2016 Lincoln MKZ problems and recalls

Owners filed 30 complaints on the 2016 Lincoln MKZ in the last three full years, out of 63 on record. The most cited component is the Service Brakes.

63
Complaints
7
Recalls
8
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
6
Injuries
86.5
Severity index

Severity index 86.5 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 86.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 26 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 82% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Service BrakesService Brakes: 14 complaints (22.2%)14 22%SteeringSteering: 12 complaints (19.0%)12 19%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 11 complaints (17.5%)11 17%Air BagsAir Bags: 9 complaints (14.3%)9 14%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 6 complaints (9.5%)6 10%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 5 complaints (7.9%)5 8%EngineEngine: 5 complaints (7.9%)5 8%HydraulicHydraulic: 4 complaints (6.3%)4 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
SERVICE BRAKES1422.2%
STEERING1219.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1117.5%
AIR BAGS914.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER69.5%
BACK OVER PREVENTION57.9%
ENGINE57.9%
HYDRAULIC46.3%

Complaints filed per year

06122016: 32017: 32018: 32019: 52020: 22021: 52022: 62023: 122024: 62025: 122026: 6 (partial year)161718192021222312242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20163
20173
20183
20195
20202
20215
20226
202312
20246
202512
2026 (year to date)6
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.3x those in 2020 to 2022 (30 against 13).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V63200029/08/2019STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachu
18V16700012/03/2018STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BARFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
15V61800001/10/2015FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGEFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 13, 2015, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have in
20V17700023/03/2020LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, T
20E02500024/04/2020EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Replacement Headlamps, part number DP5Z-13008-T and DP5Z-13008-V, sold for use with 2013-2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The headlamps may have an improper beam pattern and incorrect horizontal adjustment, the side markers may not illumi
23V16200010/03/2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
23V77500017/11/2023LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas

Other Lincoln MKZ model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.