RoadVitals

2014 Lincoln Mkz Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Jan 26, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 97 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Lincoln Mkz submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Jan 26, 2026

STEERING GEAR STOPPED WORKING, CAUSED THE CAR TO LOCK UP STEERING WHILE DRIVING SIMALAR AS RECALL 19S26. WE FEEL THIS CAR SHOULD ADDED TO THE CURRENT RECALLS FOR THIS SAME MATTER.

NHTSA ID
11713321
Incident
Jan 22, 2026
Steering
Filed Jan 3, 2026

Steering wheel lock up

NHTSA ID
11708587
Incident
Dec 31, 2025
Steering
Filed Aug 9, 2025

A light came on for steering loss, stop safely and lock down my car. We are unable to drive it. The issue is the same to the recall number 19526 and possibly number 18508. Which my car is listed. The steering becsme difficult to turn and then eventually the light came on for steering loss and the car has been disabled. I looked up our Vin number [XXX] , and it was not included on this recall. However we believe it should be. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11679561
Incident
Aug 9, 2025
Steering
Filed Aug 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The messages "Steering Assist Unavailable" and "Hill Assist" were displayed on the instrument cluster. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 121,000.

NHTSA ID
11679253
Incident
Jun 1, 2025
Mileage
121,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 10, 2025

I was sitting in idle staying warm in car. When I decided to leave, I noticed I couldn't turn the steering wheel or that it was very difficult to steer. I have not had this issue inspected. The warning lights that was on before was "service advancedtrac", "collision warning not available" "drive control malfunction service required". I called Sons Ford Auburn where they stayed there was no recall for this issue. I also called Lincoln customer service where they told me the recall doesn't fall under my vehicle due to it being a hybrid and that I don't have the bolts associated with the recall.

NHTSA ID
11635313
Incident
Jan 9, 2025
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 4, 2024

The contact owns a 2024 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to function as intended. In addition, the contact stated that there was an abnormal play in the steering wheel. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact later noticed fluid on the ground underneath the front driver’s side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the leak was close to the brake line. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID
11623428
Incident
Nov 3, 2024
Mileage
80,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 15, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the steering wheel moves up and down. No warning lights were illuminated at the time of the failure. The vehicle was then taken to an independent where the contact was provided with information regarding NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V167000 (Steering). The owner also contacted an unknown Ford dealer. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V167000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer has not been notified. The failure mileage was 123,000.

NHTSA ID
11560361
Incident
Oct 1, 2023
Mileage
122,537 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the steering wheel became significantly loosened. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V167000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11538489
Incident
Jul 14, 2023
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2023

The steering wheel on my 2014 Lincoln MKZ almost came off while driving. An internet search yielded information that there was a 2018 recall on Lincoln and Ford vehicles with the same problem. I took my vehicle to the local Lincoln dealer for repair and asked them to find the recall. They told me that it had not had a recall and refused to fix it based on the recall, but at my expense. The specifics of the recall (Ford reference 18S08) were that it was for 2014-2108 MKZ manufactured in the Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico. Research has shown that my MKZ was manufactured in the Hermosillo Assembly Plant. My complaint is that the recall was for an identical year, make and model in the same manufacturing plant and common sense would tell you that there was a manufacturing defect, but that FORD/Lincoln did not capture all the affected vehicles. This is a serious and dangerous problem. The steering wheel almost came off in my hands 9 years later. Lincoln should be required to identify the vehicles manufactured in that facility during that time period that were not identified for recall and contact those owners for repair at their expense. I contacted Lincoln corporate recall center and while somewhat helpful with information, they were totally uninterested in my suggestions.

NHTSA ID
11536241
Incident
Jul 30, 2023
Steering
Filed Mar 11, 2023

Backed out of garage and tried to turn the wheel and couldn’t! Very hard to turn!

NHTSA ID
11511340
Incident
Mar 11, 2023
Steering
Filed Feb 7, 2023

At different times, while driving at a low speed my steering wheel will not turn. Additionally, all these random drive assistance system lights are reflected on the dashboard. I believe it's the Electric power assist system that has a recall with the 2014 Lincoln MKZ not the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. For example, Hill Start Assist Not Available, Check Adaptive Headlamps etc. This started December 1, 2022, and has been an on-going issue. I have to restart the car in order to continue to drive.

