Lincoln MKZ reliability by year
5 recalls and 1,662 owner complaints across 14 model years. Best year to buy: 2018. Year to avoid: 2012.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 14 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the MKZ aggregated across 14 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Lincoln MKZ?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2018 Lincoln MKZ scores 8.4/10 — the strongest in the 2007–2020 range. 26 complaints on file, 0 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.
Which Lincoln MKZ year should I avoid?
The 2012 Lincoln MKZ scores 7.4/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 146 owner complaints with NHTSA, 1 active recall. That doesn't mean every 2012 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.
Which years of the Lincoln MKZ should I avoid?
No Lincoln MKZ model year currently rises to an "avoid" or "high-risk" verdict on the NHTSA data — either the record is clean or sample sizes are still too thin for a confident call. The year-by-year breakdown below shows what's on file regardless.
How many years of the Lincoln MKZ are tracked?
14 model years (2007 through 2020) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 5 recalls and 1,662 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Lincoln MKZ?
airbags is the most-reported category — 652 complaints across 8 model years. Average shop repair runs about $1,100.