2017 Lincoln Mkz Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the torque converter, flex plate, and transmission fluid pump were inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the extended warranty coverage for the repair. The failure mileage was 102,450.

NHTSA ID

11754775

Incident

Jul 26, 2026

Mileage

102,450 mi

I am reporting a catastrophic engine failure and engine-compartment fire involving my 2017 Lincoln MKZ Select, equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine, VIN [XXX]. The vehicle had approximately 99,864 miles when the final failure occurred. Shortly after I purchased the vehicle, the original engine developed severe overheating, loss of cabin heat, white exhaust smoke, misfiring, and coolant intrusion. On December 16, 2024, at approximately 95,354 miles, the vehicle was taken to Murgado Ford Lincoln of Chicago. The dealership documented diagnostic codes P0303 and P0316 and determined that coolant was entering cylinder No. 3. Pursuant to Ford Technical Service Bulletin 22-2229, the dealership replaced the long-block engine and related one-time-use components. The replacement service-engine assembly was identified on the repair invoice as part No. J2GZ-6006-E. The vehicle was returned to me on approximately January 30, 2025. After the engine replacement, the vehicle continued to experience serious problems. Within days, it stalled in an intersection, produced white smoke, lost cabin heat, and had to be returned to the dealership. The vehicle later continued to exhibit hesitation, harsh shifting, loss of power, and other abnormal drivability symptoms. On September 4, 2025, while I was operating the vehicle under normal driving conditions in Chicago, I heard a sudden loud metallic grinding or mechanical noise coming from the engine area. Gray smoke then began coming from the vehicle and quickly progressed into heavy dark smoke. A fire developed in the engine compartment, forcing me to stop and exit the vehicle. The fire rapidly intensified and was followed by an explosion or explosive sound. There was no collision that initiated this incident. The vehicle sustained catastrophic fire damage and was rendered a total loss. The failure occurred only approximately seven months after the replacement long-block engine was installed and after I had repeatedly experien INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

NHTSA ID

11753663

Incident

Sep 4, 2025

Coolant intrusion with eco boost engine.

NHTSA ID

11752927

Incident

Jul 5, 2026

I own a 2017 Lincoln MKZ equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine. At approximately [MILEAGE] miles, the vehicle began experiencing loss of coolant, rough running/misfire, shaking/rough start, and reduced engine performance. The vehicle was diagnosed by a Ford/Lincoln dealership as having coolant intrusion into the engine/cylinders and/or engine block failure, requiring engine/long-block replacement. The estimated repair cost was approximately $8000. This creates a safety concern because coolant intrusion can cause misfires, overheating, engine damage, and possible loss of power while driving. Ford/Lincoln has issued Technical Service Bulletin 19-2346 and superseding bulletin 22-2229 for 2017–2019 Lincoln MKZ vehicles equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine. These bulletins describe low coolant, white exhaust smoke, rough running, misfire codes, overheating codes, and coolant intrusion into the cylinder, with the prescribed repair being long-block engine replacement. Despite this known documented condition, Lincoln/Ford denied assistance because the vehicle is outside warranty. I am reporting this as a potential safety defect because the failure can occur without adequate warning and may cause engine overheating, misfire, or loss of power while the vehicle is being operated.

NHTSA ID

11745431

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

2017 Lincoln MKZ was taken to Community Ford Lincoln of Bloomington (Auto Vest II LLC), Bloomington, IN for service on 05/01/2026. No ABS, Traction Control, or AdvanceTrac warning lights were present at drop-off. After the vehicle was returned, all three warning lights were illuminated. The ABS/stability control system had been damaged during the service visit. Diagnostic codes C0031:07 and C0031:15 (left front wheel speed sensor circuit fault) were confirmed in writing by the dealership service manager on 06/09/2026. The dealership denied responsibility. An independent Ford/Lincoln dealer (Tom Roush Lincoln) estimated repair at $310. The servicing dealer offered only partial reimbursement of $169.45. The ABS and stability control systems are safety-critical. Their failure compromises emergency braking performance and vehicle stability, putting driver and other road users at risk. The vehicle has been unavailable for normal use since [XXX]. The problem was confirmed by an independent Lincoln dealership. The vehicle is available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11745133

Incident

May 1, 2026

Took car into Ford dealership service because the check engine light came on. The car was sounding a little rough also. When they called me, I was expecting a tune up or just a sensor issue, but I was told that I needed a new engine! The tech found dtc P0302 for misfire on cylinder number 2, found coolant on spark plug. Cylinder #2 was cracked and leaking coolant into it. Was told it would lead to catastrophic failure. Was told I needed a long block replacement at the tune of $9,000. The service tech called Ford to help with the costs, but since I didn't have an extended warranty, they wouldn't do anything. The car has been barely driven and taken well care of. I bought it in 2019 with 12k miles and now in 2026 it only has 69k miles. I have researched and found out that this is a systemic issue. Had I not replaced the engine it could of been catastrophic! I have been with Ford since I started driving in the early 80's. This is unacceptable. According to several reports, this has been reported many times (maybe thousands?). I wonder how many are NOT reported. Ford needs to reimburse for the defective engine.

