YearToAvoid

2014 Lincoln MKZ Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#6 most-complained of 11 MKZ years

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 6th worst of 11 model years, with a Caution verdict. It has 97 complaints, 13 recalls, and Steering is the top problem area at 26% of complaints.

Complaints
97
Recalls
13
Crashes / fires
7 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23.5
20.5 city / 29 hwy

Top 2014 Lincoln MKZ problems

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

  1. Steering25 (26%)
  2. Electrical System17 (18%)
  3. Structure & Body13 (13%)
  4. Engine12 (12%)
  5. Other11 (11%)
  6. Brakes10 (10%)
  7. Fuel System10 (10%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (9%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain9 (9%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (5%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel can go out or feel like it detaches while driving, sometimes leading to a rear-end collision.
  • Vehicles have shifted out of park or rolled away on their own without the brake pedal pressed, in some cases at low speed or while parked.
  • Push-button shift control has been described as confusing, contributing to a low-speed crash into a fixed object.
  • Brakes have failed to respond in stop-and-go traffic, requiring full pressure on the pedal to slow the car.
  • Tires (Pirelli PZero Nero, 245/40R19) have shown sidewall blistering at low mileage, prompting replacement.
  • A loud bang near the front passenger area preceded tire and brake seizure at highway speed in one report.
2014 Lincoln MKZ complaints: complaints filed per quarter92014 Q12015 Q32018 Q22019 Q42021 Q42023 Q22025 Q2
128 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2018 Q4 (9).

2014 Lincoln MKZ recalls

13 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V162000Mar 10, 2023Brakes1,280,726 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

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

    Risk: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.

  2. NHTSA 22V011000Jan 13, 2022Brakes199,085 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 Mustang vehicles originally sold or ever registered, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Hawaii. Exposure to certain environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high humidity, and salt air can cause the brake pedal bumper to corrode and separate from the brake pedal.

    Risk: A separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously, causing confusion to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash. On automatic transmission vehicles, a missing brake pedal bumper can allow the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake pedal bumpers and clutch pedal bumpers, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S02.

  3. NHTSA 20V331000Jun 8, 2020Structure & Body2,147,323 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. 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.

    Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.

See all 13 recalls for the 2014 Lincoln MKZ →

2014 Lincoln MKZ fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20.5 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
23.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,775
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.

2014 compared with other MKZ years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Avoid901465 !20
2013Caution601091223.5
2014Caution50971323.5
2015Good30821023
2016Good4064623

All Lincoln MKZ years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Lincoln MKZ reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2014 MKZ a Complaint Index of 50, a Caution verdict, and rank 6th worst out of 11 model years for the MKZ. It sits in the middle of the pack, better than 2010-2012 but worse than 2015-2019.
What is the top problem area for the 2014 Lincoln MKZ?
Steering accounts for 26% of complaints (25 of 97), with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles. Electrical System (18%) and Structure & Body (13%) follow.
Does the 2014 Lincoln MKZ have a steering recall?
Yes. Recall 18V167000 covers a steering wheel retaining bolt that may loosen and let the wheel detach while driving, and recall 19V632000 covers steering gear motor bolts.
How many recalls does the 2014 Lincoln MKZ have?
NHTSA lists 13 recalls for the 2014 Lincoln MKZ, covering brakes, structure/body, steering, and seat belts, with none classified as do-not-drive.
What is the median mileage for reported failures on the 2014 MKZ?
Across all complaints, the median mileage at failure is 60,500 miles, though Brakes issues showed up at a lower median of 48,500 miles.

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.