The Used Car Index

2018 Lincoln MKZ problems

NHTSA lists 35 complaints for the 2018 Lincoln MKZ, 1 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as LINCOLN MKZ.

At a glance

Complaints
35
With crash
1
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
1,301,986
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
137

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE1234.3%
POWER TRAIN925.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER514.3%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING38.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25.7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING25.7%
LANE DEPARTURE25.7%
AIR BAGS12.9%
BACK OVER PREVENTION12.9%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE12.9%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
BACK OVER PREVENTIONREARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING1
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGHEADLIGHTS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDELIVERY1
LANE DEPARTUREBLIND SPOT DETECTION1
LANE DEPARTUREWARNING1
STRUCTUREBODY1
VISIBILITYSUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
mechanical failure1337.1%0.74
fluid or fuel leak822.9%0.61
fire or overheating411.4%0.68
loss of control411.4%0.92
electrical electronic38.6%0.83
restraint or airbag12.9%0.79
unclear12.9%1.00
visibility or lighting12.9%1.00
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate2057.1%0.79
low1234.3%0.79
high25.7%0.88
none12.9%0.63

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 35 tagged complaints of 35 complaints (100.0%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

23V162000

Date: 2023-03-10. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

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

Consequence: 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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

18V167000

Date: 2018-03-12. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.

Consequence: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S08.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

RQ22004

Opened: 2022-08-08. Closed: 2023-03-24.

Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures

On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 50 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging front brake jounce hose ruptures on model year (MY) 2013-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A ruptured front brake hose results in a brake fluid leak. As a result, the driver may experience an increase in pedal travel and a reduction in the rate of

Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Linked campaign numbers: 23V162000.

Manufacturer communications

137 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
EQUIPMENT33
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING22
POWER TRAIN18
SEATS9
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY7
ENGINE6
STRUCTURE5

11025837

Date: 2025-11-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone co

11025611

Date: 2025-11-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN.

Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of th

11010950

Date: 2024-11-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Various vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or a 3.0L gas engine may require a crankshaft bolt replacement during repairs. Various vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or a 3.0L gas engine may require a crankshaft bolt replacement during repairs.

11008948

Date: 2024-10-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

11001174

Date: 2024-05-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty

10251952

Date: 2024-03-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford has evaluated turbochargers replaced for oil leak symptoms and although oil may coll

10251934

Date: 2024-03-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical. Incorrect torque may allow the bolt to loosen resulting in the timing gear breaking and engine damage. Replacement of the bolt

10241627

Date: 2023-08-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

In various 2017-2023 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, customers may receive a message in the FordPass or LincolnWay App stating Feature Unavailable. Since this is a fleet vehicle, it cannot access the (SYNC Connect) FordPass or LincolnWay app through the TCU Embedded Modem. If this message appears, the ve

10235153

Date: 2023-04-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affe

10233587

Date: 2023-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Some 2018-2019 Edge/Continental, 2018 MKX and 2019 Nautilus vehicles built on or before 1-Aug-2019 and 2018-2019 Fusion/MKZ vehicles built on or before 15-Aug-2019 equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost or 3.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an oil leak from the engine oil pan RTV seal. To correct the condition

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
MKZ35

Same model, other years

All model years | All Lincoln models

Other Lincoln models, 2018

Sources

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