Home · 2014 Lincoln Mkz Hev · Complaints

What 113 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Lincoln Mkz Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (113)Crash / fire / injury (12)Steering (22)Brakes (21)Electrical system (17)Fuel system (13)Engine (10)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Wheels (8)Body & structure (7)Latches & locks (6)Backup camera & sensors (4)

12 of 113 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Apr 18, 2023BrakesEngineCrash1 injury

The contact's friend owned a 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that while she was driving at approximately 43 MPH, a loud bang was heard coming from near the front passenger area, and then the tires and brakes seized, causing the vehicle to swerve and the contact then crashed into a guard rail. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that only the front passenger air bag had deployed. The contact stated that she required medical attention and had sustained a concussion. A police report was available. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was totaled. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11517657

Mar 30, 2019SteeringCrash2 injuries

I WAS DRIVING DOWN OGEECHEE ROAD IN MY CITY AND THE TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN. SO I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WENT OUT. I RAN I TO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL

NHTSA ODI 11192642

Mar 1, 2019BrakesCrash1 injury

TRIED TO STOP AT INTERSECTION AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. KEPT PUSHING DOWN ON BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET STILL COULD NOT STOP. I SLAMMED INTO BACK OF A TRUCK AT INTERSECTIONCAUSING BAD DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I WANT FORD LINCOLN MOTOR CO. TO PAYFOR DAMAGES AND REPAIR MY CAR. IT WAS NOT MY FAULT AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR CAR TO BE FIXED WHAT ABOUT LIABILITY INSURANCE? IT WILL ALSO RAISE MY INSURANCE NOW BECAUSE EVERYONE THINKS IT WAS MY FAULT. I WAS TOOK TO HOSPITAL AND DID NOT GET TO TELL MY SIDE OF WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS ON INTERSTATE COMING UP TO RED LIGHT. STARTED TRYING TO STOP BECAUSE LIGHT WAS RED I COULD NOT STOP NO MATTER WHAT I DID AND ENDED UP SLAMMING INTO BACK OF TRUCK PRACTICALLY DESTROYING MY CAR IN THE PROCESS. I WANT MY CAR FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11183344

Feb 28, 2019BrakesCrash1 injury

BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK KEPT TRYING USING BOTH FEET AND WOULD NOT STOP CAR. ENDED UP HITTING TRUCK IN REAR CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I DO NOT WANT MONEY I WANT MY DAMAGES TO BE PAID SO MYCAR WILL BE BACK LIKE IT WAS BEFORE. WHAT CAN I DO WHEN MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND TO ME FRANTICALLY TRYING TO STOP?I WAS GOING DOWN AN INTERSTATE COMING UP TO INTERSECTION TRUCK WAS IN FRONT AND I SLAMMED INTO THE REAR WITH THE FRONT OF MY MKZ.

NHTSA ODI 11183055

Feb 28, 2019BrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FULL FORCE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND WAS ALSO REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. CAVENAUGH FORD LINCOLN, LLC (2000 E HIGHLAND DR, JONESBORO, AR 72401) WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 11183243

Sep 5, 2017Speed controlCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AFTER THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND PELVIS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SANTA MONICA FORD LINCOLN OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA. THE DEALER REQUESTED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE IN THE VEHICLE BE EXAMINED. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11021628

Apr 14, 2015Speed controlFuel systemCrash

ABOVE IS FIRST TIME NOTED. CAR WILL GO INTO GEAR ON ITS OWN (WHEN THE GREEN BLINKING, OR ACCESSORY LIGHT IS ON CAR'S ENGINE IS NOT ON & NO BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED). THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH ME OUT OF CAR, OTHER PASSENGERS IN CAR, VALET MOVING CAR FOR ME),,,,,,THIS IS "DRIVING MISS DAISEY" WITHOUT A MORGAN FREEMAN (CHAUFER). CAR WILL ROLL ON ITS OWN. INTO DEALER 3 TIMES BUT NOT FIXED. DANGEROUS CAR. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN "PARK" OR ACCESSORY MODE (BLINKING GREEN LIGHT" & NO FOOT ON BRAKE AND NO ATTEMPT TO START CAR....JUST USING ACCESSORY (I.E. TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW). IT HAPPENS WITHOUT THE SOLID GREEN ICON LIGHT ON (OR READY TO DRIVE) AND WIT NO FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705677

Jan 10, 2015WheelsCrash

ON NOVEMBER 25, 2014 , A RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS REPAIRED BY THE LOCAL LINCOLN DEALERSHIP. ON JANUARY 8, 2015 A SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT. IT BLEW IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER WITH SUCH FORCE AS TO LIFT THE VEHICLE OFF THE GROUND AND SPIN IT IN THE AIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671605

