2016 Lincoln Mkz: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Lincoln Mkz: 6 recalls, 64 owner complaints and up to 26 mpg combined.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #15V618000 · 2015 · 658 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that May have insufficent wall thickness. As a result, the fuel tanks May crack in the event of a crash and thus the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 301, "fuel system integrity."
Why it matters: A fuel tank that cracks May leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015.
Steering Vehicle recall #18V167000 · 2018 · 1,301,986 vehicles
What's wrong: The steering wheel retaining bolt May loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
Why it matters: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge.
Steering Vehicle recall #19V632000 · 2019 · 116,160 vehicles
What's wrong: Road salt or other contaminants May corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
Why it matters: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor May detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began…
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #20V177000 · 2020 · 288,110 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands. A component within the door latches May break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Why it matters: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #23V162000 · 2023 · 1,280,726 vehicles
What's wrong: The front brake hoses May rupture and leak brake fluid.
Why it matters: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #23V775000 · 2023 · 45,173 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands. A component inside the door latches May break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.
Why it matters: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #20E025000 · 2020 · 130 vehicles
What's wrong: The headlamps May have an improper beam pattern and incorrect horizontal adjustment, the side markers May not illuminate and dot markings May be missing. As such, these headlamps fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: The incorrect headlamps May reduce the driver's visibility or make the vehicle less visible, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify vehicle manufacturers, and dealers will inspect the headlamps, and replace the headlamps, as necessary, free of charge. Additionally, Ford will instruct dealers to return all improper headlamps and not to install them on any vehicles. The recall began June 3, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (12): the most common themes are steering problems (9).
- Electrical (11): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Brakes (10): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (3), warning light on (2).
- Airbags (9): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2016 Lincoln Mkz has 64 owner complaints, ranking #11 of 15 Mkz model years for complaints (well below the 111 average). Complaints peaked in 2023 (12 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 56,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (83 complaints, 10 recalls), 2017 (141 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 33 | 26 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Lincoln Mkz.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Lincoln Mkz have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Lincoln Mkz, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Lincoln Mkz problems?
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (12), electrical (11), brakes (10).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Lincoln Mkz get?
EPA ratings run up to 26 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (S6)), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Lincoln Mkz repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.