2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a LKS system with customer complaints of steering wheel vibration, steering pull or vehicle drift may be due to an alert and/or steering aid input from the LKS. The LKS system detects unintentional drifting toward the outside of the lane and alerts and/or aids vehicle to stay in the lane. Be sure the customer understands how the lane departure warning feature settings work for Alert (steering wheel vibration) and Aid (steering input toward lane center). Further information on the LKS can be found in the owners manual. If the customers concern is due to the LKS functioning as intended, do not attempt to repair.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Lincoln MKZ steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Lincoln MKZ have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 MKZ | 20 |
| 2013 MKZ | 16 |
| 2014 MKZ | 25 |
| 2015 MKZ | 7 |
| 2016 MKZ (this page) | 12 |
| 2017 MKZ | 6 |
| 2019 MKZ | 3 |
What stands out
Steering accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
When connecting the Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) and Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) or Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) to the DLC located on the driver side under the steering column at the GWM, make sure that the ignition is off before connecting the VCM. If the ignition is on or the engine is running during the connection, it can result in various warning lights being illuminated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), no start, no crank conditions or the IPC inoperative. If a vehicle displays these issues, disconnect the equipment from the DLC and disconnect the vehicle battery. Wait 10 minutes and reinstall with the ignition off. Clear any DTCs present and retest.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SOME 2010-2016 EPAS EQUIPPED VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT STEERING RELATED NOISES. THE WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED IN SECTION 211-02. WHEN DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING EPAS STEERING NOISES USE THE UPDATED PROCEDURES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WHEN HOOKING UP THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION MODULE (VCM) AND INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) TO THE DLC LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE GWM, MAKE SURE THAT THE IGNITION IS OFF BEFORE CONNECTING TO IDS. IF THE IGNITION IS ON OR THE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING THE HOOK UP, IT CAN RESULT IN VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), NO START OR NO CRANK CONDITIONS OR THE CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. FOR LINCOLN VEHICLES, THIS INFORMATION IS NOW LISTED IN THE TECHNICAL INSPECTION AND POST ROAD TEST SECTIONS OF EPDI ON THE PTS WEBSITE. IF A VEHICLE DISPLAYS THESE ISSUES, DISCONNECT THE EQUIPMENT FROM THE DLC AND REINSTALL WITH THE IGNITION OFF
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗WHEN HOOKING UP THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION MODULE (VCM) AND INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) TO THE DLC LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE GWM, MAKE SURE THAT THE IGNITION IS OFF BEFORE CONNECTING TO IDS. IF THE IGNITION IS ON OR THE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING THE HOOK UP, IT CAN RESULT IN VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), NO START OR NO CRANK CONDITIONS OR THE CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. FOR LINCOLN VEHICLES, THIS INFORMATION IS NOW LISTED IN THE TECHNICAL INSPECTION AND POST ROAD TEST SECTIONS OF EPDI ON THE PTS WEBSITE. IF A VEHICLE DISPLAYS THESE ISSUES, DISCONNECT THE EQUIPMENT FROM THE DLC AND REINSTALL WITH THE IGNITION OFF
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the electronic power steering system fails without warning, rendering the steering wheel extremely difficult or impossible to turn—a dangerous situation especially at lower speeds where power assist matters most. Failures occur between 53,000 and 110,000+ miles. The loss of assist is sometimes preceded by friction or grinding noises from the steering assembly, and accompanied by multiple dashboard alerts (Service auto trac, drive control faults, steering assist faults, hill start unavailable).
Repairs typically involve replacing the steering rack assembly or steering gear box assembly, with reported costs ranging from $3,600 to $4,156. NHTSA recalls 19V632000 and 18V167000 address steering issues on some 2016 MKZ models, but owners report their vehicles are excluded from recall databases despite experiencing identical failures—forcing out-of-pocket repairs. One owner encountered a steering motor detachment. Another experienced the problem recurring after dealership fuse replacement. One failure occurred shortly after a bolt replacement under recall 19R02. In at least one case, the vehicle also exhibited unrelated electrical faults including transmission shifting to neutral during reversing and an inoperative emergency brake, suggesting possible deeper electrical system involvement.
Same Lincoln MKZ steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering loss / Electronic power steering failure
Loss of electronic power steering assist while driving, making the steering wheel become difficult or impossible to turn. Owners report the failure occurs at various speeds and renders the vehicle unsafe to operate without significant physical effort.
When: 53,000 to 110,000 miles; some failures noted soon after recall work (19R02) was performed
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering assist functionality; Steering wheel becomes very difficult to turn in either direction; Steering wheel locked or becomes 'wobbly'; Abnormal humming sound from front end; Vehicle becomes difficult to steer, requires excessive effort especially at lower speeds
Codes mentioned: Service advanced track message on instrument panel, Service headlights message on instrument panel, Hill start unavailable alert, Service auto trac alert, Drive control and steering assist fault messages
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack assembly replacement ($3,600–$4,156 reported); steering gear box assembly replacement with 2 tie rods and alignment; dealership diagnosis reported faulty steering rack; independent mechanic could not diagnose or repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA recall campaigns 19V632000 (Steering) and 18V167000 (Steering); recall 19R02 (Bolt replacement) noted; some vehicles reported as not included in recall database despite experiencing identical failure; parts unavailability reported for 18V167000
Steering motor detachment / Gear motor failure
The steering gear motor detaches or fails, resulting in complete loss of power steering assist. Requires significant steering effort, especially at lower speeds where power assist is most critical.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering electric system; Steering wheel requires greater effort to turn
Repairs/costs cited: Steering motor repair or replacement implied
Steering rack assembly failure
Steering rack assembly develops internal faults, sometimes accompanied by friction or grinding noise when turning the steering wheel, progressing to complete loss of steering control.
When: 65,870 miles (one case); grinding noted soon after recall 19R02 bolt replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Friction or grinding noise when turning steering wheel; Loss of physical steering ability; Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack assembly replacement ($4,156 with additional tie rod and alignment work)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA recall 15V340 (Ford No. 15S18) affecting 393,623 vehicles; owner notes no recalls exist for same issue on MKZ vehicles built after 2012
Steering control system faults with multi-system alerts
Steering assist loss occurs in conjunction with multiple electrical system faults, including brake/gas pedal feedback anomalies and transmission shifting issues. Dealership initially attributed to a fuse but problem persisted.
When: Lower speeds and during reversing maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: Bounce back in brake or gas pedal at lower speeds; Loss of power steering; Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn; Transmission shifts to neutral on its own during reversing; Emergency brake inoperative (unable to release); Multiple dashboard alerts (Hill start unavailable, Service auto trac, others)
Codes mentioned: Hill start unavailable, Service auto trac
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership initially replaced a fuse; issue recurred
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Owner of 2016 MKZ Hybrid 65870 miles Loss of electronic power steering and Advance Trac Soon after replacement of Bolt under recall 19R02 I heard friction/grinding when turning steering wheel. Oct 1, 2021 I contacted Parks Lincoln of Tampa for a diagnostic and they told me the steering rack assembly would need to be replaced. On November 6,2021 I lost physical steering ability. I had my car towed…
Our power steering went out while driving into town. I'm lucky my husband was driving because it was so hard to turn the car to get to a safe location. Honolulu Ford stated we have a faulty steering rack and there is a recall for this issue 19V632000 but our car is not on the recall because the state we purchased is not listed. We purchased the car in Alaska and we currently live in Hawaii. We…
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Lincoln MKZ?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2016 Lincoln MKZ?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 66,158 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Lincoln/MKZ.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.