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2015 Lincoln MKZ problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
17%
14 of 82 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 17% of relevant complaints.

Better than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 15%).

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 2015 Lincoln MKZ have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 82 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Lincoln MKZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (17%). For comparison, the 2014 scores 22% and the 2016 scores 18%. 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
14
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
95
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
11
6 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20 · 21%
SERVICE BRAKES17 · 18%
BACK OVER PREVENTION13 · 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 9%
STEERING8 · 8%
HYDRAULIC8 · 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 2015 compares with other Lincoln MKZ years

Of the 9 Lincoln MKZ years with enough complaints to score, the 2015 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (17%). The worst is the 2017 (71%), the best the 2012 (15%). By volume, the 2015 drew 95 complaints (14 drivetrain), against 124 for the 2014 and 70 for the 2016.

Lincoln MKZ years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2015 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

ENGINE12/14/2025
While driving vehicle the engine shut down for no apparent reason. Light came on said do not attempt to drive, not safe. Was able to get car to a safe area. Was able to restart and get the car home. Brought the car to the dealer, said battery was dead, found water in the truck where the battery is located

One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2015 Lincoln MKZ engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns on the 2015 Lincoln MKZ, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.

11 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
back over prevention: sensing system: camera25V695000 · Oct 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and…
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,…
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,…
seat belts: front19V590000 · Aug 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor…
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.
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…
exterior lighting: headlights15V248000 · Apr 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 17, 2014, to March 19, 2015, and equipped with daytime running lights (DRL). In the affected…

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 2015 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 2015 Lincoln MKZ

Does the 2015 Lincoln MKZ have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 82 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Lincoln MKZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (17%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2015 Lincoln MKZ is electrical system: 20 of 95 complaints (21%) name it, followed by service brakes (17) and back over prevention (13). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 17% of the relevant total.

Is the 2015 Lincoln MKZ reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 17% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 9 Lincoln MKZ years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. 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 2015 Lincoln MKZ?

No. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns on the 2015 Lincoln MKZ, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Lincoln MKZ years are better?

Among the Lincoln MKZ years we track, the 2012 (15%) and the 2010 (16%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (17%). 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.