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Model-year record

2018 Lincoln MKZ
Image: Wikimedia Commons contributor · See source file

2018 Lincoln MKZ

See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.

This page shows records, not a buy or avoid call.

The same model year can include a well-kept car and a neglected one. Use these records to plan what to check. Use the specific-car check when you know the mileage.

Complaints filed

33

Reports to NHTSA, 2018

Safety recalls

2

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

23

EPA estimate

Known issues

Power Train issues lead owner complaints (27% of 33 reports), followed by engine (18%).

Power Train27% · 9 reports
Engine18% · 6 reports
Unknown Or Other12% · 4 reports
Service Brakes9% · 3 reports
Electrical System6% · 2 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling6% · 2 reports
Air Bags3% · 1 report
Exterior Lighting3% · 1 report

+ 5 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 33 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11747716, ODI 11710990, ODI 11707404, ODI 11663894, ODI 11640579.

Individual complaint reports(33)

Showing the 33 most recent reports
EngineJul 2026 · ODI 11748460Details +

The engine light came on. The car suddenly wouldn’t go past 35 mph . Thankfully I was on a local road. I had it towed to the dealer and was told that the engine needed to be replaced because coolant leaked into the engine. There were no warning lights except the day of . The car did not give any indication of a leak. Nor was it running hot. Everything was functioning fine.

Reported
Jul 2026
Incident date
Jun 2026
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11748460 at NHTSA →
Power TrainJul 2026 · ODI 11747716Details +

Scanned codes P0741, P1450, P1744, & P2196. Check the transmission fluid level and condition. No fluid drained from hole, added a little fluid, and retrieved a sample of the fluid. The fluid is very dark. Identifix states, if the fluid smells or has the appearance of being black due to internal clutch slippage, the transmission should be replaced or overhauled. If the transmission fluid is in good condition and found to be at the proper level, monitor the Torque Converter Clutch actual slip (TC_SLIPACT) and TCC desired slip (TC_SLIPDSD) PIDs through the scan tool as the vehicle is driven noting these reading should stay relatively closed together expecting the reading to show to be within 10 RPM of each other. Seeing the values spread apart supports the setting of the P0741 and P1744 codes. Note that excessive TCC slip can be caused by multiple internal factors including mechanical failure of the TCC solenoid, an issue of a valve body component that does not hydraulically react to the activation of the solenoid, a leaking valve body gasket, a leaking input shaft seal, or failure of the torque converter seal. There are no external testing measures that can be taken to verify any of these as the specific cause of the concern. Per the test drive, the difference between actual and desired TCC slip was 100-125 rpm.

Reported
Jul 2026
Incident date
Apr 2026
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11747716 at NHTSA →
Fuel/Propulsion SystemJul 2026 · ODI 11747721Details +

Scanned codes P0741, P1450, P1744, & P2196. Hard starts after fuel refills.

Reported
Jul 2026
Incident date
Apr 2026
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11747721 at NHTSA →
EngineJun 2026 · ODI 11746143Details +

My 2018 Lincoln MKZ began misfiring on startups. Eventually the check engine light came on with a code of P0302. About a week later while driving, the engine temp gauge reached the hottest temp reading on the gauge. I had to immediately pull over. Upon pulling over I immediately checked the coolant level in the overflow reservoir and it was empty. After refilling with coolant I was able to drive the car home. Over the next few days I monitored the coolant level but at the same time the car was experiencing rough startups and smoke coming out of the exhaust upon startup. Sometimes turning the engine off and restarting it would stop the smoke, but sometimes it wouldn't. I began doing some research and discovered, Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 19-2346, which explains my exact experience with my 2018 Lincoln MKZ. I have yet to take my car to the dealership for repairs due to the costs that are expected to have this issue resolved. Documents in the legal case, Miller, et al. v. Ford Motor Company (Case No. 2:20-cv-01796) claim that Ford was aware of this defect in their vehicles dating back to 2010. I purchased my 2018 Lincoln MKZ back in 2019.

Reported
Jun 2026
Incident date
Jun 2026
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11746143 at NHTSA →
Unknown Or OtherJun 2026 · ODI 11743958Details +

My Check Engine Light came on, I took my car to the dealership that I have using for eight years with less than 38k miles on it and I was told by the service technician who gave the diagnose as, there was coolant in the cylinder where the spark plug #3 is housed. He stated that the car is misfiring and I was told I needed to get an new engine replace to correct the problem. I was given a Service Bulletin stating the manufacturer knew of the problem with this model. I talk to the dealership service manager and questioned why no indication, clue, or suggestion was told to me of the problem with that type of engine. I have not contact my insurance company and I don't if they have information on the problem of the engine problem. I did tell the service technician on routine maintenance for the car that is running "rich" in using gas. In May of this year is when the engine problem started, 3 weeks before actually being eight years officially, no other indication lights came. I drive to work on the streets and freeway everyday.

