Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2014CAREFULSerious complaints 1.7× usual, mostly steering and brakes Extended coverage
86 serious complaints of 124, the most about steering (26) and brakes (12); per car on the road, 1.7× this model's usual year. 14 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA21002: desiccated air bag inflator rupture. NHTSA investigation RQ19005: door latch failures.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2014 lincoln mkz. After restarting the engine, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The messages 'service advance trac" and "steer assist fault' were displayed. The cause of the failure was not determined.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the steering, Apr 2019
“The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but went to the floorboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the brakes, Jul 2022
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage Ford/lincoln: there is an extended warranty coverage for the loss of abs speed signal related communication that disable obdii system monitors for pcm reprogramming. (CSP-14N02, Aug 2014)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
124 owner complaints · 14 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 21–38 mpg · NHTSA: 5 of 5 stars · 2014 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 188–240 hp; 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 188–240 hp; 3.7L 6-cyl, 300 hp · Drive: AWD, FWD
2014 MKZ trims
| Hybrid |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Lincoln reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Lincoln aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 188–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 188–245 hp 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 350 hp | AWD, FWD | 20–41 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 3 | Unknown or other (1) | Yes |
| 2019 | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 188–240 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 188–240 hp 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 350 hp | AWD, FWD | 20–41 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 22 | Engine (7) | Yes |
| 2018 | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 188–240 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 188–240 hp 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 350 hp | AWD, FWD | 20–40 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 37 | Engine (12) | Yes |
| 2017 | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 188–240 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 188–240 hp 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 350 hp | AWD, FWD | 20–40 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 155 | Engine (78) | Yes |
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 188–240 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 188–240 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 300 hp | AWD, FWD | 20–40 mpg | 5 of 5 | 7 | 70 | Steering (12) | No |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 188–240 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 188–240 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 300 hp | AWD, FWD | 21–40 mpg | 5 of 5 | 11 | 95 | Electrical system (20) | No |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 188–240 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 188–240 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 300 hp | AWD, FWD | 21–38 mpg | 5 of 5 | 14 | 124 | Steering (26) | No |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 141 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 141 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 300 hp | AWD, FWD | 21–38 mpg | 5 of 5 | 13 | 121 | Steering (19) | No |
| 2012 | 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid, 191 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 263 hp | AWD, FWD | 19–38 mpg | 4 of 5 | 6 | 205 | Air bags (85) | No |
| 2011 | 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid, 191 hp 3.5L 6-cyl, 263 hp | 4WD, FWD | 19–38 mpg | 4 of 5 | 7 | 185 | Air bags (84) | No |
| 2010 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 263 hp | AWD, FWD | 19–21 mpg | Not rated | 9 | 169 | Air bags (96) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Apple lists CarPlay for: MKZ 2017–2020 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 2 |
| 2020 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 2 |
| 2020 | Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 20 |
| 2019 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 20 |
| 2019 | Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 0 | 11 |
| 2018 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 35 |
| 2018 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 35 |
| 2018 | Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 4 | 138 |
| 2017 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 4 | 138 |
| 2017 | Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 4 | 115 |
| 2016 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 7 | 64 |
| 2016 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 7 | 64 |
| 2016 | Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 7 | 55 |
| 2015 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 11 | 83 |
| 2015 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 11 | 83 |
| 2015 | Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 10 | 76 |
| 2014 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 14 | 97 |
| 2014 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 14 | 97 |
| 2014 | Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 14 | 114 |
| 2013 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 13 | 109 |
| 2013 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 13 | 109 |
| 2013 | Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 13 | 115 |
| 2012 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 4 | No | No | 6 | 146 |
| 2012 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 4 | No | No | 6 | 146 |
| 2012 | Lincoln MKZ Hev 4 DR FWD | 4 | No | No | 6 | 204 |
| 2011 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 4 | No | No | 7 | 185 |
| 2011 | Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 4 | No | No | 7 | 185 |
| 2011 | Lincoln MKZ Hev 4 DR FWD | 4 | No | No | 7 | 183 |
| 2010 | Lincoln MKZ 4-DR. w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 9 | 169 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo |
20–23 |
| 2020 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo |
21–24 |
| 2020 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 41 |
| 2019 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo |
20–23 |
| 2019 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo |
21–24 |
| 2019 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 41 |
| 2018 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo |
20–23 |
| 2018 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo |
21–24 |
| 2018 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 40 |
| 2017 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo |
20–23 |
| 2017 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo |
21–24 |
| 2017 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 40 |
| 2016 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
20–25 |
| 2016 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
21–26 |
| 2016 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 40 |
| 2015 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
21–25 |
| 2015 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
21–26 |
| 2015 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 40 |
| 2014 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
21–25 |
| 2014 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
22–26 |
| 2014 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 38 |
| 2013 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
21–25 |
| 2013 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
22–26 |
| 2013 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 38 |
| 2012 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 19 |
| 2012 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 21 |
| 2012 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 38 |
| 2011 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 19 |
| 2011 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 21 |
| 2011 | MKZ Hybrid FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.5 L | 38 |
| 2010 | MKZ AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 19 |
| 2010 | MKZ FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 21 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.