The 2016 Lincoln MKZ shares the Ford Fusion platform and inherits both its refinement and its Achilles' heels—particularly catastrophic 2.0L EcoBoost engine failures and water pump failures that destroy transmissions. The 3.7L V6 is the most bulletproof option, while hybrids add battery system concerns.
Symptoms: white smoke from exhaust, rapid coolant loss with no visible leaks, rough idle and misfire codes, milky oil on dipstick, sudden loss of power
Fix: Internal water pump or head gasket failure allows coolant into cylinders, hydro-locks engine or washes cylinder walls. Requires complete engine rebuild or replacement—12-18 hours labor for used engine swap, 25-35 hours for in-frame rebuild with new pistons, rings, bearings, and head gaskets. Ford extended warranty to 10yr/150k on some VINs but many 2016s fall outside coverage.
Estimated cost: $6,500-12,000
PTU (Power Transfer Unit) and Transmission Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: grinding or whining from front differential area, transmission overheating warnings, loss of AWD functionality, metal shavings in PTU fluid, burnt transmission fluid smell
Fix: AWD models have an external transmission oil cooler that leaks internally or the PTU seals fail, starving the unit of fluid. PTU replacement is 6-8 hours, transmission cooler is 4-5 hours. Often discover damage too late and need both. Cooler lines also corrode and leak—covered by recall 18S32 but check if performed.
Estimated cost: $2,200-4,800
Water Pump Failure (Internal, Transmission-Mounted)
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: coolant mixing with transmission fluid (pink milkshake in coolant reservoir), transmission slipping or harsh shifts, overheating, coolant level drops with no external leaks
Fix: 2.0L EcoBoost and 2.0L Hybrid have internal water pump mounted inside transmission bell housing. When seal fails, coolant cross-contaminates ATF, destroying transmission. Requires transmission removal—8-12 hours labor—plus full fluid flush or transmission replacement if contamination went unnoticed. This is a design flaw Ford never fully addressed.
Estimated cost: $1,800-5,500
Door Latch Failures
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: door will not latch closed, door ajar warning with all doors closed, door opens while driving, unable to open door from inside or outside
Fix: Pawl spring in door latch mechanism breaks—covered by recalls 16S30 and 17S42 but many owners experience repeat failures even after recall repair. Each door latch is 1.5-2 hours labor. Ford updated to revised parts but still see issues. Safety concern as doors can open unexpectedly.
Estimated cost: $350-550
EPAS (Electric Power Assist Steering) Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: intermittent power steering loss, steering assist fault warning, heavy steering at low speeds, clicking or clunking from steering column
Fix: Steering motor or control module fails—recall 17S07 covers some VINs for software reflash, but often needs full EPAS motor assembly replacement. Module is 2-3 hours, motor assembly is 4-5 hours. Non-covered repairs are expensive. Complete loss of assist is dangerous in traffic.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,400
Transmission Mounts and Shift Cable Bushing Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk when shifting into gear, excessive vibration at idle, difficulty shifting out of park, shifter feels loose or disconnected
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mounts collapse and shift cable bushings wear out prematurely. Mount replacement is 2-3 hours, cable bushing is 1-1.5 hours. Not dangerous but annoying and commonly misdiagnosed as transmission internal issues. Replace mounts in pairs.
Estimated cost: $450-900
Headlight Condensation and LED Driver Failure
Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: moisture inside headlight lens, intermittent headlight flickering, headlight out warning, DRL or turn signal not working on one side
Fix: Headlight seals fail allowing moisture in, or LED driver module fails. Entire headlight assembly replacement required—Lincoln doesn't sell components separately. 1-1.5 hours per side. Recall 18V-366 for some adaptive LED issues but standard LEDs not covered. Aftermarket units available but quality varies.
Estimated cost: $800-1,800
Owner tips
Check transmission cooler lines for corrosion and verify recall 18S32 was completed—prevents catastrophic PTU and transmission damage
On 2.0L EcoBoost models, monitor coolant level obsessively and check oil for milky appearance every 1,000 miles—early warning saves engine
Replace internal water pump proactively at 60k miles on 2.0L engines if you plan to keep the car—prevention is $1,200 vs $5k+ for transmission replacement
Verify all door latch recalls completed and carry proof—repeat failures common, dealer goodwill possible with documentation
AWD models: change PTU fluid every 30k miles with Motorcraft XY-75W140-QL synthetic—Ford says lifetime fill but that's optimistic
The 3.7L V6 avoids most engine catastrophic issues—best choice for used buyers willing to sacrifice fuel economy
Buy only if it's a 3.7L V6 with documented PTU services and all recalls completed—avoid 2.0L EcoBoost unless you have a bulletproof extended warranty and money for a new engine.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fiesta, 2016 Fusion, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component inside the door latches may break, which can make it difficult to latch or possibly allow the doors to open while driving.
Consequence: Vehicle doors opening unexpectedly while driving can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the door latch date codes and if necessary, replace all four side door latches, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-177.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 23V162000
2023-03-10 · RQ22004
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Consequence: 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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · 20E025000
2020-04-24
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Replacement Headlamps, part number DP5Z-13008-T and DP5Z-13008-V, sold for use with 2013-2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The headlamps may have an improper beam pattern and incorrect horizontal adjustment, the side markers may not illuminate and DOT markings may be missing. As such, these headlamps fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: The incorrect headlamps may reduce the driver's visibility or make the vehicle less visible, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify vehicle manufacturers, and dealers will inspect the headlamps, and replace the headlamps, as necessary, free of charge. Additionally, Ford will instruct dealers to return all improper headlamps and not to install them on any vehicles. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C10.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 20V177000
2020-03-23 · RQ19005
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fiesta, 2014-2016 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles sold, or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Consequence: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford or Lincoln dealers will replace the side door latches, free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S15.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 19V632000
2019-08-29
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
Consequence: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR · 18V167000
2018-03-12 · PE17007
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.
Consequence: 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE · 15V618000
2015-10-01
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 13, 2015, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have insufficent wall thickness. As a result, the fuel tanks may crack in the event of a crash and thus the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Consequence: A fuel tank that cracks may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C11.
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