YearToAvoid

2015 Lincoln MKZ Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

30/100

#8 most-complained of 11 MKZ years

The 2015 Lincoln MKZ has 82 NHTSA complaints, 10 recalls, and a complaint index of 30, ranking 8th worst of 11 model years. It's rated 'Good' relative to other MKZ years, well below the 2010 model's index of 100.

Complaints
82
Recalls
10
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 29 hwy

Top 2015 Lincoln MKZ problems

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

  1. Electrical System17 (21%)
  2. Brakes16 (20%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras13 (16%)
  4. Engine9 (11%)
  5. Steering8 (10%)
  6. Structure & Body8 (10%)
  7. Airbags7 (9%)
  8. Other7 (9%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (7%)
  10. Seat Belts5 (6%)

What owners report

  • Some owners describe the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating or lurching at low speed while braking, leading to a crash.
  • Owners report losing steering control during slow turns, sometimes accompanied by a popping noise before hitting a curb.
  • Some drivers say the car becomes unstable and hard to control on snow or wet roads, struggling to stop or turn.
  • Owners describe intermittent electrical failures, including dim backup lights, sudden shutdowns while driving, and dashboard sensor issues requiring repeated dealer visits.
  • One owner reported hard, jarring transmission shifts between gears that worsened over time despite a transmission rebuild.
  • Air bubbles were reported inside the windshield and side windows, creating glare that reduced visibility.
2015 Lincoln MKZ complaints: complaints filed per quarter92015 Q12017 Q12018 Q42020 Q32022 Q22023 Q42025 Q22026 Q3
108 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q3 (9).

2015 Lincoln MKZ recalls

10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V695000Oct 13, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,448,655 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 10 recalls for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ →

2015 Lincoln MKZ fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,850
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 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
2013Caution601091223.5
2014Caution50971323.5
2015Good30821023
2016Good4064623
2017Caution70139422

All Lincoln MKZ years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Lincoln MKZ reliable?
Relative to other MKZ model years, the 2015 is rated 'Good.' It has a complaint index of 30 and ranks 8th worst out of 11 years, with fewer reported problems than the 2010-2013 models.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?
NHTSA complaints point to the Electrical System (21% of complaints, median mileage 25,000), Brakes (20%, median mileage 84,600), and Collision Avoidance & Cameras (16%, median mileage 90,000) as the top problem areas.
Does the 2015 Lincoln MKZ have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2015 MKZ, covering brakes, steering, seat belts, structure/body, and collision avoidance cameras. None are marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2015 MKZ compare to other years?
The 2015 model's complaint index of 30 is lower than the 2010 (100), 2011 (80), 2012 (90), 2013 (60), 2014 (50), and 2017 (70) model years, but higher than 2016 (40), 2018 (20), and 2019 (10).
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?
EPA rates the 2015 MKZ at 23 mpg combined (20 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,850.

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.