FaultScore

Worst years for a Lincoln MKZ

Owners have filed 2,025 complaints about the Lincoln MKZ with NHTSA across model years 2007 to 2020. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.

Avoid

2017 Lincoln MKZ

184 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2018 Lincoln MKZ

40 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Lincoln MKZ year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2020 2 0 0 Steering
2019 C 22 3 0 Engine & Cooling
2018 B 40 1 0 45,000 Engine & Cooling
2017 D 184 13 11 51,000 Engine & Cooling
2016 D 78 10 0 32,700 Brakes
2015 B 107 5 0 48,989 Electrical System
2014 C 130 10 0 63,000 Steering
2013 C 146 9 3 40,000 Electrical System
2012 D 176 17 5 53,500 Airbags
2011 D 181 23 8 68,000 Airbags
2010 D 197 22 0 66,000 Airbags
2009 C 129 11 0 77,000 Airbags
2008 D 328 20 0 80,000 Airbags
2007 D 305 21 3 80,000 Airbags

What breaks on a Lincoln MKZ

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Airbags 674 33.3%

Worst in 2007

Brakes 292 14.4%

Worst in 2008

Engine & Cooling 178 8.8%

Worst in 2017

Worst in 2013

Steering 114 5.6%

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2012

Worst in 2017

Wheels 84 4.1%

Worst in 2008

Worst in 2013

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2010

Worst in 2015

Seat Belts 31 1.5%

Worst in 2013

Lights 30 1.5%

Worst in 2010

Exactly what failed on a Lincoln MKZ

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 51 46.4%
Latch 15 13.6%
Door 9 8.2%
RIM 7 6.4%
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs 6 5.5%
Automatic Emergency Braking 5 4.5%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 5 4.5%
Rearview System Braking 4 3.6%
Torque Converter 4 3.6%
Frontal 4 3.6%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Lincoln MKZ, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Mar 2007 peak 96 Aug 2026

Lincoln MKZ problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Lincoln MKZ

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.