2016 Lincoln Mkz Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Lincoln Mkz.

20152017
Complaints
73
Crashes
10
Fires
0
Injuries
9
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2016 Lincoln Mkz Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#111 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:47,500 mi
Crash-related:1
#211 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:66,158 mi
#39 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:24,961 mi
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Lincoln Mkz.

Electrical Faults
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
47,500
Steering Defects
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,158
Airbags
9
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
24,961
Brakes
9
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
38,669
Engine Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,500
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Backup Camera
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Lincoln Mkz. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2016 Lincoln Mkz

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~3,032,813 vehicles.

23V775000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~45,173 affected

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.

23V162000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
~1,280,726 affected

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

20V177000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~288,110 affected

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.

19V632000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~116,160 affected

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.

18V167000Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
~1,301,986 affected

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.

15V618000Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
~658 affected

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."

Other Lincoln Mkz Years

2016 Lincoln Mkz — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Lincoln Mkz reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2016 Lincoln Mkz has 73 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 11 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2016 Lincoln Mkz?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (11 complaints, avg 47,500 mi); Steering Defects (11 complaints, avg 66,158 mi); Airbags (9 complaints, avg 24,961 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Lincoln Mkz?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 47,565 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2016 Lincoln Mkz?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Lincoln Mkz include 10 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2016 Lincoln Mkz have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,032,813 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2016 Lincoln Mkz?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Lincoln Mkz reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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