Lincoln MKZ Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 1,667 consumer complaints across the 13 model years of the Lincoln MKZ (2007–2019) that have at least 5 complaints. 2008 has the most, with 281. Across all years, the part named most often is air bags (674 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All MKZ 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 | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21 | 58,138 | 1 | 127 | — | Rising |
| 2018 | 36 | 33,000 | 2 | 137 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2017 | 141 | 74,000 | 4 | 221 | 46 · Typical | Rising |
| 2016 | 64 | 56,500 | 6 | 143 | 39 · Typical | Rising |
| 2015 | 84 | 59,000 | 10 | 139 | 43 · Typical | Stable |
| 2014 | 97 | 60,500 | 13 | 142 | 51 · Typical | Stable |
| 2013 | 109 | 44,500 | 12 | 158 | 60 · Typical | Stable |
| 2012 | 146 | 53,750 | 5 | 38 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 145 | 68,500 | 5 | 34 | 53 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 170 | 72,616 | 7 | 28 | 75 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 114 | 68,000 | 6 | 15 | 53 · Typical | Falling |
| 2008 | 281 | 80,400 | 4 | 21 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 259 | 77,456 | 4 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Air bags674 41%
- Brakes283 17%
- Engine165 10%
- Electrical system121 7.4%
- Steering114 7.0%
- Other or unknown105 6.4%
- Transmission and drivetrain94 5.7%
- Wheels81 4.9%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2013: “Noted a natural gas smell in my car only when heat on in car and not constent, just in spirts I would get a strong smell. Then last week my car started making a weird whinning noise that has gotten louder and more consistent over the past week. I noted the 2013 MKZ had recalls for issues like this before. I just purchased this car used 3 months ago.”
NHTSA complaint #11397342, filed 2021-02, 38,000 miles2012: “The electronic steering stopped working and the traction control system light came on at the same time. I was traveling at less than 5 miles per hour and ran into my garage damaging the right front of my car. Local dealer without seeing the car said cost would be around $1800 to fix steering and stabilitrak. This was a 2012 Lincoln MKZ hybrid.”
NHTSA complaint #11337748, filed 2020-07, 79,814 miles2017: “I was stationary behind a car turning left on hwy 154 s in coweta co, ga, when I was hit from behind by another automobile going approximately 50+ MPH. The driver who hit me never applied his brakes, which pushed my car into the SUV in front of me. The car I was pushed into was shoved 30+ yards down the road. My airbags did not deploy and my driver's side seat broke.”
NHTSA complaint #11373156, filed 2020-11, 31,000 milesOther Lincoln models
3,298 complaintsLincoln Continental
1,670 complaintsLincoln MKX
1,418 complaintsLincoln Navigator
1,357 complaintsLincoln LS
982 complaintsLincoln Mark Viii
821 complaintsLincoln MKC
603 complaintsLincoln Aviator
490 complaints
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