YearToAvoid

2015 Lincoln MKS Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#5 most-complained of 7 MKS years

The 2015 Lincoln MKS has 18 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, and a complaint index of 33, ranking 5th worst out of 7 model years with a "Good" verdict. Engine issues are the top problem area at 33% of complaints.

Complaints
18
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26 hwy

Top 2015 Lincoln MKS problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine6 (33%)
  2. Electrical System4 (22%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (17%)
  4. Fuel System3 (17%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain3 (17%)
  6. Airbags2 (11%)
  7. Other2 (11%)
  8. Steering2 (11%)
  9. Structure & Body2 (11%)
  10. Brakes1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power suddenly on the highway and requires stopping and restarting to resolve, with no error code showing at 43,000 miles median mileage.
  • Water pump failures buried internally in the engine lead to coolant leaks and, in one case, a fire reported at 92,325 miles median mileage.
  • Airbag warning light illuminates without a clear cause, sometimes with no repair completed, around 27,000 miles median mileage.
  • Steering can suddenly become very difficult or fail to turn, in one case reported at highway speed, around 26,000 miles median mileage.
  • Fuel system stalls occur intermittently while driving, requiring the engine to be shut off and restarted, at 36,080 miles median mileage.
  • Rear suspension toe links reported loose and needing replacement during routine servicing, tied to a related recall.
2015 Lincoln MKS complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2017Mar 2020Jul 2020Feb 2021Oct 2022Apr 2024Sep 2025Nov 2025
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2017 to Sep 2026; peak Oct 2025 (4).

2015 Lincoln MKS recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V621000Aug 25, 2016Fuel System77,502 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.

    Risk: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

  2. NHTSA 15V605000Sep 28, 2015Fuel System203 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mounting

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured on July 24, 2015. During vehicle production, the fuel tank attachment bolts may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the fuel tank straps may fracture and the fuel tank could separate from the vehicle.

    Risk: If the fuel tank separates from the vehicle, a fuel leak may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the fuel tank attachment bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S26.

  3. NHTSA 15V464000Jul 24, 2015Brakes7,165 vehicles

    Parking brake

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not fully engage when applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

    Risk: If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on a slope, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C07.

2015 Lincoln MKS fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other MKS years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid83142721
2014Caution5044221
2015Good3318321
2016No verdict03019

All Lincoln MKS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Lincoln MKS reliable?
NHTSA data shows 18 complaints and a complaint index of 33 for the 2015 MKS, ranking 5th worst out of 7 model years tracked, with a "Good" verdict relative to other MKS years.
What are the main problems with the 2015 Lincoln MKS?
The top problem area is the engine, accounting for 33% of complaints, followed by the electrical system at 22%. Engine-related failures were reported at a median of 43,000 miles.
Does the 2015 Lincoln MKS have any recalls?
Yes, it has 3 recalls covering the fuel system (fuel PEM part and fuel tank attachment bolts) and the brakes (parking brake system testing). None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2015 MKS compare to other MKS model years?
The 2015 MKS has a complaint index of 33, better than 2011 (100, Avoid) and 2013 (83, Avoid), but higher than 2012 (17, Best), the best year in the lineup.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Lincoln MKS?
EPA rates the 2015 MKS at 21 mpg combined (18 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.