 146 | 5 | 4★ | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 MKZ | 145 | 5 | 4★ | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 MKZ | 169 | 7 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 MKZ | 114 | 6 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2008 MKZ | 281 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 MKZ | 259 | 4 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 MKZ | 0 | 4 | — | — |
More from Lincoln: all Lincoln models · Lincoln VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln MKZ years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2007 (259), 2008 (281) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical MKZ year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Lincoln MKZ?
Air Bags, with 674 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Lincoln MKZ have?
32 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.