Lincoln Mkz
Problems & Worst Years
Every reported problem for the Lincoln Mkz, model year by model year — ranked from 151 federal NHTSA complaints across 2010–2017.
The 2017 MKZ's engine and brake complaints arrive alongside an unusually large recall footprint: four separate campaigns apply to this single model year — 17V427, 18V167, 18V390, and 23V162. Engine failure tied to coolant intrusion and engine misfiring tied to spark plug issues are tied for the top spot, each reported 16 times at high severity, while a brake malfunction described as leading to loss of control adds 10 more reports, also high severity — serious enough phrasing to warrant a direct question to any seller about whether it was ever experienced or repaired. Transmission issues (6 reports) and a steering malfunction (4 reports) round out the top five.
No complaints in this file carry the safety-severity tag specifically, despite several individual problems being rated high severity, and the total complaint count of 65 across 9 problem types is moderate relative to other vehicles in this dataset. Given how many recall campaigns apply to this single model year, and how they touch engine, brake, and other systems, verifying which of the four have been completed on a specific vehicle is the single most useful piece of due diligence available to a buyer here.
Because only one model year is represented, there's no earlier or later year to weigh it against, and these complaint figures reflect what owners chose to file with NHTSA rather than a lab-measured defect rate — any single model year's total is also shaped simply by how much time it has had on the road to accumulate reports. A mechanic's inspection that includes a check of brake performance and engine coolant condition, combined with confirmed recall completion, offers a more reliable read on any individual 2017 MKZ than the complaint totals alone.
Lincoln Mkz problems by year
Complaint volume by model year (bar = relative to the worst year). Theworst yearsare the most-complained-about, weighted by safety-risk problems.
| Year | Complaint volume | Problems | Safety / High | Most common problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010worst | 95 | 8 | 5/2 | Takata Air Bag Inflator Recall with Parts Unavailable Other · 48 complaints |
| 2017worst | 56 | 9 | 0/5 | Engine Failure Due to Coolant Intrusion Engine · 16 complaints |
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls, 2010–2017. Problem clustering and year rankings are derived from the complaint record; complaint volume reflects reports filed, not total incidence or fault rate. Vehicle image is illustrative.