Reported
Jun 2026
Incident date
May 2026
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11743958 at NHTSA →
Power TrainJan 2026 · ODI 11710990Details +

The car had an internal transmission failure and caused most of the transmission fluid to leak out between inspections. Upon removing the cv axle on driver’s side, the seal was fine and replaced along with cv axle. The fluid drained and was only about half a liter (needs about 4.5L normally). After servicing the transmission fluid, the dealership did their assessment and came to the following conclusion. “ Good Afternoon Sir We found the transmission system requires replacement due to an internal fault, including damage to the transfer shaft and bearings, with potential additional internal damage. Replacing the transmission can help restore smooth gear shifting and overall drivetrain functionality. To replace the transmission, you are looking at $9000.00 out the door. My apology on taking much longer to diagnose this properly. If you have any other questions please let me know. ” The drastic transmission failure which makes noises and engages and disengages while on cruise control shows the failure internally. Many metal pieces were found among the fluid when drained. This could and still can easily leave someone on the middle of the road with no time to drive to the shoulder. Car still has less than 100k miles with the severe transmission failure and the fluid leak which occurred prior to the transmission making noise. Essentially, the internal components caused the leak which the caused even more damage. I’m quoted $9,000 for the repair which occurred really early in the car’s life. I do a lot of longer trips away from home and can easily be left stranded in the middle of nowhere or even cause huge accidents when in heavy fast moving traffic if I lose drivability or if metal components fly off. The cv axle moves in and out of the transaxle side meaning the shaft can pop off as well.

Reported
Jan 2026
Incident date
Dec 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11710990 at NHTSA →
Power TrainDec 2025 · ODI 11707404Details +

Car only has 97K miles and the transmission fluid has been leaking for some time causing loud noises from the transmission which took time to locate. The transmission leaked fluid and only had about half a liter of fluid when it should be around 4.5 liters. The fluid leaked from the transmission on the driver cv axle seal. The car shows no lights on dash of any kind. I discovered the leak after the noises were really bad while driving one day. I put the car on my ramps and got under and discovered the driver cv axle damaged and looked like electrical tape was jammed in the cv axle near the transfer case/transmission. Upon closer inspection the leak of transmission fluid was even more obvious. There is no dip stick for the transmission so I decided to drain and see and there is evidence of only about half a liter of fluid. The fluid is black and full of metal particles. This is concerning because the depth of damage is unknown until the car is repaired; this repair would include a new seal, cv axle and fluid replacement. There is no way to know what internal damage was done and this was such a short period of time. Periodic inspections are conducted on the vehicle when oil changed are completed. This can easily lead to transmission failure and the risk is exponential due to it happening regardless of where you are on the road with the unknown weather and road conditions. Miles reflected is when the leak was discovered after the noises. 97,839 miles.

Reported
Dec 2025
Incident date
Dec 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11707404 at NHTSA →
WheelsDec 2025 · ODI 11707406Details +

Wheel lug nuts get swollen due to the material used causing problems when the wheels need to be removed. I was lucky to not be in an emergency situation needing to change a wheel out. This could have easily happened and I would have been unable to change a wheel on the side of the road. I went to Costco to get my tires changed and they refused to take the wheels off because the wheel lug nuts were ALL swollen and could cause issues on removal or/and installation. They were afraid of stripping the hardware during removal or being unable to torque to spec during installation. The replacement of the wheel lug nuts with parts that wont recreate the problem was about $90 and taking an extra day for the tire replacement appointment plus me replacing it on my own saved on labor.

Reported
Dec 2025
Incident date
Nov 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11707406 at NHTSA →
EngineNov 2025 · ODI 11701761Details +

Check engine light came on. Error code 0302 and 0316 on ODB at dealer. Was advised that engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion into cylinder 2 which cause the vehicle to overheat. Engine has 3200 miles on it. Safety hazard due to engine seizing at high speed and causing an accident due to loss of power. Also possible engine fire due to loss of coolant/overheating.

