Lincoln MKZ Engine Problems
Owners have filed 164 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Lincoln MKZ across 13 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (76). The words owners use most often: “coolant intrusion” (13% of reports).
- 164engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $8,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 41%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Coolant intrusion: mentioned in 21 of 164 complaints (13%)
- Ecoboost engine: mentioned in 14 of 164 complaints (9%)
- Service bulletin: mentioned in 14 of 164 complaints (9%)
- Long block: mentioned in 11 of 164 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Lincoln MKZ at $8,000, and half of them between $6,950 and $9,000.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2022–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 58 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 164 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 5 an injury.
Lincoln MKZ engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Lincoln MKZ. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The engine failed due to design flaw in the engine block
I noticed on mid Sept/2026 when I started my car the engine was idling rough for a few minutes, then went idling normal. Every morning after it repeated itself when first starting the car and my check engine light came on. I scheduled a a diagnostic with an Auto shop and it was diagnosed as…
Head gasket and long block. I was at risk along with the public. I was driving on [XXX] when the car suddenly started to overheat and would not accelerate anymore. The problem was diagnosed today the coolant is leaking into cylinder 3. The check engine light came on and gave me p303 for a code…
Catalytic Converter P0420 issue that cannot be fixed.
While driving, the car stalled. I could not restart it. It was towed to Lincoln Dealer and determined that coolant had leaked into the cylinders and seized the engine. This is a known defect on the Ford EcoBoost Engine. Fully aware of the defect, Ford redesigned the engine in 2019 for later models…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Lincoln MKZs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 164 owner complaints about engine for the Lincoln MKZ. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Lincoln MKZ engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Lincoln MKZ?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,000 (half paid between $6,950 and $9,000), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Lincoln MKZ?
The most frequent phrase is “coolant intrusion”, in 21 of 164 complaints, followed by “ecoboost engine” (14).
Other Lincoln MKZ problems
- Air Bags problems (674)
- Service Brakes problems (199)
- Electrical System problems (121)
- Steering problems (115)
See all Lincoln MKZ problems.