Home · 2016 Lincoln Mkz Hev · Complaints

What 54 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 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 (54)Crash / fire / injury (8)Brakes (13)Steering (11)Airbags (10)Electrical system (7)Engine (5)Seat belts (5)Wheels (4)Body & structure (2)Fuel system (2)Backup camera & sensors (1)

7 of 54 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Dec 20, 2024Electrical system

I’ve had my car for 7 months and the power steering went out. Not able drive until repaired for $2000.

NHTSA ODI 11631723

Jun 29, 2024SteeringElectrical system

My power steering electric system doesn’t work, the steering gear motor may have detached from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds

NHTSA ODI 11597690

Mar 23, 2023SteeringElectrical system

I was driving on the freeway when the steering on my car became very difficult and “wobbly”. It was hard to keep it going straight. I knew something was wrong and when I got home, I told my husband to check my tires. The next morning I was told that my tires were fine but when we got into the car, this time I got 4 errors regarding the drive control and steering assist fault. The steering wheel was locked and the car was unable to be driven.

NHTSA ODI 11513426

May 7, 2022Electrical systemLightsBrakes

The brake light switch assembly failed. The car's brake light will not go off. Other drivers do not know if you are braking. The dealer can not fix it until next week, meanwhile, it is dangerous to drive. This brake switch assembly is under recall for 2014 MKZ and 2015 MKZ. It looks to be the same assembly on the 2016 MKZ. There was no warning. The brake lights come on while parked in the driveway and won't go off.

NHTSA ODI 11463712

Nov 18, 2019Electrical system

HEATED SEAT MODULE PROGRAMMING PUT OUT TOO MUCH CURRENT AND MELTED WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE SEAT. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T START A FIRE. THE CALIBRATION FIRMWARE HAS AN UPDATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT I WAS UNAWARE BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL OR SERVICE WARNING. IF THEY HAVE A FIX FOR IT, WHY NOT NOTIFY FOLKS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN I SMELLED BURNING. A VIDEO FROM THE DEALER CAN BE SEEN HERE: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/1AVTHV3T_XG

NHTSA ODI 11280857

Jul 17, 2016Electrical systemFuel system

WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE CARPOOL LANE GOING APPROXIMATELY 75-80 MPH IN THE EXPRESS LANE ON THE 405 FREEWAY IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THE VEHICLE WENT INTO SUDDEN DE-EXCELERATION TO 20 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR SHOWED DEFAULT CODES AND NO MATTER WHAT I DID THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 20 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI 10885374

Jun 29, 2016Electrical systemBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH MOTION SENSORS TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN AN OBJECT WAS NEAR, BUT THEY FAILED TO OPERATE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 10881524

Working with the data? Download all 54 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 2016 Lincoln Mkz Hev verdict →