2016 Lincoln MKZ Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 MKZ most often describe a sudden loss of power steering assist and brake problems — hoses leaking, a stiff or low pedal, brake lights staying on — with many complaints filed shortly after a recall notice arrived. A recurring second theme is the rear-view camera, which goes blank, freezes or shows a reversed image, along with coolant finding its way into the engine cylinders.

1. 1
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rear-view camera blank, frozen or reversed

   • 11 complaints (17%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 9.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners report that when shifting into reverse the screen goes black, freezes, shows a mirrored (backwards) image, or displays a camera unavailable message. Some say it works only intermittently and that dealers quoted several hundred dollars to replace the camera. Several complaints reference a back-over-prevention recall for other vehicles and note their own vehicle was not included. Reported from roughly 43,000 miles up to well past 100,000 miles, appearing gradually and intermittently.

   What to check: Shift into reverse and confirm the image is clear, correctly oriented and stable. Ask whether the camera has ever been replaced and whether any software update was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We own a 2016 Lincoln MKZ hybrid that is having issues with the backup camera randomly going blank, or significant delays at random times. Ford/Lincoln addressed the exact issue as a software recall in other models under Recall 25S72, but failed to list our vehicle. This is becoming a big issue with safety not having the backup camera working with the way the rear window is placed, it is difficult to see certain areas behind you. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11679988, filed 2025-08

   “regarding the rear view camera. It stopped working intermittently and now it shows the picture inverted (backwards) I see an extensive list of vehicles that have been recalled, but my vin is not listed. How do I get this repaired?”

   NHTSA complaint #11723217, filed 2026-03
2. 2
   Steering

   Loss of power steering assist / steering rack failure

   • 8 complaints (13%)
   • median 102,990 mi at 8.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy and hard to turn, sometimes together with messages such as service advanced trac, hill start assist unavailable or steering assist fault. Some reports say the car became undriveable and had to be towed, with dealers diagnosing the steering rack or gear assembly; others note the repair cost was not covered because their vehicle or state was not included in the recall. Several owners mention a grinding or humming noise before the assist dropped out. Reported from roughly 53,000 to 140,000 miles, often while driving at various speeds.

   Recall 19V632000Recall 18V167000

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering recall (19V632000) and the steering wheel bolt recall (18V167000) were completed. On a test drive, check that the assist is present at low speed and listen for grinding or humming while turning.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the freeway when the steering on my car became very difficult and “wobbly”. It was hard to keep it going straight. I knew something was wrong and when I got home, I told my husband to check my tires. The next morning I was told that my tires were fine but when we got into the car, this time I got 4 errors regarding the drive control and steering assist fault. The steering wheel was locked and the car was unable to be driven.”

   NHTSA complaint #11513426, filed 2023-03

   “Our power steering went out while driving into town. I'm lucky my husband was driving because it was so hard to turn the car to get to a safe location. Honolulu Ford stated we have a faulty steering rack and there is a recall for this issue 19V632000 but our car is not on the recall because the state we purchased is not listed. We purchased the car in Alaska and we currently live in Hawaii. We now have to pay $3600 dollars to have the car fixed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11433094, filed 2021-09
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake fluid leaks and a stiff or low brake pedal

   • 13 complaints (20%)
   • median 50,500 mi at 7.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the brake pedal going stiff or sinking to the floor, brake fluid visible under the vehicle, and warning lights for brakes and ABS. Several owners connect this to front brake hose failures and to recall 23V162000, and some report the parts were not available when they brought the car in. Others mention the brake lights staying lit while parked after a pedal bumper stop came apart. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 140,000 miles, sometimes during routine driving or right after starting the car.

   Recall 23V1620003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check whether the front brake hose recall (23V162000) was performed, look for fluid around the front hoses and under the car, and make sure the brake lights turn off when parked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, my passenger front brake line bursted. This is not normal and should not have happened. I had my kids in the car. I was able to coast into a parking lot to get off the road. There was no road hazards either at the time of the incident. There is no know cause to me as to why this happened. There is a known recall for this happening but not tied to my specific vin.”

   NHTSA complaint #11476282, filed 2022-07

   “I had gotten off the highway to pick up a package. When I started to pull out of the driveway my brake pedal went all the way to the floor. Thankfully I was only going a couple miles an hour and there was enough braking that I was able to stop. I had gotten the recall notice a week prior and the letter said that there would be additional notification when parts were available. I was incredibly lucky!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11521875, filed 2023-05
4. 4
   Engine

   Coolant leaking into engine cylinders (2.0L EcoBoost)

   Mentioned in 5 of 53 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe slowly losing coolant, rough running on startup, white smoke and overheating, with the check engine light on. Owners say mechanics and dealers traced this to coolant entering a cylinder and recommended a new engine or engine block. Owners describe the problem as well known on this engine family and report no warning before the symptoms appeared. Reported from about 60,000 to 120,000 miles, usually appearing as a gradual coolant loss before overheating.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue or a sweet smell around the coolant reservoir and exhaust, and ask whether the engine has had any coolant-loss diagnosis or replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Check engine light came on, car ran hot, and emitted smoke. It also began to run rough. Frightening to say the least. I immediately drove home and took it to my mechanic the next day. He found coolant leaked into cylinder 3. He did research and found tons of reports of the same problem with the Ford 2.0 eco boost engine. Several people reported engine seizing, smoke, or fires. This is a safety hazard.”

   NHTSA complaint #11540859, filed 2023-08

   “My MKZ started slowly losing coolant and running rough particularly upon starting the engine. Two days later the overheating warning came on and I pulled over and shut off the engine. Sioux Falls Ford has diagnosed it as coolant intrusion in the engine requiring a new engine block.”

   NHTSA complaint #11666907, filed 2025-06
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag deployment questions and warning

   • 10 complaints (16%)
   • median 21,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2023

   Several complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision, or that deployed in a way owners felt was premature, with injuries reported in a few cases. Other owners wrote in about the Takata settlement and about checking whether their vehicle was covered, without a failure having occurred. Reported at low mileage, mostly under about 30,000 miles, in collision situations.

   What to check: Ask for the vehicle's recall history by VIN and confirm any open airbag-related campaigns have been completed before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A vehicle stopped suddenly in front of me because a car did the same in front of them. I braked suddenly but it felt like my vehicle was being pushed from behind, my steering wheel air bags deployed so did the sides. The air bags deployed before the impact blinding me as I rear ended the car in front. I suffered burns, bruises, neck injuries and lower back pain. I was driving no more than 25-30 miles per hour. My car was a total lost and I had owned it for less than a year.”

   NHTSA complaint #11209161, filed 2019-05, 30,006 miles

   “My airbags didn't deploy resulting in me having life-long injuries. I had a car accident in august 31st, 2017. I t-boned a vehicle that came out of a parking lot illegally resulting in the accident. My airbags didn't deploy. If they had I would not have sustained the injuries that I did. It was over $17,000 worth of damage to my vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11143881, filed 2018-10

Buying note. Check that the brake hose, power steering and door latch recalls have been completed for the specific VIN, since several complaints stem from unrepaired or unavailable parts. Given the reports of coolant loss and camera failures, a pre-purchase inspection that includes a reverse-camera check and a cooling-system pressure test is worthwhile.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.