Reported
Nov 2025
Incident date
Nov 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11701761 at NHTSA →
EngineAug 2025 · ODI 11682914Details +

Coolant Intrusion of Cylinder 3, car has less than 50,000 miles total and has been very well taken care of. Has had over a gallon of coolant added within the month of Aug

Reported
Aug 2025
Incident date
Aug 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11682914 at NHTSA →
Power TrainMay 2025 · ODI 11663894Details +

My 2018 Lincoln MKZ with the 2.0 Ecoboost Engine incurred premature engine failure at ONLY 40k miles. My safety as well as other drivers' safety at risk due to EcoBoost Engine in certain model year 2013-2019 Ford and Lincoln vehicles have an inherent design defect which makes them predisposed to leak coolant, including allowing the coolant to seep into the engine cylinder, which causes overheating and cylinder head cracking, and can cause the engine to misfire, suddenly stall, or even catch fire while driving. In April the car began to "shake" at start up. The shaking was intermittent. After a few days of this, the check engine light came on. I took it to the mechanic (T&H) to have it looked at. They said the "shaking" is the car misfiring at start up. They were not able to locate any leaks or identify the cause of the misfire. They code on the check engine light was Code P0301-Cylinder #1. During April and May the misfires have continued and got worse. I was going back and forth to T&H trying to diagnose the issue. On May 12th, while taking the kids to school, I went to pull out into traffic and the car would not accelerate. The dashboard lights said the engine was overheating. The car would not go above 10mph. Luckily my mechanic is down the street. They were concerned about excessive use of coolant and not seeing a leak anywhere. They filled the coolant, and I made a follow up appt in one week to do a borescope inspection. On May 19th, T&H did a Borescope inspection and visually confirmed coolant in cylinder #1. They provided me a copy of a TSB 22-2229 that states the engine block needs to be replaced. The cost of the engine block replacement was estimated at $8k. Engine failure at 40k miles is unacceptable. An engine block replacement due to a manufacturing/design flaw should be covered by Lincoln Motor Co as a goodwill repair regardless of warranty status.

Reported
May 2025
Incident date
May 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11663894 at NHTSA →
Power TrainFeb 2025 · ODI 11640579Details +

I own a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The vehicle Engine overheating warnings came up, and I took the car to the dealership. They informed that the Lincoln MKZ vehicle had a frequent problem with coolant leaking into the engine due to faulty power train assembly. The dealer has seen and repaired hundreds of vehicles with this problem. Lincoln company denies responsibility for this manufacturing defect. The vehicle is only 7 years 3 months and 30 days old with 67914 miles used by single owner. A reputed company like Lincoln should be held responsible for manufacturing and marketing vehicles where the power train and engine fails on a fairly new vehicle.

Reported
Feb 2025
Incident date
Feb 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11640579 at NHTSA →
Power TrainJan 2025 · ODI 11634568Details +

Initially when buying the vehicle in 2021, it had 30k miles. Car continued to give me a "cylinder 2 misfire code" after numerous trips to different garages and then the car beginning to start up rough and anti freeze missing i came across a "service bulletin" regarding it being a faulty ring in the engine. I took the vehicle to Ford and they replaced the engine. My car just hit 100k miles All of the sudden one day when trying to stop at a red light the car was shaking . There was no codes and only happened while in drive and at a red light or stop sigh:( complete stop) I took the card to Ford, who diagnosed it and open up my tranny and found out there was no fluid ,was burnt and had metal in it. There is still no code on my dash board and i need to pay 7k to replace a transmission. The fluid is housed internally , there was no leaks, and no codes was thrown on the dash. How was i to know transmission fluid was leaking and wher was it going?

Reported
Jan 2025
Incident date
Jan 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11634568 at NHTSA →
Engine And Engine CoolingOct 2024 · ODI 11618089Details +

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was a coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.

Reported
Oct 2024
Incident date
Oct 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11618089 at NHTSA →
Engine And Engine CoolingSep 2024 · ODI 11612211Details +

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the engine light illuminated. While the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Reported
Sep 2024
Incident date
Aug 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11612211 at NHTSA →
EngineJul 2024 · ODI 11605553Details +

I have been told by a ford mechanic on 7.11.2024, 6 weeks before buying the car that there is coolant intrusion in cylinder 2 and the only fix to this would be to replace the long block that cost a little over 8k, some how some way this vehicle dont have any recalls about this well known issue. This in no way should be on the customer due to a defect by Ford engine in there vehicles.

