2019 Lincoln Mkz Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln Mkz, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine529.4%
- Electrical317.6%
- Steering317.6%
- Driver assistance211.8%
- Powertrain (other)211.8%
- Body & structure15.9%
- Fuel system15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
My engine has failed at less than 40,000 miles due to coolant leaking into the engine.
Technical Service Bulletin 19-2387 My vehicle has this defect which is an ongoing problem and at the time of this correspondence my vehicle has under 13,000 miles. Seepage around the perimeter of the oil pan which in time will result in a steady leak and in turn loosing enough oil will cause engine damage. Technicians refer to this as the oil pan sweating. As per the Technical Service Bulletin this problem exists on 2017 to 2019 Lincoln MKZ 3.0 which Ford installed a plastic oil pan on all new vehicles to reduce the weight of the vehicle. The 2017 to 2019 Lincoln MKZ 2.0 were fitted with metal oil pans and there is no issue. I notified Lincoln customer service and they are aware of this problem yet a recall has not been issued. This is a manufacturer defect and Ford should take responsibility to correct this problem. A recall should be issued. Thank You for your attention on this matter. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The 2019 Lincoln MKZ electrical system is faulty in my vehicle. Despite having all doors locked with car on and running someone was still able to open my door from the outside and essentially was carjacked, robbed, and severely beaten by 6 men. I did file a police report so it’s all documented along with photographs of my injuries sustained.
i put the car in park and it accelerated and hit the corner of my garage. when it was towed to the dealer for repair - i was told the message on the car was shift malfunction there was damage to the front grill, hood and passenger side quarter panel the vehicle is at Southgate Lincoln for repair and available for inspection i've asked the insurance company to investigate. there were no warning messages prior to impact someone could have been seriously injured and i could have had serious property damage
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while reversing, the steering wheel wobbled. The contact stated that the steering wheel was moving back and forth. In addition, the contact stated that while making a turn, the steering wheel turned in the intended direction without an issue. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,100.
Randomly my steering wheel will get stiff/lock up and pull the car and its hard to control it sometimes
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
i put the car in park and it accelerated and hit the corner of my garage. when it was towed to the dealer for repair - i was told the message on the car was shift malfunction there was damage to the front grill, hood and passenger side quarter panel the vehicle is at Southgate Lincoln for repair and available for inspection i've asked the insurance company to investigate. there were no warning messages prior to impact someone could have been seriously injured and i could have had serious property damage
2019 LINCOLN MKZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE COLLISION WARNING RADAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
My 2019 Lincoln MKZ check engine light came on. The repair shop said coolant was leaking into #3 cylinder from cracks in the engine block. Per alerts the shop receives from Ford, this is a known issue and there is no way to repair this issue. The engine will need to be replaced. My powertrain warranty ended 4 month earlier. My car has 45,500 miles on it. I talked to the dealership and they advised calling Lincoln directly. I call Lincoln and they confirmed this is a known issue. I was told that my car didn't meet the out of warranty criteria to receive any assistance to replace the defective engine. They wouldn't tell me what the parameters are and said I would need to pay the full cost to replace the engine. My understanding from the shop is they see many Escapes and MKZ with this engine issue but never seen one with this low of mileage. Lincoln told me to keep my replacement receipts in case there is a recall. I
On models 2017-2019 Lincoln mkz’s there is a tsb known issue for coolant intrusion in the cylinders. I need an engine replacement. This should be a recall in these cars
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving in normal conditions with nothing near me and my glass sunroof (closed) exploded and shattered.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
On 10 May 2025 the car engine stalled at an intersection and would not restart. Had the car towed to the nearest Ford Dealership (Five Star Ford - Plano, Texas). The dealership repaired the failure by replacing the low pressure fuel pump. Failure is similar to 25V442000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .