Vehicles / Lincoln / MKZ / 2015

2015 Lincoln MKZUNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

80 federal complaints (107 component records) · 10 recall campaigns on file · 3 federal investigations · 133 service bulletins · 7 Canadian recalls
See all 14 model years of the Lincoln MKZ →
Engine
2.0L 4-cyl
Fuel
Regular
Drive
AWD
EPA economy
22 city / 31 hwy
Federal complaints
80
Recall campaigns
10
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Electrical system
16
Brakes
16
Driver assistance
12
Steering
7
Other
7
Air bags
7
Engine & cooling
6
Glass & wipers
5
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Electrical system

16 complaint records
"IN UNDER 4 YEARS/50K MILES BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED 4 TIMES. EVERY TIME THE CAUSE IS A BAD BATTERY AND NOT A DRAW. THERE IS AN UNDERLYING ISSUE WITH THE MKZ ELECTRICAL ARCHITECTURE. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse electrical system parts in the directory →

Brakes

16 complaint records1 crash report
"brake line is leaking, brakes became almost completely unresponsive while driving and was nearly in a serious accident because of it..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →

Driver assistance

12 complaint records
"The electronic parking brake engages on its own and locks causing the rear tire to lock while driving which then causes friction and the tire to smoke heavily which could cause fire or bad accident...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse driver assistance parts in the directory →

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
RQ22004
opened Aug 2022
closed Mar 2023Service Brakes, HydraulicFront Brake Jounce Hose Failures - led to recall 23V162000
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 50 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging front brake jounce hose ruptures on model year (MY) 2013-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
EA21002
opened Sep 2021
OPENAir BagsDesiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L.
RQ19005
opened Dec 2019
closed Feb 2022StructureDoor Latch Failures - led to recall 20V331000
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford...

Recall campaigns

Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.

CampaignComponentSummaryRemedy
25V695000Back Over PreventionFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang...Normally free
23V162000Service Brakes, HydraulicFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.Normally free
22V011000Service Brakes, HydraulicFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 Mustang vehicles originally sold or ever registered, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina,...Normally free
20V177000Latches/Locks/LinkagesFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,...Normally free
19V632000SteeringFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of...Normally free
19V590000Seat BeltsFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.Normally free
18V167000SteeringFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.Normally free
16V875000Seat BeltsFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31,...Normally free
15V250000SteeringFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to March 20, 2015, and 2015 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured February 26, 2015, to...Normally free
15V248000Exterior LightingFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 17, 2014, to March 19, 2015, and equipped with daytime running lights (DRL).Normally free

Transport Canada recalls

Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2023132
2023-03-14
Brakes63,269Issue: On certain vehicles, the front brake hoses could fail and cause a progressive brake fluid leak. If this happens, the driver may experience a change in brake pedal feel and travel. This can cause reduced braking.
2019431
2019-08-27
Steering9,906Issue: On certain vehicles, the bolts that attach the electric power steering assist motor to the steering gear may corrode and break. This could cause a loss of power steering assist.
2019395
2019-08-12
Seats And Restraints4,002Issue: On certain vehicles, the cables that attach the front seat belts could be damaged when the seat belt pretensioners deploy in a crash. As a result, the driver and front passenger seat belts may detach.
2018130
2018-03-14
Steering59,266On certain vehicles, the steering wheel bolt torque retention feature may not fully engage into the steering shaft. If the bolt loosens, the steering wheel may appear to be loose, which could affect vehicle control.
2016601
2016-12-01
Seats And Restraints34,417On certain vehicles, deployment of the driver or front passenger seatbelt pretensioner in a crash may generate internal pretensioner temperatures that can degrade the tensile strength of the outboard seat belt anchor cable.
2015177
2015-04-28
Steering31,193On certain vehicles registered and operated in areas where road salt is used on the roadways during winter months for extended time periods (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland-Labrador),...
2015179
2015-04-28
Lights And Instruments1,066Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices.