NHTSA ID

11745020

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

2.0yt coolant intrusion. Needs long block replaced. So basically a motor. Ford knows about this.

NHTSA ID

11743976

Incident

Jun 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH the brake warning light had illuminated and the brake pedal extended to the floor and the vehicle did not immediately stop while pressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was slowly driven to a nearby garage who diagnosed that the rear brake hoses had failed causing brake fluid leak from the vehicle and the brake master cylinder had also failed. The mechanic informed that both rear brake lines were installed making contact with the transmission and eventually became damaged. The rear brake lines and master cylinder were replaced. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 153,000.

NHTSA ID

11738017

Incident

May 6, 2026

Mileage

153,000 mi

Greetings, I am adding my name to what has to be thousands of complaints about engine failure do to antifreeze intrusion. Ford should be replacing these engines for free. I also own a 2019 and waiting to have to spend another 8 grand on it.

NHTSA ID

11736348

Incident

Jul 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at speeds above 30 MPH, there was a rumbling sound and vibration coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who informed the contact that the transmission torque converter was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V390000 (POWER TRAIN). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 107,000.

NHTSA ID

11730791

Incident

Apr 8, 2026

Mileage

107,000 mi

The vehicle lost power on the highway due to an overheating issue. Very dangerous when this happens while your going 70 mph. The vehicle was later determined to be a victim of Ford's known 2.0L Ecoboost engine that due to Ford's defective design, which Ford admits but refuses to issue a recall for. The ONLY fix for this problem is to have the long block replaced at a cost of over $9,000.00. Not exactly Ford looking out for the safety of their customers.

NHTSA ID

11729600

Incident

Nov 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that upon shifting to reverse(R), the rear-view camera image was delayed and briefly distorted while displayed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11727900

Incident

Mar 30, 2024

Mileage

55,000 mi

Coolent intrusion, coolent leaking into cylinder number 2 causing a misfire and excessive white smoke every time I start the vehicle, seems this is a manufacturing flaw from the research I've done with so many other people having the same complaints because the engine block is the cause of the problem the way they designed it ford acknowledged the problem saying it's the engine block because of a poor design only way to fix this is with a new redesigned engine block and that cost a lot of money I think Ford should be held accountable and should do a recalls on these and get these fixed this is not right.

NHTSA ID

11727314

Incident

Mar 18, 2026

I am submitting this complaint to report a serious vehicle safety incident involving my 2017 Lincoln MKZ Select that resulted in a catastrophic engine fire while the vehicle was in operation. Prior to the incident, the vehicle underwent a long block engine replacement performed by Murgado Ford Lincoln of Chicago pursuant to Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2229. The repair involved removal and replacement of the engine assembly and related components. After the vehicle was returned to me following this repair, the engine later experienced a sudden catastrophic mechanical failure while I was driving. The vehicle rapidly began emitting smoke from the engine compartment and subsequently caught fire. The fire escalated quickly and rendered the vehicle a total loss. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was being operated under normal driving conditions. There was no collision or external cause that would have triggered the fire. The event appears to have originated within the engine compartment following the recent engine replacement. The vehicle was subsequently towed and is currently stored at City of Chicago Auto Pound No. 6 following the fire incident. The vehicle has not been repaired or altered since the event and remains available for inspection. Given that this vehicle had recently undergone a major engine replacement under a manufacturer technical service bulletin, I believe the circumstances warrant review to determine whether the incident may be related to: a defect in the replacement engine assembly improper installation of the engine or related components fuel, oil, or electrical system issues associated with the repair. This incident presented a serious safety risk to the driver and could have resulted in severe injury or loss of life. I was fortunate to escape the vehicle safely before the fire fully developed. I am submitting this complaint so that NHTSA may evaluate whether this type of failure represents a broader safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11723491

Incident

Sep 4, 2025

I drive a 2017 Lincoln MKZ equip with an Ecoboost 2.0L engine. A very widely known design flaw in the Engine Long block has caused coolant intrusion into the #1 cylinder. This can cause overheating issues and ultimately cause a fire and/or stall the car in a critical moment (i.e. highway) and cause an accident. I took the vehicle into my local dealership and they confirmed this issue and is consistent with TSB 22-2229 and needing a replacement of the Engine Long block. I called Lincoln Customer Support and they are refusing to assist at all with this repair, costing me over $10k. Also noting my car only has 61,000 miles.. as well as the dealership confirming this is not something that I could have prevented. I haven't noticed any issues other than the check engine light coming on, which is what initially led me to taking it into the dealership.

