Recalls
6campaigns
2 latch · 2 steering · 1 brake
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
64filed
Owner reports, 2011–2020 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
5★overall
★★★★★ Frontal 5★ · Side 4★ · Rollover 4★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
26mpg combined
$2,512/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
2 L 4-cyl· 6-speed automatic
4 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (6)
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Doors May Open While Driving
Latches/locks/linkages · doors · latch
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-177.
32% repairedof 45,173 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 23V775000
Listed for 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Front Brake Hoses May Rupture
Service brakes, hydraulic · foundation components · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
- Consequence
- 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.
44.7% repairedof 1,280,726 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 23V162000
Listed for 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Doors May Open While Driving
Latches/locks/linkages · doors · latch
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and 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 within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
- Consequence
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15.
64.1% repairedof 288,110 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 20V177000
Listed for 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Steering Gear Motor May Detach
Steering · electric power assist system
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
- Consequence
- If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.
63.7% repairedof 116,160 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 19V632000
Listed for 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Steering Wheel may Detach
Steering · steering wheel/handle bar
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
76.8% repairedof 1,301,986 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 18V167000
Listed for 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Fuel Tank may Crack in a Crash/FMVSS 301
Fuel system, gasoline · storage
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 13, 2015, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have insufficent wall thickness. As a result, the fuel tanks may crack in the event of a crash and thus the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
- Consequence
- A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C11.
88.2% repairedof 658 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 15V618000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (64)
64 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
8involved a crash
0involved a fire
6injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 64 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 14 | 21.9% |
| Steering | 12 | 18.8% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 17.2% |
| Air bags | 9 | 14.1% |
| Engine | 6 | 9.4% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 9.4% |
| Back over prevention | 5 | 7.8% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 4.7% |
| Wheels | 3 | 4.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 3.1% |
How 2016 compares with other MKZ years
Best and worst MKZ years →2011145
2012146
2013109
201497
201583
201664
2017139
201835
201920
20202
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 145 | 5 |
| 2012 | 146 | 5 |
| 2013 | 109 | 12 |
| 2014 | 97 | 13 |
| 2015 | 83 | 10 |
| 2016 | 64 | 6 |
| 2017 | 139 | 4 |
| 2018 | 35 | 2 |
| 2019 | 20 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 |
This year (2016)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 4★★★★★★
Side crashDriver 3★ · Passenger 5★★★★★☆
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 10.9%★★★★☆
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Lincoln MKZ 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
26
mpg combined
22
city
33
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 341 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
$2,512per year
$209per month
577gallons a year
Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 33 / 26 | $2,600 | 341 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 25 | $2,700 | 357 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 27 / 21 | $3,200 | 415 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 20 | $3,350 | 450 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 MKZ for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2016 Lincoln MKZ FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Lincoln MKZ have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns: 23V775000 (latch), 23V162000 (brake), 20V177000 (latch), 19V632000 (steering), 18V167000 (steering), 15V618000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Lincoln MKZ problems?
Owners filed 64 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (14), Steering (12), Electrical system (11) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Lincoln MKZ get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 22 city, 33 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2016 Lincoln MKZ get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Lincoln MKZ 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 4 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 MKZ compare with other years?
Among the 2011–2020 Lincoln MKZ model years at least five years old, the 2020 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2012 the most (146). The 2016 drew 64. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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