2014 Lincoln MKZ Problems And Complaints

User complaints and problems

Electrical Problems 

• Battery – The vehicle had a sudden electric malfunction that shut down functions like the reverse camera, power steering, and ABS to name a few. The car also failed to start and this forced the user to tow the vehicle to mechanics. It was found that there were no issues with the battery, the alternator, or the starter, however, the battery connector was found to be damaged and it was stated that a possible short circuit could have caused the issue. The connectors had to be changed and the electronics worked as intended.

Mechanical Problems 

• Engine – Users claimed that the car would stutter when trying to accelerate and it also led the car to stall at times. They noticed the engine light turning on and after an inspection, they found coolant fluid leaking, leading to the engine overheating. The coolant reservoir had to be replaced and filled with a new batch of fluid.
• Transmission – The outer bearing failure in the transmission resulted in metal-to-metal bearing destruction. This can lead to the transmission completely failing. Ford-Lincoln released a technical bulleting but only vehicles under certain VIN numbers were recalled. The other affected vehicles would have to go under a transmission replacement by paying up the entire cost.
• Brakes – The users complained that the brake pedal would go all the way to the floor and this caused the vehicle to lose its braking ability. After the dealers were informed about the issue, the vehicle was diagnosed and it seemed to be an issue with the master cylinder. Some research showed that other models were recalled for a similar issue but the Impreza was skipped for some reason.
• Steering – It was said that the steering wheel would pull towards the left and restrict the drivers from turning the wheel. It was found that the electric steering rack was faulty and needed a replacement. The car was said to have already undergone two recalls related to the steering unit and users suspect that it could have damaged the rack in some way.

Miscellaneous Problems 

• Locks – The rear passenger door was said to not lock upon closing the door and the dealers found the latch to have broken due to a slight misalignment of the unit. The entire latch had to be replaced and installed the right way.

2014 Lincoln MKZ recalls

S. No.	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1.	13th January 2022	22V011000	Brake light malfunction and possible rollaway risk.	Separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate, confusing other drivers. Also, a missing brake pedal bumper can cause the transmission to shift out of Park without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to roll away.	Dealers will replace the brake pedal bumpers and clutch pedal bumpers, free of charge.
2.	8th June 2020	20V331000	Doors may open while driving.	A component within the door latch may break and cause the door to open while driving.	The side door latches will be inspected and replaced if necessary.
3.	24th April 2020	20E025000	Headlamps may not function properly.	The headlights might have an improper beam pattern and incorrect horizontal adjustment. This limits the visibility of the driver and can lead the car into a dangerous situation.	The headlamps will be replaced.
4.	23rd March 2020	20V177000	Doors may open while driving.	A door that is not securely latched can open while the vehicle is moving.	Dealers will replace the door latches.
5.	29th August 2019	19V632000	Steering gear motor may detach.	If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.	Dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer.
6.	12th March 2018	18V167000	Steering wheel may detach.	The steering wheel retaining bolts may loosen, allowing the steering wheel to loosen and detach while driving.	The dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt with a longer one.
7.	27th May 2017	17V210000	Doors may unexpectedly open.	If the door is not securely latched, it could open while on the move.	All four door larches will be replaced.
8.	5th December 2016	16V875000	Front seat belts may not restrain occupants.	Heat from the deployment of the pretensioners may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.	Dealers will apply a protective coating over the seatbelt cable.
9.	28th April 2015	15V250000	Loss of power steering assist from salt corrosion.	Snow or water containing road salt may corrode the electric power steering gear motor.	Dealers will apply sealers and replace the steering gear motor bolts as required.
10.	24th April 2015	15V246000	Doors may unexpectedly open.	A broke component within the door latch can lead to the doors opening while the car is moving.	Dealers will replace the latches on all four doors.
11.	26th September 2014	14V597000	Airbags may not deploy as intended.	A coating on the restraint control module may crack and cause a short circuit. This may disable the airbags or affect their performance during a crash.	Dealers will replace the RCM.
12.	2nd April 2014	14V164000	Welds on seat assembly may fail.	The affected seats may have insufficient strength and may crash or deform during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.	Dealers will replace the seatbacks.
13.	25th November 2013	13V594000	Transmission can be shifted out of park.	Without needing the brake to be depressed, the car may unintentionally move out of park and increase the risk of rollaway.	Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module with new software.

Should you buy the 2014 Lincoln MKZ?

Considering the fact that the 2014 Lincoln MKZ is a premium midsize sedan, the number sold is decent for its class and with a very limited complaints list, it’s proved itself to be reliable. However, the car has undergone 13 recalls out of which, 4 were regarding a faulty door latch. With Lincoln being able to identify multiple issues and addressing them, it is safe to say that the brand is supportive and that makes the car pretty easy to maintain. It is mandatory to get all the door latches inspected before buying this car and any broken or inoperative door needs to be repaired as a part of the recall. We recommend picking the Lincoln MKZ in this segment as the problem this car was said to carry is very limited and easy to fix.