Reported
Jul 2024
Incident date
Jul 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11605553 at NHTSA →
Unknown Or OtherFeb 2024 · ODI 11574587Details +

Upon driving north on rt. 95 in GA our pan Aramaic moonroof unexpectedly exploded. There was no apparent reason. No debris was present and environmental conditions were not extreme. ( sunny day about 72 degrees F) . The explosion was very loud and alarming creating a risk of losing control of the vehicle. Bodily injury could have resulted if the moon roof cover was open and chards of glass were shot into the vehicle. We have not contact the manufacturer yet , but plan to. There was absolutely no warning of this. It was sudden, unexpected and explosive. The tempered glass was shattered and glass was missing from all along all 4 sides of the moon roof. Very scary. I assume this is due to a manufacturing defect.

Reported
Feb 2024
Incident date
Feb 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11574587 at NHTSA →
EngineJan 2024 · ODI 11568920Details +

I own a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. Starting the second week in January I started to notice a strange smell in the cabin of my car and outside of my car. I told my husband that I was smelling something strange, and he noticed that the exhaust was a billowy white smoke. My husband noticed that this was not a good sign. We also noticed that my Lincoln app was saying there was a misfire in cylinder 2. My husband checked my coolant and saw that my coolant reservoir was completely empty. My husband added coolant and informed me that we would need to take the car to the shop. By the following week ([XXX]) my husband checked my coolant again and saw that my reservoir was empty again and my app was saying cylinder 2 was misfiring again. On Tuesday [XXX], we took the car to the Suburban Ford of Waterford to have my car looked at. On Wednesday [XXX], the dealership called my husband and informed him that I would need a new engine in my car because the coolant is leaking into cylinder and mixing with the oil which is causing the misfire in cylinder 2. The dealership informed us that this was a problem that Ford and Lincoln had with the 2.0 and 1.5 engines for the MKZ and Fusion. The 2018 MKZ was affected by this problem. The dealership informed us that Ford/Lincoln replaced the engines after they noticed the problem, but they said my car must have had the older engine that had the problem. As you can imagine I was very upset to hear that my car, which is only six years old, would need a new engine. Not only was I upset to hear this, but I am also upset about possibly shouldering the financial burden of a new engine when this is a manufacturing problem that is no fault of my own. Also, since Ford/Lincoln knew about this issue why did they not send out a recall notice about this issue? I have found out that the oil mixing with the coolant causes corrosion in the cylinders. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Reported
Jan 2024
Incident date
Jan 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11568920 at NHTSA →
Power TrainDec 2023 · ODI 11558661Details +

Torque converter stuck off pcm code 6f35 transmission vin look up doesn't show recall but it has same transmission installed with the same problem as 2017 model

Reported
Dec 2023
Incident date
Dec 2023
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11558661 at NHTSA →
Fuel SystemNov 2022 · ODI 11493450Details +

2018 LINCOLN MKZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO FAULTY FUEL PUMP. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP.

Reported
Nov 2022
Incident date
Nov 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11493450 at NHTSA →
VisibilityOct 2022 · ODI 11491140Details +

On 10/20/2022 while driving the sun roof exploded. Nothing hit the roof. The glass shatter all around the perimeter of the roof. The sound was like a shot gun blast next to your ears. Fortunately, the shattering glass did not cause a wreck or injury. The Ford garages I called stated I would have to pay for the damage. It seems this is not an uncommon occurance.

Reported
Oct 2022
Incident date
Oct 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11491140 at NHTSA →
Service BrakesOct 2022 · ODI 11489631Details +

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving 15-20 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle was slow to respond. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle however while driving and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

Reported
Oct 2022
Incident date
Sep 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11489631 at NHTSA →
Exterior LightingApr 2022 · ODI 11460682Details +

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving at night at approximately 35 MPH, the low beam light's visibility was blinding and made the vehicle unsafe to drive. The vehicle was diagnosed at a local dealer with a headlight failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,300.

Reported
Apr 2022
Incident date
Apr 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11460682 at NHTSA →
Service BrakesApr 2022 · ODI 11460684Details +

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving approximately 3 MPH, the brakes locked up. The ABS warning light was flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000.

Reported
Apr 2022
Incident date
Mar 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11460684 at NHTSA →
Air BagsFeb 2022 · ODI 11453923 · crashDetails +

I had a accident almost a year ago if not longer. I hit a deer on the freeway they couldn’t understand why my airbags didn’t deploy. They say the bar was cracked in two different spots that makes the airbag deploy. Luckily my car wasn’t total for that reason. But I always wondered why my airbags didn’t deploy ? I thought I should let you know that .

