LINCOLN · vehicle model

LINCOLN MKZ

1,957 NHTSA complaints and 35 safety recalls across model years 2007–2020.

Complaints: 1,957
Recalls: 35
Model years: 14

The LINCOLNMKZ appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 1,957 consumer safety complaints and 35 recall campaigns across 14 model years (2007–2020). That averages roughly 140 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 15 investigation files tied to this model, with 1 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

Year	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Deaths	Rating
2020	2	0	0	0	5/5
2019	15	3	0	0	5/5
2018	33	1	0	0	5/5
2017	159	13	5	0	5/5
2016	71	10	0	0	5/5
2015	96	5	0	0	5/5
2014	128	9	0	0	5/5
2013	143	9	3	0	5/5
2012	176	17	5	0	4/5
2011	180	23	8	0	4/5
2010	196	22	0	0	-
2009	129	11	0	0	-
2008	328	20	0	0	-
2007	301	21	3	2	-

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 1,152 in 2017-2021 to 442 in 2022-2026, a fall of 61.6%. That is the 34th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

’07

’08

’09

’10

’11

’12

’13

’14

’15

120

’16

395

’17

316

’18

149

’19

146

’20

146

’21

’22

115

’23

’24

127

’25

’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare LINCOLNMKZ to Similar Vehicles

LINCOLNMKZ vs SATURNOUTLOOK → LINCOLNMKZ vs CHEVROLETAVEO → LINCOLNMKZ vs VOLKSWAGENGOLF → LINCOLNMKZ vs VOLKSWAGENGTI →

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

RQ22004Recall QueryClosed2022-08-08

Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures

RQ21002Recall QueryOpen2021-08-03

Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance

RQ19005Recall QueryClosed2019-12-19

Door Latch Failures

PE17007Preliminary EvaluationClosed2017-10-23

Steering Wheel Fastening Bolt Loosens

EA15002Engineering AnalysisClosed2015-02-27

Door Latch Failure

PE15006Preliminary EvaluationClosed2015-02-27

CNG Fuel Container Burst During A Fire

PE09031Preliminary EvaluationClosed2009-07-13

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT

PE08001Preliminary EvaluationClosed2008-01-08

LOSS OF BRAKE POWER-ASSIST

PE04078Preliminary EvaluationClosed2004-11-19

SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRE

PE04010Preliminary EvaluationClosed2004-01-22

REAR AXLE FRACTURE

View all 15 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the LINCOLN MKZ?▼

The LINCOLN MKZ has received 1,957 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2007 to 2020, with 35 recalls. That averages about 140 complaints per model year.

What years of LINCOLN MKZ are available?▼

PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the LINCOLN MKZ from 2007 to 2020 (14 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.

Does the LINCOLN MKZ have safety ratings?▼

NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many LINCOLN MKZ model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.

What are the most common LINCOLN MKZ complaints?▼

NHTSA complaints for the LINCOLN MKZ are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.

How do I check if my LINCOLN MKZ has been recalled?▼

Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.

Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. LINCOLN MKZ totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.