NHTSA ID
11505998
Incident
Dec 1, 2022
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 2023

As I was driving, the power, steering failure light came on. It began to be difficult to steer. Once I pulled over, stop the car and restart it again the steering system was locked. Other warning lights with regards to collision control, etc. came on. Many other people have reported this problem with the steering mechanism on this particular car.

NHTSA ID
11504354
Incident
Jan 26, 2023
Steering
Filed Jun 8, 2022

The electronic steering failed. A steering warning light came on and within 3-5 seconds the electronic steering failed completely. Fortunately I was only traveling at a low speed or would have likely been in an accident. Cost to repair was over $2000 and the car had 100,180 miles on it at the time of the failure.

NHTSA ID
11468222
Incident
May 31, 2022
Steering
Filed Oct 11, 2021

The steering wheel locked up while I was driving. A message on the screen said power steering assist fault. I could not turn left or right and the brake was very difficult to press

NHTSA ID
11436307
Incident
Oct 10, 2021
AirbagsOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Oct 8, 2019

I INFORM LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY ON MY LINCOLN HAS BEEN RECALLED, WHICH IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW TO A RECORD NUMBER OF AMERICANS, BUT IT'S EVEN WORSE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED AND CAN'T GET THE MANUFACTURER TO SERVICE IT AT A DEALERSHIP. WHEN YOU'RE TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS OR NO TECHNICIANS TO FIX YOUR CAR, WHAT DO YOU DO? I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT THAT BAD AND DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACING RIGHT NOW. HAD MY CAR IN TO BE SERVICE ON RECALL 18S08, THAT IS WHEN THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T PUT THE LUG NUTS BACK ON MY CAR, AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF THE CAR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE LUGS NUTS SWELL, CRACK AND DELAMINATE TO THE POINT SPECIAL TOOLS ARE NEEDED TO REMOVE THE LUG NUTS. HAD 3 BLOWOUT DUE TO THE WHEEL FRAME WAS BENT, AND WAS REPLACE DURING THE DAMAGE THE DEALERSHIP DONE TO THE CAR. PICTURE WAS PROVIDED TO LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY. I WAS NOTIFIED BY LINCOLN ABOUT NHTSA 14V-597, AND OF THE DATE STILL NOT REPAIRED. TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATORS THAT COULD EXPLODE VIOLENTLY DESPITE CONTAINING A CHEMICAL MEANT TO LESSEN THE RISK OF THE SHRAPNEL-SHOOTING RUPTURES. BUT FORD IS LOOKING TO AVOID ANOTHER COSTLY RECALL. CAN'T FIND THE NATSA# MY LINCOLN NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR BRAKE FAILURE. A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT CAN MAKE MY CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE BEEN HAVING THE IDIOT LIGHT COME ON WITH LIGHTNING BOLT WORDS CHECK YOUR BRAKES. THE MESSAGE I GOT WAS THEY WERE GOING TO CLOSE THE CASE# BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO REMEDY FOR ME. THEY DISCOVER MY WARRANTY ON THE CAR IS RUNNING OUT AND DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHER WITH THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11267180
Incident
May 18, 2019
Steering
Filed Apr 19, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 LINCOLN MKZ. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE MESSAGES 'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" AND "STEER ASSIST FAULT' WERE DISPLAYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. OURISMAN FORD/LINCOLN (6129 RICHMOND HWY, ALEXANDRIA, VA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,316.

NHTSA ID
11197299
Incident
Apr 19, 2019
Mileage
53,316 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 30, 2019

I WAS AT A GROCERY STORE. TURNED ON MY CAR PUT IT IN REVERSE AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. A LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH BOARD SAYING STEERING ALIGNMENT FAILURE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TURNED IT OFF AND TRIED TO BACK UP A FEW MORE TIMES AND FAILED. SO I JUST SAT THERE FOR A WHILE THEN TRIED ONE LAST TIME AND THE CAR FINALLY BACKED UP.

