LincolnModel report

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Problems by Model Year

NHTSA recorded 177 consumer complaints across the 7 model years of the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid (2011–2017) that have at least 5 complaints. 2012 has the most, with 59. Across all years, the part named most often is steering (40 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.

Best and worst MKZ Hybrid years →

All MKZ Hybrid model years

Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.

Year	Complaints	Median mi	TSBs	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2017	17	69,000	54	—	Rising
2016	7	63,900	37	—	Not enough data
2015	13	15,400	36	—	Not enough data
2014	28	70,000	21	50 · Typical	Rising
2013	13	50,000	25	—	Not enough data
2012	59	60,000	9	67 · More	Rising
2011	40	72,100	7	6 · Fewer	Rising

Parts named most often, all years

Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.

Steering40 22%
Air bags36 20%
Brakes28 16%
Other or unknown23 13%
Electrical system19 11%
Transmission and drivetrain11 6.1%
Body and structure11 6.1%
Engine11 6.1%

Example complaints

One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

2012: “Shortly after I had the takata recall fixed, I had the following things happen to the vehicle: interior driver's door handle will not operate. Prior to that the driver's window would not operate. Mysteriously, the window began operating, then the interior door handle failed. The vehicle was stationary when each incident occurred.”

NHTSA complaint #11206413, filed 2019-05, 53,300 miles

2015: “I was in about a 25mph frontal collision. I went through 3 air bags which left only the seat belts to stop me. The upper left (driver's side) of the belt snapped off bone from my cervicalspine and also narrowed a place where a major left side nerve comes out, leaving me nearly paralied on my left side. All I have is a copy of an mri taken in a hospital.”

NHTSA complaint #11119284, filed 2018-08, 15,000 miles

2014: “Brakes would not work kept trying using both feet and would not stop car. Ended up hitting truck in rear causing severe damage to my car. I do not want money I want my damages to be paid so mycar will be back like it was before. What can I do when my brakes did not respond to me frantically trying to stop?I was going down an interstate coming up to intersection truck was in front and I slammed into the rear with the front of my mkz.”

NHTSA complaint #11183055, filed 2019-02, 50,000 miles

Other Lincoln models

Lincoln Town CAR
3,298 complaints Lincoln Continental
1,670 complaints Lincoln MKZ
1,667 complaints Lincoln MKX
1,418 complaints Lincoln Navigator
1,357 complaints Lincoln LS
982 complaints Lincoln Mark Viii
821 complaints Lincoln MKC
603 complaints

All Lincoln models →

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology