Lincoln MKZ
Registered from 2007 to 2020.
About this model
The Lincoln MKZ is a mid-size, four-door, five-passenger, front- or all-wheel drive luxury sedan manufactured by Ford and marketed by its Lincoln brand across two generations in North America and China (2015–2020). Co-developed with the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, the MKZ was available with either gasoline or gasoline-electric hybrid powertrains.
From the Wikipedia article Lincoln MKZ, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The manufacturer has told owners of 2 of these to stop driving until the repair is done.
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Where it stands out against its peers
- Air bags: more complaints than 91% of 2012 cars — 47% of its 146 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 17%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- AIR BAGS — 65 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
- STEERING — 14 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
- SERVICE BRAKES — 11 owners reported this
- STRUCTURE — 5 owners reported this
Crash test
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | Standard |
| Lane departure warning | Standard |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 141 hp · 1773 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 10.2 L/100km (EPA) · 11.8 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2019 | 141 hp · 1773 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 10.2 L/100km (EPA) · 11.8 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2018 | 1773 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 10.2 L/100km (EPA) · 11.8 L/100km city · 8.4 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2017 | 1773 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 10.2 L/100km (EPA) · 11.8 L/100km city · 8.4 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2016 | 305 hp · 1815 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 7.6 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2015 | 305 hp · 1815 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 7.6 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2014 | 305 hp · 1815 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 7.6 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2013 | 305 hp · 1815 kg · 2850 mm wheelbase · 9.4 L/100km (EPA) · 10.7 L/100km city · 7.6 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2012 | 1701 kg · 2730 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 13.1 L/100km city · 8.7 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2011 | 1633 kg · 2730 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 13.1 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2010 | 1633 kg · 2730 mm wheelbase · 12.4 L/100km (EPA) · 13.8 L/100km city · 9.8 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
| 2009 | 1603 kg · 2730 mm wheelbase · 12.4 L/100km (EPA) · 13.8 L/100km city · 9.8 motorway · Sedan, 4-door |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
74% of 2020 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
- Do not drive
17V024000
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
- Do not drive
19V001000
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
13V227000
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.
13V230000
Exposed electrical wires increase the risk of electric shock.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S05. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
13V594000
Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll which may result in a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with new software, free of charge. The recall began on January 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13C09.
14V164000
The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.
14V597000
The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S21.
15V246000
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on June 5, 2015. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S16.
22 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.
Regulator investigations
Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.
Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures
Recall query, opened August 2022, closed March 2023.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.
Door Latch Failures
Recall query, opened December 2019, closed February 2022.
Extended Braking Distance
Engineering analysis, opened April 2018, closed January 2021.
Door Latch Failure
Engineering analysis, opened February 2015, closed November 2015.
Became recall 15V246000.
Electric power steering failure
Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2014, closed September 2015.
Floor mat interference with accelerator
Engineering analysis, opened December 2012, closed June 2014.
Accel Pedal Interference - Acc Floormat
Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2010, closed January 2013.
Tire valve cracking
Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2008, closed April 2009.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
Lincoln filed 82 bulletins about the 2020 MKZ.
- Electrical system: 26
- Equipment: 15
- Power train: 9
- Engine and engine cooling: 5
- Communication: 3
- Structure: 3
- Seats: 2
- Visibility: 2
- Back over prevention: 1
- Equipment adaptive/mobility: 1
- Other: 15
- Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing activation prompt… · March 2026
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.… · November 2025
- Various 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a partially or fully black center display screen at start-up using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This does not affect… · August 2025
- Certain 2018-2024 model year various vehicles — update sync software · June 2025
- Certain 2018 - 2024 Model Year Various Vehicles Update SYNC Software · January 2025
- Various vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or a 3.0L gas engine may require a crankshaft bolt replacement during repairs. Various vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or a 3.0L gas engine may require a… · December 2024
- While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission… · October 2024
- Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a telematics control unit module (TCU) may exhibit the Location toggle button in the Connectivity setting menu grayed out with an inability to… · September 2024
74 more.
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.