Lincoln Mkz Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Lincoln Mkz years to avoid are 2011, 2017, 2010: the 2011 alone has 185 NHTSA owner complaints and 34 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by air bags issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2020 and 2019 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-08-28 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 114 | 15 | 7 | — |
| 2010AVOID | 169 | 28 | 9 | — |
| 2011AVOID | 185 | 34 | 7 | — |
| 2012 | 146 | 38 | 6 | — |
| 2013 | 108 | 159 | 13 | — |
| 2014 | 97 | 142 | 14 | — |
| 2015 | 80 | 139 | 11 | — |
| 2016 | 63 | 143 | 7 | — |
| 2017AVOID | 135 | 222 | 4 | — |
| 2018 | 32 | 137 | 2 | — |
| 2019BEST | 19 | 127 | 1 | — |
| 2020BEST | 2 | 82 | 1 | — |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Lincoln Mkz problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Lincoln Mkz are air bags, service brakes, steering, engine. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2011 Lincoln Mkz: 185 owner complaints, 34 service bulletins, 7 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: air bags, steering, service brakes.
2017 Lincoln Mkz: 135 owner complaints, 222 service bulletins, 4 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, power train, service brakes.
2010 Lincoln Mkz: 169 owner complaints, 28 service bulletins, 9 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: air bags, service brakes, hydraulic.
2020 Lincoln Mkz: cleanest recent federal record (2 complaints, 82 bulletins).
2019 Lincoln Mkz: cleanest recent federal record (19 complaints, 127 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Lincoln Mkz?
Based on federal records, the Lincoln Mkz years to avoid are 2011, 2017, 2010: the 2011 alone has 185 NHTSA owner complaints and 34 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by air bags issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2020 and 2019 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Lincoln Mkz?
Among recent model years, the 2020 and 2019 Lincoln Mkz show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Lincoln Mkz reliable?
The Lincoln Mkz's reliability varies by model year. Across 1,150 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2011, 2017, 2010 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2020 and 2019 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Lincoln Mkz?
The most-reported problem areas for the Lincoln Mkz are air bags, service brakes, steering, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Lincoln Mkz before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.