Jan 9, 2015BrakesCrash

I WAS TRAVELING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE CAR WOULD NOT REACT I THEN APPLIED BOTH FEET STANDING ON THE PEDAL ANNOUNCING I WASN'T STOPPING AND NUDGED INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT LEFT ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND NONE TO THE ONE I HIT. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE BRAKES SEEMS TO WORK AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY REVIEWED THE ISSUE FOR A FEW DAYS AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SAID EVERYTHING TESTED FINE. I FRANKLY DO NOT TRUST THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND WILL NOW ONLY DRIVE IT MYSELF. I AM A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER AND FORMER EMPLOYEE OF NHTSA REGION 8 WITH 20 YEARS OF CRASH RECONSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE AND I HAVE NEVER PERSONALLY HAD A BRAKE FAILURE SO IT IS CONCERNING. I WANTED TO SUBMIT THE REPORT FOR TRACKING PURPOSES IN CASE OTHERS ENCOUNTER THE PROBLEM OR THEIR IS A FUTURE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671234

Oct 2, 2014Transmission & drivetrainCrash

NEW 2014 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID BOUGHT ON 12/12/14 GOES INTO GEAR WHILE IN PARK WITHOUT PRESSING BRAKE AND WITH BLINKING GREEN LIGHT ON (ACCESSORY MODE & NOT DRIVE). FROM INITIAL PURCHASE 9NOW 9 MONTHS AGO) THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A COUPLE OF DOZEN TIMES - THERE ARE WITNESSES (INCLUDING PASSENGERS RIDING IN THE CAR) WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. CAR IS DANGEROUS AT 0 MPH. FORD/LINCOLN APPARENTLY HAD A RECALL ON MKZ HYBRIDS FOR THIS PROBLEM SUPPOSEDLY FOR MODELS MFG. IN MEXICO (THRU OCT. 2013 ?)......WELL THIS ONE CAR WAS MISSED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES NOW BUT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10640799

Jun 25, 2014Speed controlEngineFuel systemCrash

CAR ROLLS ON ITS OWN WITHOUT DEPRESSING BRAKE OR ENGAGING ANY GEAR. VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS ABOUT 5 TIMES IN PAST 6 MONTHS AND TWICE IN THE LAST 6 WEEKS. CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AT "ANY SPEED" SINCE IT "RUNS" ON ITS OWN. FORD SHOULD RENAME THIS MKZ HYBRID VEHICLE EITHER: DMD FOR "DRIVING MISS DAISY" OR UAS FOR "UNSAFE AT ZERO" PUF FOR "PURE UNADULTERATED FICTION" FORD HAS LIED ABOUT CAR PERFORMANCE (ADVERTISED 45 MPG CITY + HIGHWAY FOR BOTH 2013 & 2014 HYBRID MODELS) WHEN I ONLY GET ABOUT 60% OF THAT - 28 MPG (DOCUMENTED) IN ORDER TO GAIN MARKET SHARE (HYBRIDS ESP. LEXUS). FORD BLAMES ITS OWN WIND TUNNEL TESTS FOR OVERSTATED MPG (MAYBE TESTED WITH HURRICANE SANDY AT THEIR BACK). NOW, THIS CAR DRIVES ITSELF, A NICE SAFETY FEATURE HUH ? AND, FORD NEVER ISSUED ME ANY RECALL ON ITS UNIQUE "INVISIBLE CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN" VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10605807

Apr 16, 2014Transmission & drivetrainCrash

COPY OF EMAIL TO FORD MOTOR ON APRIL 16, 2014: WE RECENTLY LEASED A 2014 LINCOLN MKZ. THE NEW PUSH BUTTON SHIFT CONTROL THAT WE ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO, RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH $1187 WORTH OF DAMAGES TO THE FRONT END. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE BUILDING/DRAIN PIPE WE HIT DID NOT SUSTAIN DAMAGE REQUIRING A POLICE REPORT OR INSURANCE CLAIM. SUMMARY: CAR LEASED FROM STAR LINCOLN ON FEBRUARY 22ND. WHILE DRIVING TO FLORIDA ON MARCH 22ND WE STOPPED FOR GASOLINE/COFFEE. AFTER FILLING THE CAR I WENT INSIDE THE SERVICE STATION. MY WIFE SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED THE CAR FROM THE PUMP AREA TO THE PARKING AREA IN FRONT OF THE SERVICE STATION. SHE THEN STOPPED THE CAR WITH THE BRAKE AND THOUGHT THE CAR WAS THEN IN PARK. UPON TAKING HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD HITTING THE BUILDING CORNER AND KNOCKING DOWN THE DRAIN PIPE. FIVE MORE FEET OVER, SHE WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THE SERVICE STATION WINDOW SO WE CONSIDER OURSELVES LUCKY. MY WIFE AND I ARE EXPERIENCED, LONG TIME DRIVERS AND FIND THE PUSH BUTTON SHIFT CONTROL INITIALLY CONFUSING. IN FACT WE ARE NOW BOTH SAYING ALOUD WHEN WE STOP TO PARK, PUSH PARK AND THEN OFF. I DO PLAN ON REPORTING THIS INCIDENT TO NHSTA TO SIMPLY BE ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. TO NHTSA- WE REALIZE THIS IS A MATTER OF DRIVER ERROR AND NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE BY AUTOMOTIVE COMPANIES TO HELP DRIVERS BE MORE ADEPT AT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10583172

Working with the data? Download all 113 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Lincoln Mkz Hev verdict →