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
SSM 54366
Nov 2025
Power TrainSome 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
SSM 53040
Oct 2024
Unknown Or OtherWhile performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
20R01 S1
Aug 2024
Unknown Or OtherCertain 2014-2015 Model Year Fiesta, 2014-2016 Model Year Fusion, MKZ and 2014-2016 Model Year Transit Connect Vehicles Not Covered in Safety Recall: 20S15 or 23S36 Door Latch Replacement and Inspection
SSM 52335
Mar 2024
Engine And Engine CoolingFor 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods.
SSM 52314
Mar 2024
Power TrainDuring service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical. Incorrect torque may allow the bolt to loosen resulting in the timing gear breaking and engine damage.
21B09 S2
Apr 2023
Electrical SystemCertain 2014-2020 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT Program Terms & Urgency / Expiration Date: Program extension until July 31, 2023.
SSM 51536
Apr 2023
StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle.
SSM 51261
Dec 2022
Service BrakesSome Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00.
SSM 51181
Nov 2022
Service BrakesSome 2013-2016 Escape/Fusion/MKZ vehicles may display an error message when updating the All Wheel Drive-ATC Barcode using the IDS service function after installing a new rear drive unit assembly (RDU) or active torque coupling (ATC) clutch assembly.
TSB 22-2396
Oct 2022
Power TrainSome 2013-2020 Fusion, MKZ and 2013-2018 C-Max vehicles equipped with an HF35 transmission may exhibit a thumping/rubbing or grinding noise coming from the transmission.
TSB 22-2381
Oct 2022
Power TrainSome 2015-2018 Fusion/MKZ vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a rattle noise from the transmission bellhousing area. This may be more noticeable at idle. This may be due to a flexplate crack around the mounting area.
SSM 51120
Oct 2022
Service BrakesSome Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00.
22N02 S1
Oct 2022
Service BrakesCertain 2015-2019 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT Parts Requirements / Ordering Information: Part numbers for Edge and MKX vehicles have been added.
22N02
Sep 2022
Service BrakesCertain 2015-2018 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement Submitting Owner Letters
22N02
Aug 2022
Service BrakesCertain 2015-2018 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement In some of the affected vehicles, brake fluid may leak from one or both front brake flexible hoses.
TSB 22-2309
Aug 2022
EquipmentSome 2013-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2013-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2013-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with 8 inch or larger center display screen may be unable to...
22R01 S1
Jul 2022
Electrical SystemCertain 2014 - 2015 Model Year, Fusion and MKZ and 2015 Model Year Mustang Vehicles Brake Stop Lamps Remain On REF: Safety Recall 22S02 Certain 2014 - 2015 Model Year, Fusion and MKZ and 2015 Model Year Mustang Vehicles Brake Stop Lamps Remain On Submitting Owner Letters and...
21B09-S1
Jul 2022
CommunicationCertain 2014-2020 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines - 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit. The North America 3G cellular service began decommissioning in August 2021 and a complete shutdown of the 3G network took place in February 2022.
TSB 22-2230
Jun 2022
Unknown Or OtherSome 2013-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2013-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2013-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with SYNC screens 8 inch or larger may be unable to complete...
SSM 50861
Jun 2022
Power TrainSome 2015-2016 vehicles equipped with 6F50/6F55 transmission and built on 2-Nov-2015 and through 1-Feb-2016 may exhibit no reverse, 3rd and 5th gear with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0715,P0717,P0756 and/or P2701.
SSM 50804
May 2022
Electrical SystemSome 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln phone applications as an alternate channel to access vehicle commands such as door lock/unlock,...
22R01-S1
May 2022
Electrical SystemCertain 2014 - 2015 Model Year, Fusion and MKZ and 2015 Model Year Mustang Vehicles Brake Stop Lamps Remain On - Under Safety Recall 22S02, in some of the affected vehicles, exposure to a high temperature, high humidity, and high salinity environment is causing the brake pedal...
SSM 50744
May 2022
Power TrainSome 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2020-2022 Escape, 2021-2022 Corsair, 2022 Maverick vehicles equipped with HF35/HF45 hybrid transmissions can now be disassembled to repair and clean any contamination that may have been the result of a differential or transfer shaft...
TSB 22-2162
May 2022
EngineSome 2014-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2014-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX, 2016-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV) and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with SYNC screens 8 inch or larger may be unable to complete...
22R01
Mar 2022
Electrical SystemCertain 2014-2015 Model Year, Fusion and MKZ and 2015 Model Year Mustang Vehicles - Brake Stop Lamps Remain On. Under Safety Recall 22S02, in some of the affected vehicles, exposure to a high temperature, high humidity, and high salinity environment is causing the brake pedal...
TSB 22-2104
Mar 2022
EquipmentThis article supersedes TSB 21-2236 to update the models and year affected. Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2013-2022 Escape, 2015-2018 Focus, 2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2022 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2022 F-Super Duty, 2018-2022...
SSM 50257
Nov 2021
Unknown Or OtherVarious 2014-2020 vehicles equipped with a 3G modem may experience a lack of 3G modem performance. This may be due to the 3G cellular service functionality being decommissioned starting August 2021 and through March 2022.
21B09
Nov 2021
EquipmentCertain 2014-2020 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines 3G Telematics Control Unit to 4G Upgrade Kit The North America 3G cellular service began decommissioning in August 2021 and will be fully decommissioned in February 2022.
TSB 21-2347
Oct 2021
Equipment Adaptive/MobilitySome 2015-2020 Fusion/MKZ vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a rattle noise from the transmission bellhousing area. This may be more noticeable at idle. This may be due to a flexplate crack around the mounting area.
SSM 50067
Aug 2021
Electrical SystemSome 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick.

Showing 30 of 133 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Sit in it with the engine off and test everything that has a switch.Windows, locks, lights, the cluster, the radio. Electrical faults are this vehicle's story and the hardest to see on a drive: an intermittent no-start waits for the second week of ownership. Ask for the battery's age and whether any control module has been replaced.
  2. Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
  3. Try the camera, sensors, and any driver-assist features in a parking lot.A blank or frozen backup camera image and phantom sensor alerts are this vehicle's driver-assistance complaints.
  4. Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 10 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
  5. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Lincoln MKZ →