NHTSA ID
11192644
Incident
Jan 8, 2019
Mileage
68,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 30, 2019
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN OGEECHEE ROAD IN MY CITY AND THE TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING DOWN. SO I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WENT OUT. I RAN I TO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL

NHTSA ID
11192642
Incident
Jun 21, 2018
Mileage
56,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 20, 2018

WHEN I READ ABOUT THE STEERING WHEEL BOLT RECALL IN JUNE 2018 I CHECKED THE CONDITION OF MY STEERING WHEEL BOLT AND DISCOVERED IT WAS LOOSE AND WAS THE BAD DESIGN THAT WAS BEING RECALLED. I WAITED FOR A RECALL NOTICE THAT NEVER CAME AND WHEN I CHECKED WITH DEALER IN DECEMBER 2018 THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW BOLT AND WILL INSTALL MYSELF. HOWEVER, I AM STILL QUITE CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE MAY STILL BE AT RISK OF INJURY. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE ORIGINAL NOTIFICATION BY FORD LISTS THE PRODUCTION DATES THAT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. I PERSONALLY OBSERVED THE LOOSE STEERING BOLT ON MY VEHICLE AND BAD DESIGN. FOR SOME REASON, NOT ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLE OWNERS ARE BEING INFORMED OF A PROBLEM . I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2017.

NHTSA ID
11162769
Incident
Dec 19, 2018
Mileage
65,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 4, 2018

ELECTRICAL STEERING RACK NOT WORKING , HAD TO REPLACE. MKZ 2014

NHTSA ID
11155907
Incident
Nov 12, 2018
Mileage
78,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 14, 2018

REPLACE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK HP5Z* 3504*C HAD TO REPLACE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK. QUESTION IS WITH TWO RECALLS SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN ( BOLT IN STEERING WHEEL AND A POWER TRAIN ISSUE) WOULD THIS ULTIMATELY AFFECT THE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK HP5Z*3504*C? CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND IN GREAT CONDITION. BESIDES THE RECALLS NO REPAIRS AT ALL. ELECTRIC RACK JUST STOPPED WORKING, I PARKED THE CAR GOT READY TO GO TO WORK AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. LINCOLN MKZ 2014.

NHTSA ID
11151399
Incident
Nov 5, 2018
Mileage
78,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 9, 2018

WHEN AT A RELIGHT, MY FORT WAS ON THE BRAKE,YET THE STEERING WHEEL,PULLED IT TO THE LLEFT. THE IT WAS O.K. I DROVE ON ADD PARKED ,WENT TO STORE, THEN RETURNED TO MY CAR PUT IN REVERSE,THEN PUT IN. DRIVE AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. IT PULLED IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING ME TO GO OVER THE YELLOW BLOCK AND HIT THE KERB,IT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL,CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS STATIONARY AT A RED LIGHT. THE SECOND WAS IN DRIVE TO THE RIGHT, STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT,IN AN EXIT FRO THE PARKING LOT

NHTSA ID
11092629
Incident
May 2, 2018
Mileage
37,500 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 16, 2016

I HAVE CONSTANT ISSUES WITH THE POWER DECK LID NOT WORKING WHEN IT IS COLD, IT WONT EVEN POP THE TRUNK. THIS MORNING I EXPERIENCED A DEAD BATTERY AND WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE JUMPED AND STARTED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING CAME ON AS WELL AS A TRACTION CONTROL, HILL START WARNINGS AND THE POWER STEERING ISNT WORKING AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
10935868
Incident
Dec 16, 2016
Mileage
53,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 30, 2015

WHILE TURNING A CORNER THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND BECAME EXTREMELY HEAVY, ALMOST UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL TO COMPLETE THE TURN. A NOTIFICATION CAME ON FROM THE CAR INDICATING "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC" AND "STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED". *JS

NHTSA ID
10817127
Incident
Dec 30, 2015
Mileage
16,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 29, 2015

RECEIVED AN "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" LETTER, CALLED THE DEALER TO SETUP AN APPT, AND LEARNED THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. I THEN CALL FORD CORP, AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. FORD CORP TOLD ME THAT IF I HAD THE CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, THEN THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE THE PARTS. I AM NOT HAVING CURRENT PROBLEMS, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS SINCE THE CAR IS BEING RECALLED TO AVOID THE PROBLEMS....SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 15S14 NHTSA RECALL 15V-250..UPDATED 11/12/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. UPDATED 12/15/15. *JB

NHTSA ID
10730933
Incident
Jun 29, 2015
Mileage
10,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

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