2018 Lincoln MKZ problems and complaints
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The most-reported areas: Engine (13), Power Train (9), Unknown Or Other (5).
Key takeaways
- 36 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 1 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 1 reported injury.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 36% |
| Power Train | 9 | 25% |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 | 14% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 8% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 6% |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 6% |
| Electrical System | 2 | 6% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | 3% |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% |
| Fuel System | 1 | 3% |
| Gasoline | 1 | 3% |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2018 Lincoln MKZ
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-10-22
Around end of May or beginning of June 2026 a check engine light came on in our 2018 MKZ. The code showed cylinder 3 misfire. We called our local Ford dealership for diagnosis. We almost didn't get there as it started to overheat on the way. Once at Ford they diagnosed it with coolant intrusion in cylinder 3. They said...
Engine - filed 2026-09-25
Head gasket and long block. I was at risk along with the public. I was driving on [XXX] when the car suddenly started to overheat and would not accelerate anymore. The problem was diagnosed today the coolant is leaking into cylinder 3. The check engine light came on and gave me p303 for a code. INFORMATION REDACTED PUR...
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-23
I recently have been losing antifreeze, The car stared to overheat, the P303 engine code came on. The car hasn't been inspected yet but my mechanic said it's a sign of a long or short block issue. I've been looking the problem up. It seems to be a problem with many of these cars, a known issue with the card from 2017-2...
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2018 Lincoln MKZ
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.