2018 Lincoln MKZ

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Lincoln MKZ has 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: i own a 2018 lincoln mkz. starting the second week in january i started to notice a strange smell in the cabin of my car and outside of my car. i told my husband that i was smelling something strange, and he noticed that the exhaust was a billowy white smoke. my husband noticed that this was not a g.

1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

10 complaints

29%

• I own a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. Starting the second week in January I started to notice a strange smell in the cabin of my car and outside of my car. I told my husband that I was smelling something strange, and he noticed that the exhaust was a billowy white smoke. My husband noticed that this was not a g
• I have been told by a ford mechanic on 7.11.2024, 6 weeks before buying the car that there is coolant intrusion in cylinder 2 and the only fix to this would be to replace the long block that cost a little over 8k, some how some way this vehicle dont have any recalls about this well known issue. Th
• The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the engine light illuminated. While the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I own a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. Starting the second week in January I started to notice a strange smell in the cabin of my car and outside of my car. I told my husband that I was smelling something strange, and he noticed that the exhaust was a billowy white smoke. My husband noticed that this was not a g”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

8 complaints

23%

• UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT HAS STALLED SEVEN TIMES. TWO OF THOSE INCIDENTS INVOLVED VEHICLE GOING INTO PARK WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PARK BUTTON. AS IT WAS SHIFTING INTO PARK, THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS 'FIGHTING' GOING INTO PARK. THEN THE VEHICLE DIED. ON AT LEAST FIVE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT SWITCHED GEARS AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO
• Torque converter stuck off pcm code 6f35 transmission vin look up doesn't show recall but it has same transmission installed with the same problem as 2017 model

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT HAS STALLED SEVEN TIMES. TWO OF THOSE INCIDENTS INVOLVED VEHICLE GOING INTO PARK WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PARK BUTTON. AS IT WAS SHIFTING INTO PARK, THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS 'FIGHTING' GOING INTO PARK. THEN THE VEHICLE DIED. ON AT LEAST FIVE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

11%

• DRIVER CAME TO PICK ME UP. DRIVER STOPPED, HE THOUGHT HE PUSHED PARK BUTTON. STARTED TO GET OUT OF CAR. GOT LEFT FOOT ON GROUND, SWUNG RIGHT FOOT OUT AND CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. CAR DOOR KNOCKED HIM DOWN, CATCHING LEFT FOOT BETWEEN DOOR AND FRAME. CAR STARTED DRAGGING DRIVER DOWN STREET I
• IF YOU ARE ON A HILL SUCH AS A DRIVEWAY AND YOU TURN YOUR CAR ON TO ACCESSORY MODE AND THEN FORGET YOUR CAR IS NOT TURNED ON YOU CAN PUT YOUR CAR INTO GEAR. IF YOU PUT YOUR CAR INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR STARTS ROLLING IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO POWER ON THE BRAKES AND CANNOT TURN
• Upon driving north on rt. 95 in GA our pan Aramaic moonroof unexpectedly exploded. There was no apparent reason. No debris was present and environmental conditions were not extreme. ( sunny day about 72 degrees F) . The explosion was very loud and alarming creating a risk of losing control of the

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVER CAME TO PICK ME UP. DRIVER STOPPED, HE THOUGHT HE PUSHED PARK BUTTON. STARTED TO GET OUT OF CAR. GOT LEFT FOOT ON GROUND, SWUNG RIGHT FOOT OUT AND CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. CAR DOOR KNOCKED HIM DOWN, CATCHING LEFT FOOT BETWEEN DOOR AND FRAME. CAR STARTED DRAGGING DRIVER DOWN STREET I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

3 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE WINDOW SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW, THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAIL
• This is [XXX] my customer is missing and has been missing since 7:45pm 8/17/21 by this vin number i was wondering if you could put a trace on the vin number 3LN6L5D92JR[XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI
• This is [XXX] my customer is missing and has been missing since 7:45pm 8/17/21 by this vin number i was wondering if you could put a trace on the vin number 3LN6L5D92JR[XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE WINDOW SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW, THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAIL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

• REAR LIFT GATE ASSEMBLY CENTER LED STRIP IS FILLED WITH WATER. THIS CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN THE REVERSE LIGHTS TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS MA INSPECTION AND HAS BEEN CITED FOR THIS INFRACTION. NO DAMAGE TO LIFT GATE, EITHER A PART OR MAN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE WINDOW SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW, THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAIL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“REAR LIFT GATE ASSEMBLY CENTER LED STRIP IS FILLED WITH WATER. THIS CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN THE REVERSE LIGHTS TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS MA INSPECTION AND HAS BEEN CITED FOR THIS INFRACTION. NO DAMAGE TO LIFT GATE, EITHER A PART OR MAN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 35 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: I own a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. Starting the second week in January I started to notice a strange smell in the cabin of my car and outside of my car. I told my husband that I was smelling something strange, and he noticed that the exhaust was a billowy white smoke. My husband noticed that this was not a g
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT HAS STALLED SEVEN TIMES. TWO OF THOSE INCIDENTS INVOLVED VEHICLE GOING INTO PARK WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PARK BUTTON. AS IT WAS SHIFTING INTO PARK, THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS 'FIGHTING' GOING INTO PARK. THEN THE VEHICLE DIED. ON AT LEAST FIVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: DRIVER CAME TO PICK ME UP. DRIVER STOPPED, HE THOUGHT HE PUSHED PARK BUTTON. STARTED TO GET OUT OF CAR. GOT LEFT FOOT ON GROUND, SWUNG RIGHT FOOT OUT AND CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. CAR DOOR KNOCKED HIM DOWN, CATCHING LEFT FOOT BETWEEN DOOR AND FRAME. CAR STARTED DRAGGING DRIVER DOWN STREET I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE WINDOW SWITCH FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW, THE BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)