This page covers 7 recalls, 66 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Lincoln Mkz.
20–40 mpg combined
5.9–11.8 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering and electrical issues dominate what 2016 Lincoln MKZ owners report. On the steering side, owners frequently describe the wheel feeling loose or unresponsive, loss of power steering assist while driving, and abnormal humming or vibration from the front end. Electrical complaints cover a range of behaviors including various system malfunctions, with the backup camera drawing particular attention, owners commonly report the camera displaying a black screen when the vehicle is in reverse, making it unreliable or completely non-functional. Airbag-related complaints round out the top three reported systems. The backup camera issue appears consistently enough across reports that it stands out as a recurring concern, with owners describing it as failing the majority of the time rather than occasionally.
66
Total Complaints
8
Crash-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Lincoln MKZ has 7 recalls, the most serious being a fuel tank that may have insufficient wall thickness, crack, and leak fuel, raising the risk of a fire.
Two recalls address door latches on vehicles sold or registered in warm-weather and high-humidity states and territories: the door latch mechanism can fail to hold securely, allowing doors to open while driving. On the steering side, the steering wheel retaining bolt can loosen and let the wheel detach entirely, causing a complete loss of steering control. There is also a concern with the electric power steering system on vehicles originally sold or registered in northern states, where corrosion can cause the steering motor to separate from the gear housing, making the steering much heavier to turn, particularly at low speeds. The front brake hoses can rupture and leak fluid, which increases pedal travel and extends the distance needed to stop the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
A component inside the door latches can break, making it difficult to latch the doors or potentially allowing them to open while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect door latch date codes and replace all four side door latches at no cost if necessary.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front brake hoses at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A component inside the door latches can break, making doors hard to close or appearing closed when they actually aren't.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the side door latches at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt and contaminants can corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts, potentially causing them to break or loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts, apply wax sealer to protect them, and install a new steering gear if bolts are broken or missing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering wheel retaining bolt can loosen, potentially allowing the steering wheel to detach while you're driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank has insufficient wall thickness and may crack during a crash, potentially allowing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel tank at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank may have thin walls due to improper manufacturing. In a crash, these thin walls can crack and leak fuel. If fuel leaks near an ignition source, it could cause a fire.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace your fuel tank with one manufactured to proper specifications.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
