2016 Lincoln MKZ Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#7 most-complained of 11 MKZ years
The 2016 Lincoln MKZ ranks 7th worst out of 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 40 and a Good verdict. It has 64 complaints, 6 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.
- Complaints
- 64
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 8 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 29 hwy
Top 2016 Lincoln MKZ problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes14 (22%)
- Steering12 (19%)
- Electrical System11 (17%)
- Airbags9 (14%)
- Engine7 (11%)
- Other6 (9%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (8%)
- Structure & Body4 (6%)
- Seat Belts3 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly fail to respond or lurch forward unexpectedly, in one case leading to a low-speed parking-lot crash.
- Airbags sometimes deployed in what owners describe as minor rear-end impacts, while in other cases airbags failed to deploy during a more serious collision.
- Steering wheel bolts covered under recall were reported loose or unavailable for repair, with one owner unable to get replacement parts from a dealer.
- The electrical system reportedly caused sudden deceleration from highway speed down to 20 mph with default error codes displayed.
- The engine reportedly dropped to low idle on the highway, which owners linked to a throttle body issue.
2016 Lincoln MKZ recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V775000Nov 17, 2023Structure & Body45,173 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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.
Risk: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-177.
- 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.
- NHTSA 20V177000Mar 23, 2020Structure & Body288,110 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
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.
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 Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15.
2016 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.
2016 compared with other MKZ years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Lincoln MKZ a good year?
- Yes, relative to other MKZ years. It carries a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 7th worst of 11 years, earning a Good verdict, with the lowest indices belonging to 2018 and 2019.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Lincoln MKZ?
- NHTSA complaints are led by Brakes (14 complaints, 22% share), followed by Steering (12, 19%), Electrical System (11, 17%), and Airbags (9, 14%).
- Does the 2016 Lincoln MKZ have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2016 MKZ, covering brake hoses, steering wheel bolts, steering gear motor bolts, door latches, and a fuel tank issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How many complaints and crashes does NHTSA list for the 2016 MKZ?
- NHTSA lists 64 complaints, 8 crashes, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths for the 2016 Lincoln MKZ, with a median mileage at failure of 56,500 miles.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Lincoln MKZ?
- EPA rates the 2016 Lincoln MKZ at 23 mpg combined (20 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,850.