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2014 Lincoln MKZ problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
22%
26 of 124 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2014 Lincoln MKZ. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 22% of relevant complaints.

Better than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2014 Lincoln MKZ have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 26 of 124 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Lincoln MKZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). For comparison, the 2013 scores 27% and the 2015 scores 17%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
26
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
124
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
14
13 crashes · 8 injuries

Complaints by component

STEERING26 · 21%
SERVICE BRAKES22 · 18%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 · 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER13 · 10%
HYDRAULIC12 · 10%
ENGINE10 · 8%

The years either side

2010
16%
10 of 169
2011
18%
18 of 185
2012
15%
17 of 205
2013
27%
29 of 121
2014
22%
26 of 124
2015
17%
14 of 95
2016
18%
10 of 70
2017
71%
106 of 155
2018
65%
22 of 37
2019
too few complaints
2020
too few complaints
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2014 compares with other Lincoln MKZ years

Of the 9 Lincoln MKZ years with enough complaints to score, the 2014 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (22%). The worst is the 2017 (71%), the best the 2012 (15%). By volume, the 2014 drew 124 complaints (26 drivetrain), against 121 for the 2013 and 95 for the 2015.

Lincoln MKZ years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2014 Lincoln MKZ

  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE04/18/2023CRASH1 INJURED
The contact's friend owned a 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that while she was driving at approximately 43 MPH, a loud bang was heard coming from near the front passenger area, and then the tires and brakes seized, causing the vehicle to swerve and the contact then crashed into a guard rail. The check engi…

One of 26 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2014 Lincoln MKZ transmission recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Lincoln MKZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: automatic transmission13V594000 · Nov 2013

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid vehicles manufactured April 26, 2012, through September 24, 2013. Due to a manufacturing error, the transmission range sensor may not function properly allowing the affected vehicles to be shifted out of the Park position without first applying the brake pedal. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform with the requirements of…

Risk: Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll which may result in a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with new software, free of charge. The recall began on January 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…

13 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings23V162000 · Mar 2023
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, hydraulic: pedals and linkages22V011000 · Jan 2022
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 Mustang vehicles originally sold or ever registered, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida,…
latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch20V331000 · Jun 2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and…
exterior lighting: headlights20E025000 · Apr 2020
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…
latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch20V177000 · Mar 2020
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,…
steering: electric power assist system19V632000 · Aug 2019
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,…
steering: steering wheel/handle bar18V167000 · Mar 2018
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.
latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch17V210000 · Mar 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Fiesta, 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to…
seat belts: front16V875000 · Dec 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14,…
steering: electric power assist system15V250000 · Apr 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to March 20, 2015, and 2015 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured…
latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch15V246000 · Apr 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013,…
air bags14V597000 · Sep 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to…
seats: front assembly: recliner14V164000 · Apr 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2014 Lincoln MKZ? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2014 Lincoln MKZ

Does the 2014 Lincoln MKZ have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 26 of 124 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Lincoln MKZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2014 Lincoln MKZ?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2014 Lincoln MKZ is steering: 26 of 124 complaints (21%) name it, followed by service brakes (22) and electrical system (18). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 22% of the relevant total.

Is the 2014 Lincoln MKZ reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 22% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 9 Lincoln MKZ years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2014 Lincoln MKZ?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Lincoln MKZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 in total: 13V594000 (power train: automatic transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Lincoln MKZ years are better?

Among the Lincoln MKZ years we track, the 2012 (15%), the 2010 (16%) and the 2015 (17%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (22%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/lincoln-mkz

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.