Car Record Book

2016 Lincoln MKZ recalls & problems

The 2016 Lincoln MKZ has 7 safety recalls and 64 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is steering (12 complaints).

Recalls7safety recalls
Complaints64filed by owners
Crashes · fires8 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths6 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch

NHTSA recall 23V775000 · Nov 17, 2023 · 45,173 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Ford 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, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.

Risk: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-177.

Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

NHTSA recall 23V162000 · Mar 10, 2023 · 1,280,726 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Risk: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.

Exterior lighting › Headlights

NHTSA recall 20E025000 · Apr 24, 2020 · 130 vehicles

Problem: Ford 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 illuminate and DOT markings may be missing. As such, these headlamps fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: The incorrect headlamps may reduce the driver's visibility or make the vehicle less visible, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify vehicle manufacturers, and dealers will inspect the headlamps, and replace the headlamps, as necessary, free of charge. Additionally, Ford will instruct dealers to return all improper headlamps and not to install them on any vehicles. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C10.

Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch

NHTSA recall 20V177000 · Mar 23, 2020 · 288,110 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Ford 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, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15.

Steering › Electric power assist system

NHTSA recall 19V632000 · Aug 29, 2019 · 116,160 vehicles

Problem: Ford 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, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.

Risk: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.

Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar

NHTSA recall 18V167000 · Mar 12, 2018 · 1,301,986 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Ford 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.

Risk: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S08.

Fuel system, gasoline › Storage

NHTSA recall 15V618000 · Oct 1, 2015 · 658 vehicles

Problem: Ford 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 insufficent wall thickness. As a result, the fuel tanks may crack in the event of a crash and thus the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Risk: A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C11.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2016 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk10.9%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2016 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk10.9%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

2016 Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk10.9%

Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

MKZ FWD

26mpg combined
City / highway22 / 33 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel

MKZ AWD

25mpg combined
City / highway22 / 31 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

MKZ FWD

21mpg combined
City / highway18 / 27 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

MKZ AWD

20mpg combined
City / highway17 / 24 mpg
FuelRegular Gasoline

3.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem areaComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesTypical mileage*
Steering
Electric power assist system
1200053,000 mi
Electrical system
1110039,000 mi
Service brakes
1040349,003 mi
Air bags
930530,006 mi
Engine
6000—
Unknown or other
6101—
Back over prevention
Rearview system braking
500070,000 mi
Wheels
Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
4000—
Service brakes, hydraulic
4000—
Seat belts
300086,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
2000—
Structure
Body
2100—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations