Makes›Lincoln›MKZ›2015

2015 Lincoln MKZ

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2015 models.

Lincoln MKZ
Pictured: 2018 Lincoln MKZ, front 2.7.20. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Midsize Cars
Body styles
2.0l/Hybrid 4dr Sedan FWD, 3.7l AWD 4dr Sedan
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.7L 6-cyl
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
MPG (best)
40 combined · 41 city / 39 hwy
Length
194.1 in
Curb weight
3,827–4,001 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
10 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 56% better than the average 2015 midsize car (25.7 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available

Watch out for

  • 10 recallsMore than similar models (about 2). Confirm repairs with the VIN.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 36 similar 2015 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2015 Lincoln MKZ is a midsize car offered with 3 engines (2.0L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.7L 6-cyl), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.

It measures about 194 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,827 lb (2.0l/Hybrid 4dr Sedan FWD).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 40 MPG combined (41 city / 39 highway), 56% better than the 2015 midsize car average of 25.7 MPG, for an estimated $1,700 a year in fuel.

NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.

It has 10 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the electrical system.

What changed for 2015

  • Best combined MPG up from 38 to 40

Compared with 2014; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2014 MKZ →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
2.0l/Hybrid 4dr Sedan FWD194.1 in73.2 in58.3 in112.2 in62.2 / 62.2 in3,827 lb59/41
3.7l AWD 4dr Sedan194.1 in73.2 in58.3 in112.2 in62.2 / 62.2 in4,001 lb59/41

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
MKZ Hybrid FWD Hybrid2.0L 4-cylAutomatic (variable gear ratios)Front-Wheel Drive41 / 39 / 40+56%$1,700227
MKZ FWD2.0L 4-cyl turboAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel Drive22 / 33 / 26+1%$2,600341
MKZ AWD2.0L 4-cyl turboAutomatic (S6)All-Wheel Drive22 / 31 / 25-3%$2,700357
MKZ AWD3.7L 6-cylAutomatic (S6)All-Wheel Drive18 / 25 / 21-18%$3,200429
MKZ FWD3.7L 6-cylAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel Drive18 / 27 / 21-18%$3,200415
9/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
9/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Save $3,500Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
25.7 MPG2015 Midsize Cars average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2015 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ.

Similar 2015 midsize cars

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2015 Lincoln MKZ (this car)40 MPGNot rated10
2015 BMW 5 Series30 MPGNot rated0
2015 Mercedes-Benz E-Class25 MPGNot rated0
2015 Audi A426 MPGNot rated4
2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class28 MPGNot rated0
2015 Audi A629 MPGNot rated4
2015 Lexus LS20 MPGNot rated1

Recalls (10)

Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera · Oct 13, 2025

NHTSA campaign 25V695000 · 1,448,655 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk
A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · Mar 10, 2023

NHTSA campaign 23V162000 · 1,280,726 vehicles

Problem
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.
Fix
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages · Jan 13, 2022

NHTSA campaign 22V011000 · 199,085 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 Mustang vehicles originally sold or ever registered, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Hawaii. Exposure to certain environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, high humidity, and salt air can cause the brake pedal bumper to corrode and separate from the brake pedal.
Risk
A separated brake pedal bumper can cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously, causing confusion to other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash. On automatic transmission vehicles, a missing brake pedal bumper can allow the driver to shift the vehicle out of the "PARK" position without depressing the brake, allowing the vehicle to rollaway, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix
Dealers will replace the brake pedal bumpers and clutch pedal bumpers, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on March 4, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S02.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch · Mar 23, 2020

NHTSA campaign 20V177000 · 288,110 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix
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 · Aug 29, 2019

NHTSA campaign 19V632000 · 116,160 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
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.
Fix
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.
Seat Belts › Front · Aug 12, 2019

NHTSA campaign 19V590000 · 103,374 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
Risk
A failed seat belt anchor cable cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S25. Note: This recall is an expansion of a recall 16V-875.
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar · Mar 12, 2018

NHTSA campaign 18V167000 · 1,301,986 vehicles

Problem
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.
Fix
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.
Seat Belts › Front · Dec 5, 2016

NHTSA campaign 16V875000 · 603,392 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
Risk
If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
Fix
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began May 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S42.
Steering › Electric Power Assist System · Apr 28, 2015

NHTSA campaign 15V250000 · 487,301 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to March 20, 2015, and 2015 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured February 26, 2015, to February 28, 2015, and originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, snow or water containing road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
Risk
If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealer and replace the steering gear motor bolts as required. If one or more 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 on June 24, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S14.
Exterior Lighting › Headlights · Apr 27, 2015

NHTSA campaign 15V248000 · 21,435 vehicles

Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 17, 2014, to March 19, 2015, and equipped with daytime running lights (DRL). In the affected vehicles, the parking lights do not reduce their light output from a DRL level when used in conjunction with the headlights. As such, the light output may exceed the the permissable amount allowed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk
If the light output is excessive, oncoming traffic may be temporarily blinded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
Ford has notified owners, and dealers will update the lighting control software, free of charge. The recall began on May 8, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 15C02.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2015 Lincoln MKZ is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

97Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
6Involved a crash
0Involved a fire
3Injuries reported
48,989 miTypical mileage at failure
Electrical System19
Back Over Prevention12
Unknown Or Other10
Service Brakes9
Engine8
Steering8
Seat Belts7
Air Bags7
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
23/09: 223/10: 324/01: 124/02: 124/04: 124/08: 124/10: 125/03: 125/04: 125/06: 125/07: 125/09: 125/10: 125/12: 126/01: 326/02: 126/03: 126/04: 126/05: 126/06: 226/07: 226/08: 426/09: 326/10: 223/0924/0224/1025/0625/1026/0226/0526/08max 4

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2015 Lincoln MKZ buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 10 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Electrical System — 19 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
  3. Back Over Prevention — 12 owner reports. Make sure driver-assist systems and the backup camera work without error messages.
  4. Service Brakes — 9 owner reports. Brake firmly from speed; check for pulling, pulsing pedal or ABS warning light.
  5. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 48,989 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  6. Hybrid system. Check for hybrid-system warning lights and ask whether the high-voltage battery has been replaced or is still under warranty.
  7. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other MKZ years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2020 MKZ41194.1 in★★★★★13
2019 MKZ41194.1 in★★★★★123
2018 MKZ40194.1 in★★★★★238
2017 MKZ40194.1 inNot rated4158
2016 MKZ40194.1 inNot rated671
2014 MKZ38194.1 inNot rated13117
2013 MKZ38194.1 inNot rated12101
2012 MKZ38190.6 inNot rated5195
2011 MKZ38190.6 inNot rated5170
2010 MKZ21190.6 inNot rated7150
2009 MKZ21190.6 inNot rated6103
2008 MKZ22190.6 inNot rated4259

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Lincoln. How we calculate this →