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The 2014 Lincoln MKZ has 97 NHTSA owner complaints and 14 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2014 Lincoln MKZ has 97 NHTSA owner complaints and 14 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 25 complaints, typically surfacing around 64,489 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 MKZ | 184 | 7 |
| 2012 MKZ | 146 | 6 |
| 2013 MKZ | 108 | 13 |
| 2014 MKZ (this page) | 97 | 14 |
| 2015 MKZ | 76 | 11 |
| 2016 MKZ | 63 | 7 |
| 2017 MKZ | 131 | 4 |
Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2014 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: steering is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 64,489 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 14 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
While turning a corner the power steering went out and became extremely heavy, almost unable to turn the wheel to complete the turn. A notification came on from the car indicating "service advance trac" and "steering assist fault service required". *js
An electrical overload occurs below the passengers seat, burning out the electrical connector, requiring a costly repair and can be a fire hazard. This is the second time this vehicle had this electrical problem and has required repair. The dealer has confirmed this problem, but…
When I read about the steering wheel bolt recall in june 2018 I checked the condition of my steering wheel bolt and discovered it was loose and was the bad design that was being recalled. I waited for a recall notice that never came and when I checked with dealer in december…
I was heading to work and I didn't see any issue on my dashboard that something is wrong with the car. I drove the car three blocks and the car stopped all of sudden while I was in driving mode. I call the dealer and they told me to tow the car to them. The dealer calls me the…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
A separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously, causing confusion to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash. On automatic transmission vehicles, a missing brake pedal bumper can allow the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. EA21002 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.0 out of 10 based on 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Lincoln MKZ has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
The 2014 Lincoln MKZ is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Steering: 25 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 53,000–78,000 mi; Reliability score 5.0/10 — around the segment average; 14 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 25 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 64,489 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 5.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 97 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 64,489 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 25 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 64,489 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 64,489 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 97 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.