Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 3% | 45,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% | 34,000 miles |
| 2016 | 2 | 3% | 24,000 miles |
| 2015 | 5 | 6% | 20,000 miles |
| 2014 | 6 | 6% | 65,000 miles |
| 2013 | 12 | 11% | 46,000 miles |
| 2012 | 10 | 7% | 56,000 miles |
| 2011 | 10 | 7% | 56,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 2% | 55,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 2% | 90,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 2% | 78,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 2% | 100,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have previously filed complaint on this vehicle with no satisfaction. I have a Lincoln 2015 MKZ. This vehicle has a low front end clearance which I believe to be a serious safety concern. The front bumper is only 7 1/2 inches off the ground. Most cars are at least 9 plus inches off the ground. This car can not traverse any type of graded driveway or access road. The front bumper constantly hits the ground which inevitably can and has caused damage to the vehicle. I.E. damage to wheels, radiator, lights, engine not to mention the bumper itself. I have contacted Lincoln and they are indifferent to my complaint. This should have been rectified years ago but was ignored by Lincoln. The company probably should have provided all owners of record of a Lincoln MKZ with a factory authorized lift kit which could have raised the bumper at least 1 1/2 inches. …
I drove my 2015 Lincoln MKZ in to my driveway which is not steep grade and the front bumper hit the drive way and ripped the bumper. This car has very low front end. I called Lincoln up and complained about this low bumper problem. Lincoln customer service just blew me off. They acted like I was first person ever to complain. When I told them that You Tube Video has this problem listed they ignored me. This would not be a big deal if the bumper was 2 piece and all that had to be replaced was a bumper guard but the replacemrnt bumper covers the whole front end. Replacement bumper runs between $500 - $700. Labor to replace bumper runs from $500 - $1000 depending on shop. This is outrageous. Lincoln knew of this problem for years and did nothing to fix the problem. The least Lincoln should do is replace the bumper at no charge and provide me with discounted installation charge. …
The door latch of the passenger door is broken. This is in conjunction with Lincoln recall # 17V210000 door latch recall. There was also a second recall # 15s16 the vehicle was parked. Ignition off. A door that functioned fine earlier in the day, suddenly would not close properly. On closer inspection, door latch was broken.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that he noticed that there was water leaking into the trunk of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the weld off the assembly line had failed and was letting water inside the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there were not enough complaints related to the failure and they would not cover the repair of the vehicle as the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000.
I took my Lincoln to a Ford dealership regarding water in my trunk. The technician said it was the factory wields off the assembly line that have failed. Lincoln said they would not cover the repair due to not enough complaints on model and car was over any warranties. I returned the vehicle to the same dealership to get the repair. I was told it was not the wields, but the trunk lid. I paid for a new trunk lid and new gaskets. The car continues to leak. I took it to an ASE certified mechanic, and it was indeed the factory wields. The car has mold and mildew growing. The other dangers are the wields between the body and back pillars are failing.
I was at the gas station putting gas to my car when I noticed flames coming from the engine then I told the people around the staff od the gas station shut off all the gas pumps and help me to tryied to use extinguishers toend the fire until the fire departnen people came. I do not realy know what hapoened but iwas having some electrical problems and was smoking when we were driving the car. We thought need antifreeze liquid and put it but still running weird.
Driver's side door latch is failed, identical to the active 2013-2014 model years failure. Door will not shut properly, cannot be locked, and occasionally requires outside assistance to open the door. Door handle will not retract fully, and locking mechanism is failed. Opening the door while locked is possible. I suspect it would fail in a crash, since the locking bar is obviously not engaged. Ford declaims any responsibility for this item. Matching recall number is 15s16.
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ. The contact's spouse stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact's spouse started the vehicle and noticed flames coming from the interior seal of the driver's door, located by the rocker panel. The contact's spouse stated that the flames were not severe. The contact's spouse was able to extinguish the fire. The contact stated that after inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed moisture leaking into the rocker panel wiring. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for brake and rotor repair. The contact and the mechanic noticed that the whole rear of the vehicle was severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln MKZ years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (12), 2011 (10), 2012 (10), 2008 (6) and 2014 (6) model years. Body complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Lincoln MKZ body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Lincoln MKZ model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Lincoln MKZ body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles; 41% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (51 mentions), followed by the body › door (9).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.