Reported
Feb 2022
Incident date
Feb 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
Crash
Open ODI 11453923 at NHTSA →
Lane DepartureAug 2021 · ODI 11429526Details +

This is [XXX] my customer is missing and has been missing since 7:45pm 8/17/21 by this vin number i was wondering if you could put a trace on the vin number 3LN6L5D92JR[XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Reported
Aug 2021
Incident date
Aug 2021
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11429526 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemNov 2020 · ODI 11374359Details +

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE WINDOW SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW, THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

Reported
Nov 2020
Incident date
Nov 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11374359 at NHTSA →
Unknown Or OtherJan 2020 · ODI 11299439Details +

IF YOU ARE ON A HILL SUCH AS A DRIVEWAY AND YOU TURN YOUR CAR ON TO ACCESSORY MODE AND THEN FORGET YOUR CAR IS NOT TURNED ON YOU CAN PUT YOUR CAR INTO GEAR. IF YOU PUT YOUR CAR INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR STARTS ROLLING IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO POWER ON THE BRAKES AND CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT IS LOCKED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THERE MAY BE A CHILD BEHIND A CAR AND IT WILL ROLL BACK UNTIL YOU CAN GET IT TURNED OFF. I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN THE CAR IS NOT TURNED ON AND YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BREAK.

Reported
Jan 2020
Incident date
Jan 2020
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11299439 at NHTSA →
Service BrakesOct 2019 · ODI 11269005Details +

BRAKES FADE WHILE WAITING FOR STOP LIGHTS, SOMETIMES BREAK PETAL ALL WAY UP AND OTHER TIMES HALF WAY UP. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW FAR THE PETAL WILL BE WHEN STOPPING, UP OR HALF WAY DOWN. FADES WHEN WAITING, PUT IN NEUTRAL IF LONG LIGHT.

Reported
Oct 2019
Incident date
Aug 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11269005 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemOct 2019 · ODI 11265585Details +

REAR LIFT GATE ASSEMBLY CENTER LED STRIP IS FILLED WITH WATER. THIS CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN THE REVERSE LIGHTS TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS MA INSPECTION AND HAS BEEN CITED FOR THIS INFRACTION. NO DAMAGE TO LIFT GATE, EITHER A PART OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

Reported
Oct 2019
Incident date
Jul 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11265585 at NHTSA →
Unknown Or OtherAug 2019 · ODI 11245947 · 1 injuriesDetails +

DRIVER CAME TO PICK ME UP. DRIVER STOPPED, HE THOUGHT HE PUSHED PARK BUTTON. STARTED TO GET OUT OF CAR. GOT LEFT FOOT ON GROUND, SWUNG RIGHT FOOT OUT AND CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. CAR DOOR KNOCKED HIM DOWN, CATCHING LEFT FOOT BETWEEN DOOR AND FRAME. CAR STARTED DRAGGING DRIVER DOWN STREET IN REVERSE. I HAD TO RUN AROUND DOOR, PUT CAR IN PARK. DRIVER DRAGGED BETWEEN 5-10 FEET(EST). DRIVER ENDED UP WITH FRACTURED LEFT ANKLE, 3 BROKEN BONES IN LEFT FOOT, ABRASIONS ON RIGHT SHOULDER AND LEFT ELBOW, HEMATOMA ON RIGHT LEG. CAR WAS ON A VILLAGE PAVED STREET, IN REVERSE INSTEAD OF PARK. IT WAS DARK , THE DRIVER THOUGHT HE PUSHED THE PARK BUTTON BUT EVIDENTLY PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE BY MISTAKE. CAR STARTED ROLLING WHEN HE TOOK RIGHT FOOT OFF BRAKE.

Reported
Aug 2019
Incident date
Aug 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
1 injuries
Open ODI 11245947 at NHTSA →
Power TrainJun 2019 · ODI 11218137Details +

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT SWITCHED GEARS AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OLATHE FORD LINCOLN (1845 E SANTA FE ST, OLATHE, KS 66062) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Reported
Jun 2019
Incident date
Feb 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11218137 at NHTSA →
Power TrainMay 2019 · ODI 11206840Details +

UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT HAS STALLED SEVEN TIMES. TWO OF THOSE INCIDENTS INVOLVED VEHICLE GOING INTO PARK WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PARK BUTTON. AS IT WAS SHIFTING INTO PARK, THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS 'FIGHTING' GOING INTO PARK. THEN THE VEHICLE DIED. ON AT LEAST FIVE OTHER OCCASIONS, IT JUST DIED. NOTHING INDICATING ON MY WAY APP, OR AT SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR LOCAL LINCOLN DEALERSHIP. THIS BEGAN ONE WEEK AGO YESTERDAY AND WITHOUT PATTERN, HAS CONTINUED. UPON RETURN FROM LINCOLN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, ISSUE RESURFACED THIS MORNING WHEN IT WENT INTO PARK WHILE DRIVING.

