Here Are The Lincoln MKZ Years To Avoid
The Lincoln MKZ is one of the more attractive-looking midsize sedans out there, and Lincoln is overall a relatively reliable company. That said, there are still definitely some years where the Lincoln MKS did worse than others, and potential buyers need to know which model years are more likely to have problems.
If you’re thinking about buying a new or used Lincoln MKZ, here’s what you need to know about the Lincoln MKZ years to avoid – and why those years should be avoided.
Let’s take a closer look.
What Are The Lincoln MKZ Years To Avoid?
There actually aren’t that many Lincoln MKX years to avoid, which is a good thing considering production has only been active since 2007.
That said, some of the issues with the Lincoln MKZ are relatively serious, which makes avoiding the problematic years that much more important.
Here’s a quick list of the year you should avoid according to CarComplaints.com :
- 2007
- 2008
- 2013
We’ll give a marginal pass to two other years, 2010 and 2012, because while both years have more complaints than average for a Lincoln MKZ, the severity, and frequency of issues are both much lower.
Common problems with the Lincoln MKZ years to avoid include interior issues with the plastic and feature performance, issues with the wheel rims, and brake and fuel system problems.
Keep reading to learn more details about the most common and most serious problems with the Lincoln MKZ years to avoid.
Common Problems With The Lincoln MKZ
It’s worth noting that while all of these problems can be potentially serious, they’re also all relatively uncommon even in the Lincoln MKZ years to avoid. If you’re past the critical mileage markers for these problems the vehicle is probably in the clear or has already had the problem fixed.
That said, these issues will be more common in the worst years of the Lincoln MKZ than they should be – which is why consumers should be careful about getting the 2007, 2008, or 2013 model MKZs.
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Interior Detail Issues
These problems are wide and variable, depending on the model year you’re looking at. However, problems like the interior plastic bubbling and cracking are some of the most common. We also included A/C issues and other interior feature malfunctions in this list, assuming they weren’t caused by some other system failures.
The early years of the Lincoln MKZ are particularly prone to these kinds of detail problems. However, almost every model year has some of these complaints, probably at least in part because consumers know that the Lincoln MKZ has a reputation for these issues and are more likely to report problems when they happen.
Rim Deterioration
Rim deterioration in the Lincoln MKZ years to avoid ranges from chrome stripping off the rims to more serious issues like warping or developing rough edges.
The big problem here isn’t just cosmetic, it’s also that these problems start happening before the 100k mile mark, and getting replacement rims doesn’t necessarily solve the problem unless you switch to a different set.
For this section, we’re mostly counting relatively mild rim deterioration, but there is another more serious form of rim deterioration and problems that we’ll discuss in the next section.
Rims Cause Tire Damage
In some cases, again, mostly in the early years of the Lincoln MKZ, there is a problem where the rims wear holes in the tires.
This problem can start relatively subtle and mean that you need to replace your tires slightly more often, but there are more extreme cases where drivers are reporting having to have their tires repaired weekly or even more often.
As you can imagine, this can quickly become an expensive problem and is always a safety issue. Because wear on rims and tires isn’t necessarily predictable either, it can crop up at any time, including while you’re on the road.
Like the other rim problems, this can start well under 100k miles, but the most common complaints usually start between 80k-90k miles.
Brake Pedal Hits The Floor (Brake Recall)
Of all the problems with the Lincoln MKZ, this is probably the most serious and the biggest problem you should look into before you buy one of the model years to avoid.
There was a recall on the brakes that caused this problem, but there isn’t a lot of consumer confidence that the recall repair fixed the problem, especially after some drivers reported that the issue occurred more than once.
That said, this problem is a sudden brake issue where the brakes do not engage as intended, and the brake pedal allows the driver to push it all the way to the floor without engaging or only partially engaging.
The problem can happen at almost any time but has happened under 100k miles for most users who encounter it.
Some users report that their vehicles do slow slightly, but not enough for proper braking and not enough to prevent some of the accidents that have been reported because of this problem.
Airbag Recall
This is another serious issue and can be extremely dangerous in the affected vehicles. The recall was issued because passengers were hit by flying metal fragments when the passenger side front airbag was deployed.
There is a recall out to fix the problem in affected vehicles, however, like other recalls on the Lincoln MKZ, the issue seems to be intermittently resolved.
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Stalling After Refueling
This last issue is most common in the 2013 model year but can happen for any of the vehicles within a few model years of that edition.
The problem is that the engine stalls after refueling, making it more difficult to get back on the road after stopping. The issue normally resolves itself after a couple of tries, but it’s still frustrating and can put excess wear and tear on the engine and fuel system.
Is The Lincoln MKZ A Good Car To Buy Used
Outside of the years to avoid, the Lincoln MKZ is usually a good vehicle to buy used. The number of complaints about the better releases are low, and the problems are usually much less serious than the three years we’ve been talking about so far.
Overall, the Lincoln MKZ had a rough release and a couple of bad problems that have crept up over the years but tend to be a reliable option with plenty of features and benefits for drivers.
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