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2016 Lincoln MKZ problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Lincoln MKZ. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 18% of relevant complaints.
Better than 90% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 14%).
Does the 2016 Lincoln MKZ have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 10 of 56 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Lincoln MKZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (18%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 17% and the 2017 scores 71%. 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.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Lincoln MKZ years
Of the 9 Lincoln MKZ years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (18%). The worst is the 2017 (71%), the best the 2012 (15%). By volume, the 2016 drew 70 complaints (10 drivetrain), against 95 for the 2015 and 155 for the 2017.
Lincoln MKZ years to avoid and best years →
2010 MKZ problems · 2011 MKZ problems · 2012 MKZ problems · 2013 MKZ problems · 2014 MKZ problems · 2015 MKZ problems · 2016 · 2017 MKZ problems · 2018 MKZ problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 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
One of 10 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Lincoln MKZ fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Lincoln MKZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 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.
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…
Risk: A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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…
6 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
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 2016 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.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Lincoln MKZ
Does the 2016 Lincoln MKZ have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 10 of 56 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Lincoln MKZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (18%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Lincoln MKZ?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Lincoln MKZ is service brakes: 14 of 70 complaints (20%) name it, followed by steering (12) and electrical system (11). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 18% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Lincoln MKZ reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 18% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 90% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 9 Lincoln MKZ years we score, it ranks 4th-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 2016 Lincoln MKZ?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Lincoln MKZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 7 in total: 15V618000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage). 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 2016 (18%). 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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Check a VINExperimental 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.