Reported
May 2019
Incident date
May 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11206840 at NHTSA →

Recalls(2)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

Service BrakesOct 2023 · 23V162000Details +

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

Risk: 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.

Open full NHTSA recall record →
SteeringDec 2018 · 18V167000Details +

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.

Risk: 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.

Open full NHTSA recall record →

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

1 NHTSA investigation on record

Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.

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 deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash. It should be noted that the subject vehicles identified fell outside the scope of NHTSA Safety Recall 20V-469, which addressed front brake hoses rupturing on certain MY 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The result causes a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needing to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.On March 10, 2023, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted to NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-162 (Ford Recall 23S12) to address front brake jounce hoses that may rupture. Ford found the rupture occurs from a localized failure of the internal reinforcement braid due to cyclic fatigue through tensile/bending and torsional inputs during suspension and steering articulations. The supplier for the front brake jounce hoses is Hitachi. This recall affects the subject vehicles equipped with non-hybrid engines and the suspect front brake jounce hoses (a total of 1,280,726 vehicles). The recall covers subject vehicles built from February 3, 2012 to July 19, 2017 when the suspect hoses were used in vehicle production. The remedy is for dealerships to replace both front brake jounce hoses with new hoses that have a revised braid material at no cost. The vehicles equipped with hybrid engines are excluded from the recall because the internal hose pressure is much lower due to the regenerative braking provided by the hybrid brake system. No failures of brake hoses on hybrid vehicles have been reported to ODI or Ford.Ford's actions address ODIs concerns at this time. Hybrid vehicles will be monitored for related failures. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by new circumstances.The 103 ODI numbers cited above can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ID numbers:11511014, 11510867, 11510318, 11509030, 11505993, 11504989, 11504400, 11502147, 11502082, 11501820, 11501283, 11498439, 11498296, 11496842, 11496335, 11494931, 11494851, 11494252, 11493001, 11492084, 11492070, 11491444, 11491274, 11488858, 11488027, 11487627, 11487416, 11487233, 11486150, 11484924, 11484526, 11484080, 11483948, 11483926, 11483739, 11483723, 11482773, 11482690, 11481077, 11480788, 11480294, 11480052, 11479338, 11479334, 11479252, 11479247, 11479187, 11479094, 11479048, 11478985, 11478953, 11478729, 11478216, 11476892, 11476282, 11470558, 11468994, 11467109, 11466294, 11462746, 11461217, 11456065, 11455367, 11444848, 11436419, 11436376, 11430685, 11428329, 11425083, 11421026, 11420738, 11420735, 11420298, 11418197, 11403926, 11397549, 11366991, 11366757, 11361016, 11359968, 11354569, 11352165, 11350344, 11348799, 11343929, 11343205, 11331947, 11329020, 11319596, 11310529, 11292271, 11288455, 11254787, 11253479, 11253244, 11234622, 11230669, 11230050, 11228240, 11221111, 11143630, 11129392 and 11120228.

Crash-test ratings

2018 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
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2018 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD NHTSA source

Overall
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Side
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Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
MKZ Hybrid FWD2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive413840
MKZ FWD2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive213124
MKZ AWD2.0L 4-cylAll-Wheel Drive202823
MKZ FWD3.0L 6-cylFront-Wheel Drive182721
MKZ AWD3.0L 6-cylAll-Wheel Drive172620

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

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Compare the year-by-year record

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2018 Lincoln MKZ: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2018 Lincoln MKZ?

Owners filed 33 NHTSA complaints about the 2018 Lincoln MKZ. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Lincoln MKZ?

The most-reported problem areas are Power Train (27% of complaints) and engine (18%).

How many recalls does the 2018 Lincoln MKZ have?

2 recalls have been issued that affect the 2018 Lincoln MKZ, covering components such as service brakes. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Lincoln MKZ get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Lincoln MKZ between 20 and 40 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.