MODELYEARINDEX

Which Lincoln MKZ years to avoid

Across 9 scored model years, the 2013, 2015 and 2011 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Lincoln MKZ Full report
D
Grade 2010–2018
2013 vs model median 1.5×
Model median3× median
Body & Interior 13
Drivetrain 11
Electrical 9
Avoid

2013 · 2015

Best

2017 · 2018

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.84× 24 C
2011
1.25× 37 D
2012
0.89× 39 C
2013
1.52× 68 D
2014
1.01× 37 C
2015
1.25× 49 D
2016
0.69× 30 C
2017
1.00× 41 C
2018
0.31× 15 A

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2013 D 68 reports · median 23,250 mi

  1. Body & Interior 13

    My husband was exiting the passenger side with the door open and had his right hand on the door frame, fingers on the edge of the roof. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Drivetrain 11

    The car shifts from drive to neutral when driving. The car shifts from drive to low while driving. The car shifts from reverse to park while driving. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 9

    The contact owns a 2013 lincoln mkz. The contact stated that while traveling at unknown speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

7 crash · 2 fire · 6 injuries

2015 D 49 reports · median 24,381 mi

  1. Electrical 13

    In 20k miles entire car stopped working after in garage over weekend and no lights were on, no issue was found initially but battery was changed once in a new car in less than 2 years. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Airbags & Restraints 10

    The contact owns a 2015 lincoln mkz. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v875000 (seat belts); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Lights & Visibility 4

    I bought a new 2015 lincoln mkz. I took the car into the dealer for some routine service and mentioned that the single back up light is way too dim. The service department said that there is no adjustment to it. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

6 crash · 3 injuries

The best year for the MKZ

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2018 is the best-scoring MKZ model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 87.3 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2018 0.31× 15 A
2017 1.00× 41 C
2016 0.69× 30 C

Recalls

34 campaigns on record, 4 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
21V158000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2012 2,602,668
20V331000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2013, 2014 2,147,323
16V384000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010, 2011 1,892,343
25V695000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2015 1,448,655
18V167000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR 2014–2018 1,301,986
23V162000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2013–2018 1,280,726
19V001000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010–2012 782,384
14V597000 AIR BAGS 2013, 2014 746,842
17V024000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2012 654,695
16V875000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT 2013–2015 603,392
19V904000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2010 600,166
15V250000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM 2013–2015 487,301

+ 22 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2013 were reported at a median of 23,250 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Lincoln MKZ years should you avoid?
2013, 2015, 2011 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Lincoln MKZ model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Lincoln MKZ?
2018 is the best-scoring Lincoln MKZ model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 87.3 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Lincoln MKZ have?
34 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Lincoln MKZ model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2013 MKZ
Complaints in window
68
Severity-weighted
105.5
Model median (weighted)
69
vs model median
1.52×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
13
Open investigations
1
Score 43.7 D