Lincoln MKZ: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lincoln MKZ problems by model year, from 1,186 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2017 (71%, 106 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (65%, 22 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 9 Lincoln MKZ years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; all of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2012 (15%), 2010 (16%) and 2015 (17%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2016 (18%) to 2017 (71%), up 53 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2017 drew the most drivetrain complaints (106 of 252 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Lincoln MKZ year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 MKZ | no elevated signal | 16% | 10 | 169 | 8/9 | 9 |
| 2011 MKZ | no elevated signal | 18% | 18 | 185 | 5/9 | 7 |
| 2012 MKZ | no elevated signal | 15% | 17 | 205 | 9/9 | 6 |
| 2013 MKZ | no elevated signal | 27% | 29 | 121 | 3/9 | 13 |
| 2014 MKZ | no elevated signal | 22% | 26 | 124 | 4/9 | 14 |
| 2015 MKZ | no elevated signal | 17% | 14 | 95 | 7/9 | 11 |
| 2016 MKZ | no elevated signal | 18% | 10 | 70 | 6/9 | 7 |
| 2017 MKZ | very high | 71% | 106 | 155 | 1/9 | 4 |
| 2018 MKZ | very high | 65% | 22 | 37 | 2/9 | 2 |
| 2019 MKZ | too few to score | – | 9 | 22 | – | 1 |
| 2020 MKZ | too few to score | – | 0 | 3 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lincoln MKZ years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lincoln MKZ transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Lincoln MKZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 34 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2013 | 13V227000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2013 |
| Nov 2013 | 13V594000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2013–2014 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V618000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage | 2016 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V427000 | power train: automatic transmission: torque converter | 2017 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V390000 | power train: automatic transmission: torque converter | 2017 |
29 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2013 | 13V230000 | electrical system | 2013 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V164000 | seats: front assembly: recliner | 2013–2014 |
| May 2014 | 14E028000 | equipment | 2010–2011 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V597000 | air bags | 2013–2014 |
| Apr 2015 | 15V246000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2013–2014 |
| Apr 2015 | 15V248000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2015 |
| Apr 2015 | 15V250000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2013–2015 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V340000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2011–2012 |
| May 2016 | 16V384000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V875000 | seat belts: front | 2013–2015 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V024000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V210000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2013–2014 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V046000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Mar 2018 | 18V167000 | steering: steering wheel/handle bar | 2014–2018 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V775000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V001000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Aug 2019 | 19V590000 | seat belts: front | 2015 |
| Aug 2019 | 19V632000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2013–2016 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V904000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2010 |
| Mar 2020 | 20V177000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2014–2016 |
| Apr 2020 | 20E025000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2013–2016 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V331000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2013–2014 |
| Feb 2021 | 21E013000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V081000 | air bags: frontal | 2010 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V158000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V011000 | service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 2014–2015 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V162000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2013–2018 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V775000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2016 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V695000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2015 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lincoln MKZ
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Lincoln MKZ
What are the worst years for the Lincoln MKZ?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lincoln MKZ years are the 2017 (71% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2018 (65% of relevant complaints, very high). 2 of 9 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lincoln MKZ?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Lincoln MKZ years are the 2012 (15%), the 2010 (16%) and the 2015 (17%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Lincoln MKZ have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 9 scored years, 252 of 831 relevant NHTSA complaints (30%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2017 and 2018.
Is the Lincoln MKZ reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 9 Lincoln MKZ years we score have an elevated complaint share and 7 do not. Pooled across those years, 30% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Lincoln MKZ?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lincoln MKZ years we track, out of 34 in total: 15V618000 (Oct 2015, 2016), 17V427000 (Jul 2017, 2017), 18V390000 (Jun 2018, 2017), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.