Reliable Auto DB

2019 Lincoln MKZ reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln MKZ over 8 years — 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most MKZ years here — under the median of the other years, which is 4. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Back-over prevention, software.

2012 Lincoln MKZ
Photo by IFCAR, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain
Complaints

20

Per year

0

Recalls

1

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (7 of 20), then Electrical system (3) and Steering (3). The most filings arrived in 2026 (9 of 20). Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 MKZ has 34 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2020 has 2 complaints, 0 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2019 Lincoln MKZ. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 25V442000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Remedy Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

Complaints by component (20 total)

Engine
7
Electrical system
3
Steering
3
Forward collision avoidance
2
Powertrain
2
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Structure
1
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

1201922023420244202592026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "In August 2026, my 2019 Lincoln MKZ equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, with approximately 39,000 miles, began experiencing repeated coolant loss, rough shaking during startup, engine misfires, temperature-gauge…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-01
  • "On XXX, the engine in my 2019 Lincoln MKZ (Mileage 58,089) with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine suffered a catastrophic, sudden failure while driving. The vehicle began to overheat & run extremely rough, triggering multiple…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-19
  • "My engine has failed at less than 40,000 miles due to coolant leaking into the engine."
    Engine · filed 2026-07-30
  • "The shifter cable bushing was broken. Car would not move out of Park. Same as Recall 22543 but this vehicle was not included. I have sent this before with the repair order from the dealership but the mileage was…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-07-08
  • "The shifter cable bushing was broken and car was stuck on Park"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-07-03

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2019 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2019 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2019 Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
MKZ all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 20 29 23 MPG $2800
MKZ all-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 17 26 20 MPG $3250
MKZ front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 31 24 MPG $2700
MKZ front-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 18 27 21 MPG $3100
MKZ hybrid front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 42 39 41 MPG $1600

Specs and fitment

Second generation, 2012–2020
Body styles Sedan
Oil SAE 5W-30 (2.0L turbo ~5.7 qt; 3.0L V6 ~6.0 qt with filter)
Tire size 225/50R17, 225/45R18, 245/45R18, or 245/40R19 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 19V632000 expands coverage for certain 2013-2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles (with Fusion and other Ford models; 116,160 units across the campaign) originally sold or registered in salt-belt states: steering-gear motor bolts can corrode and allow the motor to detach, causing loss of power steering assist. Dealers replace bolts and apply sealer, or replace the gear if bolts are broken. Recall 18V167000 covers certain 2014-2018 MKZ vehicles (with Fusion; 1,301,986 units across the campaign) where the steering-wheel retaining bolt may loosen and allow the wheel to detach while driving; dealers install a longer bolt.

Compare

Previous year 2018 Lincoln MKZ See every Lincoln MKZ model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Lincoln MKZ reliable?

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln MKZ over 8 years — 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most MKZ years here — under the median of the other years, which is 4. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Back-over prevention, software.

What are common problems with a 2019 Lincoln MKZ?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (7 of 20), then Electrical system (3) and Steering (3). The most filings arrived in 2026 (9 of 20). Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2019 Lincoln MKZ more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 MKZ has 34 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2020 has 2 complaints, 0 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Lincoln MKZ been recalled?

The 2019 Lincoln MKZ has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Lincoln MKZ?

Owners have filed 20 complaints about the 2019 Lincoln MKZ with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2019 Lincoln MKZ get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2019 Lincoln MKZ is 25.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2017 Lincoln MKZ?

Second generation (2012-2020) for the US years this site tracks.

What oil does a Lincoln MKZ take?

US notes list 5W-30 for the 2.0L turbo or 3.0L V6 engines covered here.

What tire sizes does a Lincoln MKZ use?

Common US sizes include 225/50R17 on base trims and 245/40R19 on Reserve.