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moderate Owners of the 2017 Lincoln MKZ have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 MKZ | 6 |
| 2014 MKZ | 8 |
| 2015 MKZ | 16 |
| 2016 MKZ | 11 |
| 2017 MKZ (this page) | 15 |
A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00. The brake rotors should only be machined if directed by the WSM because one or more of the following conditions are present on the braking surface: scoring, excessive corrosion/rust or pitting, bluing/discoloration and/or heat spots. For additional information, refer to WSM section 206-00.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00. The brake rotors should only be machined if directed by the WSM because one or more of the following conditions are present on the braking surface: scoring, excessive corrosion/rust or pitting, bluing/discoloration and/or heat spots. For additional information, refer to WSM section 206-00.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT Parts Requirements / Ordering Information: Part numbers for Edge and MKX vehicles have been added. Edge and MKX model year updated from 2018 to 2019, build dates remain the same.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2015-2018 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement Submitting Owner Letters
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain 2015-2018 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement In some of the affected vehicles, brake fluid may leak from one or both front brake flexible hoses. If the brake fluid reservoir is depleted below a predetermined level, the brake fluid warning indicator light will illuminate. The driver may experience an increase in pedal travel together with a reduction in the rate of deceleration over time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The dominant failure is front brake hose rupture or burst, typically occurring between 47,000 and 80,000 miles. Owners report the brake pedal suddenly loses pressure, requiring the pedal to be pressed to the floorboard to achieve any braking effect. Braking distance extends significantly. In one case at 117,000 miles, rear brake lines rusted severely enough to burst completely, causing total fluid loss. The ruptures happen at crimped sections or from general line deterioration.
Critical: most owners get no dashboard warning until after fluid has begun leaking. One owner had brake failure on a service road near Interstate 35E during rush hour with two children in the vehicle—the brake line ruptured at the crimping point. Another owner experienced complete fluid loss within two miles of home.
Lincoln MKZ models received NHTSA Campaign 23V162000 for defective brake hoses. However, multiple owners report being notified of the recall but unable to schedule repair because parts remain unavailable from the dealer network—some complaints cite this delay exceeding a reasonable timeframe. One case involved rear hoses replaced after rusted failure; front hoses were replaced per the recall notice dated 9/26/2023. A separate collision mitigation braking system failure was also reported, where automatic emergency braking failed to engage despite radar detecting an obstacle.
Same Lincoln MKZ brakes reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016
Front driver-side or front left brake hoses develop ruptures or burst, typically at the crimped section or due to deterioration, causing immediate loss of brake fluid and braking pressure.
When: 47,000–80,000 miles; one case at 117,000 miles (rear lines)
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of brake pedal pressure feedback; Brake pedal travels to floorboard with little to no response; Extended braking distance; Visible brake fluid pooling in wheel well or on ground; Low brake fluid warning light/message on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Front driver-side brake rubber hydraulic line replacement; front hoses replaced per recall 23V162000 (9/26/23); rear brake lines severely rusted through and replaced at 117,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) issued for 2017 Lincoln MKZ; parts unavailable for extended period, delaying repairs across multiple owner complaints
Complete or near-complete loss of hydraulic brake pressure during normal driving, with brake pedal becoming unresponsive until pressed to the floor, and no dashboard warning until after fluid loss is underway.
When: Reported at 30–45 MPH road speeds; 71,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal does not respond immediately to depression; Pedal must be pressed to floorboard to achieve any braking; No warning light illuminated before failure occurs; Low brake fluid message appears during or shortly after loss of pressure; Prolonged stopping distance
Repairs/costs cited: Brake line replacement; towing required in at least one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Campaign 20V469000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) in one case; another manufacturer stated vehicle was not included in a recall despite similar failure pattern
Brake pedal produces abnormal squeaking noise during depression; underlying brake system fault persists despite multiple repair attempts including brake pad and rotor replacement.
When: 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal squeaking sound when brake pedal is depressed; Brake failure despite repairs; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Brakes and rotors replaced twice; failure persisted and vehicle was not successfully repaired
Automatic emergency braking function fails to engage brake application when the collision avoidance radar system detects an obstacle, despite audible and visual warning being present.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Audible and visual warning triggers but no brake application follows; Brake pedal does not pump up (unlike when radar cruise control slows the vehicle); Failure reproducible when following a turning vehicle too closely; System fails when a vehicle cuts off the driver at low speed
Brake pads develop cracks, causing odd noise and smell during backing up.
When: 1/17/2017 at time of discovery
Symptoms owners cite: Odd noise during backing up; Unusual smell during backing up
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads replaced 1/17/2017
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
Based on the 15 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 71,286 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.
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.