NHTSA ID

11723095

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

The car has been experiencing a persistent cylinder #2 misfire. We replaced the coils and spark plugs, only to learn that this is a common issue with the 2.0 MKZ engines. The problem has worsened to the point where the car sometimes can barely move in traffic, creating a serious safety risk if other drivers don’t notice the vehicle slowing to a crawl. It also puts my family at risk if we ever have to exit the car in busy traffic. Ford has diagnosed the issue, but they stated there is no recall associated with this VIN. The check engine light remains on.

NHTSA ID

11722152

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle entered LIMP Mode and failed to shift into third or fourth gear. Due to the failure, the contact made several stops while driving to the residence. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic but was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V390000 (POWER TRAIN); and associated the failure with the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11715536

Incident

Dec 23, 2025

Mileage

120,000 mi

My 2017 Lincoln MKZ experienced a sudden and severe engine failure consistent with the known Ford/Lincoln coolant intrusion defect affecting 1.5L, 1.6L, and 2.0L EcoBoost engines. While driving, the vehicle began losing coolant with no visible external leak, followed by rough running, misfires, and complete engine shutdown. The vehicle became inoperable and had to be towed to a Ford dealership. At the dealership, technicians were unable to start the vehicle at all, and could not even pull it into the service bay to perform diagnostics. The service department told us the symptoms match the known coolant‑intrusion issue documented in Ford’s Technical Service Bulletin 19‑2346, which applies to 2017–2019 2.0L EcoBoost engines. They advised us not to pay for diagnostic testing, because the failure pattern is already known and documented by Ford, but not covered under any recall. They referred us to Lincoln corporate. Lincoln corporate then informed us that they have no programs available to assist with this defect, even though it is a known issue. They stated that even if a program existed, they “wouldn’t be able to assist with even half the cost.” They also suggested that we consider installing a junkyard engine as a more cost‑effective option. This was their only recommendation for a catastrophic engine failure caused by a known defect. This is extremely concerning for a safety‑related failure. The symptoms match Ford’s documented defect exactly: • Coolant loss with no external leak • White smoke prior to failure • Engine misfires and rough running • Overheating • Engine unable to start • Potential for engine seizure or fire This is the same failure pattern described in recall 25V685 and the January 2026 recall, which involve coolant intrusion, overheating, and fire risk in similar Ford/Lincoln engines. My VIN is not included, but the failure mode is identical. My vehicle is now completely disabled due to this defect, and Lincoln has refused any assistance.

NHTSA ID

11712880

Incident

Dec 4, 2025

Faulty engine, head gasket failure and needing total engine replace at 83,000 miles

NHTSA ID

11710780

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

So I bought this car in February of last year. Since I've had it june I had to do a head gasket. Another time the high speed fuel pump had bolt come loose and oil went everywhere causing a fire. Had transmission intercooler line do the same thing. Additional fire. And just recently I problem that was supposedly fixed already wasn't and flywheel broke leaving me stranding in a parking lot for 4 days dropping transmission. The dealer didn't put back all the parts correctly either.

NHTSA ID

11707430

Incident

Dec 21, 2025

After filling up with gas, started the vehicle & it displayed SEVERAL warnings regarding the steering, stability control, etc. Only about 2 miles from home. Started driving home & the steering wheel was variably going from fairly difficult to turn to VERY difficult to turn. Got within about 150 feet of my home & could not turn the steering wheel AT ALL. Tried multiple times to back up / go forward while attempting to move the steering wheel in hopes of getting in my driveway, to no avail. Ended up having to call a tow truck & having vehicle taken to a local dealership.

NHTSA ID

11702182

Incident

Nov 28, 2025

Head gasket failure. coolant leak into engine block. Replaced engine at a cost of $3900

NHTSA ID

11699501

Incident

Nov 10, 2025

I am paying on a 2017 Lincoln MKZ with total engine failure due to coolant leaking into it. I am aware that NHTSA in early October 2023 there was an investigation into more than 700000 late model Ford due to catastrophic engine failure. Why was people not informed on this matter, or a recall established.

NHTSA ID

11697281

Incident

Jul 23, 2025

Total engine failure due to coolant leaking into it. 2023 investigation on this same situation, whats the outcome

NHTSA ID

11694272

Incident

Jul 23, 2025

Torque converter is going oitvluckly caught it in time before it locked up and caused a crash. There are numerous other vins recalled for the same year and same issue because the torque coverter welds were not done correctly. My vehicle does not show any recalls but should have also been included. I have seen on forums about this where numerous people had the same issue and all lincoln reps just give you a runaround because rhey know its an issue but dont want to acknowledge it. I was told this by a dealership mechanic.

NHTSA ID

11691274

Incident

Aug 13, 2025