Lincoln MKZ Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2008 draws 8.03 complaints per run and the 2016 1.69, a 4.8-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 8 years of age, so 89.1% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 668 complaints, typically at 7.7 years.

Lincoln MKZ years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Lincoln MKZ — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2019	1.05	21	20	yes
2018	1.4	35	25	yes
2017	2.01	137	68	yes
2016	1.69	61	36	yes
2015	1.76	81	46	yes
2014	2.11	93	44	yes
2013	2.22	100	45	yes
2012	4.9	142	29	yes
2011	4.14	174	42	yes
2010	6.07	164	27	yes
2009	4.23	110	26	yes
2008	8.03	257	32	yes
2007	7.84	243	31	yes

ROWS 13·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2008 MKZ asks a median $5,400, against $3,000 for a 2009, the next model year: 80% more, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 7 Lincoln MKZ years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2008, 2011, 2013; the three worth hunting are 2016, 2015, 2017.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Lincoln MKZ — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	42	2.6%	covered
1 year	39	5.1%	covered
2 years	42	7.7%	covered
3 years	51	10.9%	covered
4 years	95	16.8%	you pay
5 years	163	27%	you pay
6 years	151	36.5%	you pay
7 years	164	46.7%	you pay
8 years	271	63.7%	you pay
9 years	240	78.7%	you pay
10 years	133	87%	you pay
11 years	95	93%	you pay
12 years	57	96.6%	you pay
13 years	31	98.5%	you pay
14 years	17	99.6%	you pay
15 years	7	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 10.9% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 89.1% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 15% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Air Bags at 7.7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Lincoln MKZ — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Air Bags	668	7.7 yrs	35	1
Service Brakes	286	9.5 yrs	35	—
Engine	152	7 yrs	6	5
Steering	125	6.6 yrs	9	—
Electrical System	116	5.7 yrs	6	4
Unknown Or Other	101	7 yrs	8	2
Power Train	88	6 yrs	9	3
Hydraulic	87	10 yrs	5	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the MKZ's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 3.49 for the MKZ.

FIG.05·Lincoln MKZ — rivals in the same class
Same class as the MKZ	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Camry	20,039	161	1983–2026
Honda Accord	24,369	415	1981–2026
Dodge Challenger	1,696	77	1981–2026
Toyota Prius	12,873	109	2001–2026
Hyundai Elantra	9,090	117	1992–2026
Nissan Altima	15,657	148	1993–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Lincoln MKZ

Recalls97 campaigns Fuel economy41 mpg best Common problems1,706 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space16 cu ft Used prices922 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2007–2020

Frequently asked questions

Is the Lincoln MKZ reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.49 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which MKZ years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2008, 2011, 2013. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2016, 2015, 2017. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do MKZ problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 8 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 7.7 years, followed by Service Brakes.

Will the warranty cover MKZ problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 10.9% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 15% of the complaints here.

Is the MKZ more reliable than the Toyota Camry?

Yes: 3.49 complaints per production run for the MKZ against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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