Research · Midsize Cars

2016 Lincoln MKZRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 64 owner complaints for the 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Most complaints involve steering (12) and electrical system (11). The EPA rates it 20–26 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
20–26mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
7campaigns
Latest Nov 2023
Owner complaints
64
Top: steering
Fuel cost / yr
$2,400est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

7 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Latches

Free remedy

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.

Latches/locks/linkagesReported Nov 17, 2023NHTSA 23V775000

Service brakes

Free remedy

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

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Mar 10, 2023NHTSA 23V162000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Replacement Headlamps, part number DP5Z-13008-T and DP5Z-13008-V, sold for use with 2013-2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The headlamps may have an improper beam pattern and incorrect horizontal adjustment, the side markers may not illuminate and DOT markings may be missing. As such, these headlamps fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Exterior lightingReported Apr 24, 2020NHTSA 20E025000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

64 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jun 2016 – Sep 2026
  1. Steering12
  2. Electrical system11
  3. Service brakes10
  4. Air bags9
  5. Engine6
  6. Back over prevention5
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  8. Wheels3
  9. Seat belts3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each MKZ model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2007259
2008281
2009114
2010170
2011185
2012146
2013109
201498
201584
201664
2017140
201836
201921
20202
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Steering

12 reports
“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 not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2026SteeringODI 11726289

Electrical system

11 reports1 crash
“regarding the rear view camera. It stopped working intermittently and now it shows the picture inverted (backwards) I see an extensive list of vehicles that have been recalled, but my vin is not listed. How do I get this repaired?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2026Electrical systemODI 11723217

Service brakes

10 reports4 crashes
“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the brake light had remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the vehicle was unoccupied. In addition, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter independently shifted out of park. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failed brake pedal bumper stop. The contact was informed that the brake pedal bumper stop was detached and caused the brake light to remain illuminated. The contact was advised to contact the dealer. The contact was informed of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2026Service brakesODI 11750514
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 3.7L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
MKZ FWD
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
223326$2,400341
MKZ AWD
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
223125$2,500357
MKZ FWD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182721$2,950415
MKZ AWD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L · All-Wheel Drive
172420$3,100450
  • MKZ FWD
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    22 city · 33 hwy · $2,400/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • MKZ AWD
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    22 city · 31 hwy · $2,500/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • MKZ FWD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L
    18 city · 27 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • MKZ AWD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
4 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.9%
Overall
5 / 5
Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
4 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 10034Vehicle 10033
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2016 MKZ questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Lincoln MKZ have?

7 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2016 Lincoln MKZ problems?

Owners filed 64 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (12), electrical system (11), service brakes (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2016 Lincoln MKZ get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Lincoln MKZ at 20–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

How safe is the 2016 Lincoln MKZ?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Lincoln MKZ 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026