2018 Lincoln MKZ problems, complaints & recalls

2018 Lincoln MKZ recalls (2)

• Recall 23V162000Mar 10, 20231,280,726 vehicles
  SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

  Risk: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.

• Recall 18V167000Mar 12, 20181,301,986 vehicles
  STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.

  Risk: A steering wheel detachment can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer bolt, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S08.

NHTSA defect investigations

• RQ22004Opened Aug 8, 2022Closed Mar 24, 2023led to recall 23V162000

  Front Brake Jounce Hose Failures

  On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 50 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging front brake jounce hose ruptures on model year (MY) 2013-2018 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A ruptured front brake hose results in a brake fluid leak. As a result, the driver may experience an increase in pedal travel and a reduction in the rate of deceleration, increasing the risk of a crash. It should be noted that the subject vehicles identified fell outside the scope of NHTSA Safety Recall 20V-469, which addressed front brake hoses rupturin…

Recent 2018 Lincoln MKZ complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Sep 25, 2026MAEngine

   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 PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint #11767035 · source
2. Filed Sep 23, 2026MAOther / Unknown

   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 2017-2020.

   NHTSA complaint #11766289 · source
3. Filed Sep 14, 2026NYEngine

   While driving, the car stalled. I could not restart it. It was towed to Lincoln Dealer and determined that coolant had leaked into the cylinders and seized the engine. This is a known defect on the Ford EcoBoost Engine. Fully aware of the defect, Ford redesigned the engine in 2019 for later models. I am now faced with the huge expense of having Lincoln replace the engine. Ford needs to take responsibility and pay for this. Please help me.

   NHTSA complaint #11764046 · source
4. Filed Aug 14, 202680,000 miPAEngine

   The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-35 MPH, the engine overheated. The contact pulled over and became aware that the coolant reservoir was empty. The contact added coolant to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that there was coolant leaking into the cylinder, which caused engine failure. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and…

   NHTSA complaint #11756956 · source
5. Filed Jul 6, 2026FLEngine

   The engine light came on. The car suddenly wouldn’t go past 35 mph . Thankfully I was on a local road. I had it towed to the dealer and was told that the engine needed to be replaced because coolant leaked into the engine. There were no warning lights except the day of . The car did not give any indication of a leak. Nor was it running hot. Everything was functioning fine.

   NHTSA complaint #11748460 · source
6. Filed Jul 1, 2026KSTransmission & Drivetrain

   Scanned codes P0741, P1450, P1744, & P2196. Check the transmission fluid level and condition. No fluid drained from hole, added a little fluid, and retrieved a sample of the fluid. The fluid is very dark. Identifix states, if the fluid smells or has the appearance of being black due to internal clutch slippage, the transmission should be replaced or overhauled. If the transmission fluid is in good condition and found to be at the proper level, monitor the Torque Converter…

   NHTSA complaint #11747716 · source
7. Filed Jun 24, 2026FLEngine

   My 2018 Lincoln MKZ began misfiring on startups. Eventually the check engine light came on with a code of P0302. About a week later while driving, the engine temp gauge reached the hottest temp reading on the gauge. I had to immediately pull over. Upon pulling over I immediately checked the coolant level in the overflow reservoir and it was empty. After refilling with coolant I was able to drive the car home. Over the next few days I monitored the coolant level but at the…

   NHTSA complaint #11746143 · source
8. Filed Jun 14, 2026CAEngineOther / Unknown

   My Check Engine Light came on, I took my car to the dealership that I have using for eight years with less than 38k miles on it and I was told by the service technician who gave the diagnose as, there was coolant in the cylinder where the spark plug #3 is housed. He stated that the car is misfiring and I was told I needed to get an new engine replace to correct the problem. I was given a Service Bulletin stating the manufacturer knew of the problem with this model. I talk to…

   NHTSA complaint #11743958 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology