2016 Lincoln MKZ problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
56,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 63 complaints (17.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 23.8% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 19.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Steering | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 |
Electrical System: 11; Steering: 11; Service Brakes: 10; Air Bags: 9; Unknown Or Other: 6; Engine: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Back Over Prevention: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 35 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 5; 2022: 6; 2023: 12; 2024: 6; 2025: 12; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10881524 · 2016-06-29 (June 29, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH MOTION SENSORS TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN AN OBJECT WAS NEAR, BUT THEY FAILED TO OPERATE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10881524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11426947 · 2021-07-29 (July 29, 2021)
The contact owned a 2016 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while exiting her employer's parking lot when the vehicle began to accelerate independently and she started to smell a burning smell. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she was depressing the brake pedal to the floor and pressed the Park button but the vehicle continued to accelerate and move forward. The contact also stated the steering wheel seized when she crashed into a wooden guard rail, a metal fence, and a chain-link fence. The air bags did not …
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11426947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11082522 · 2018-04-02 (April 2, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V167000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED ALLAN VIGIL FORD AT [phone removed] (LOCATED AT 6790 MT ZION BLVD, MORROW, GA 30260) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11082522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11209161 · 2019-05-22 (May 22, 2019)
A VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE A CAR DID THE SAME IN FRONT OF THEM. I BRAKED SUDDENLY BUT IT FELT LIKE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING PUSHED FROM BEHIND, MY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SO DID THE SIDES. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BEFORE THE IMPACT BLINDING ME AS I REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT. I SUFFERED BURNS, BRUISES, NECK INJURIES AND LOWER BACK PAIN. I WAS DRIVING NO MORE THAN 25-30 MILES PER HOUR. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOST AND I HAD OWNED IT FOR LESS THAN A YEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,006 miles reported. Look up ODI 11209161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11339642 · 2020-07-16 (July 16, 2020)
PTU (POWER TRANSFER UNIT) KEEPS FAILING INITIALLY LINCOLN STATED IT WASN'T A SERVICEABLE PART. NO DRAIN PLUG PRESENT. IF LEFT UNCHECKED OR SERVICED BY SUCKING OUT THE OIL THAT GETS BURNT BECAUSE OF HEAT FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WITH ONLY 1 QUART OF 70/140 FUILD IT COULD SEIZE UP AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THE PTU COULD EITHER BUST OPEN OR LOCK UP CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT AS THE PTU IS JUST THE THE RIGHT OF THE GAS PEDDLE UNDER YOUR FOOT. SIMCE THERE ISN'T A FIX FORM THIS PART IT MUST BE WARRANTIED FOR LIFE …
Owner-reported narrative. 31,159 miles reported. Look up ODI 11339642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11686595 · 2025-09-11 (September 11, 2025)
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while shifting into reverse(R), the image on the rear-view camera was frozen or distorted. The contact stated that on other occasions the screen was black. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the back over prevention camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevent…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11686595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11597690 · 2024-06-29 (June 29, 2024)
My power steering electric system doesn’t work, the steering gear motor may have detached from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11597690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11726289 · 2026-03-23 (March 23, 2026)
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became loose, and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The contact stated that the front end made an abnormal humming sound. The vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist functionality. The contact pulled over, and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (Steering); however, the VIN was n…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11726289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11280857 · 2019-11-18 (November 18, 2019)
HEATED SEAT MODULE PROGRAMMING PUT OUT TOO MUCH CURRENT AND MELTED WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE SEAT. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T START A FIRE. THE CALIBRATION FIRMWARE HAS AN UPDATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT I WAS UNAWARE BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL OR SERVICE WARNING. IF THEY HAVE A FIX FOR IT, WHY NOT NOTIFY FOLKS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN I SMELLED BURNING. A VIDEO FROM THE DEALER CAN BE SEEN HERE: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/1AVTHV3T_XG
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11280857 at NHTSA ↗