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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2015 Lincoln MKZ is associated with 80 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 11 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Back Over Prevention / Camera, accounting for 8 reports (10% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 5 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl, 3.7l 6-cyl, and 2L 4-Cyl hybrid configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 21 to 40 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 80 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 11 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Back Over Prevention / Camera (8 / 10%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 4 crash / 0 fire / 0 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 21–40 MPG across 5 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
MKZ FWD 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 22 MPG 33 MPG 26 MPG — $2,350 / yr
MKZ FWD 3.7L 6-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 18 MPG 27 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
MKZ AWD 2L 4-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 22 MPG 31 MPG 25 MPG — $2,450 / yr
MKZ AWD 3.7L 6-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) 18 MPG 25 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
MKZ Hybrid FWD Hybrid 2L 4-Cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (variable gear ratios) 41 MPG 39 MPG 40 MPG — $1,550 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
4 DR FWD 10.9%
4 DR AWD 10.9%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2015 Lincoln MKZ models.
View complete 2015 Lincoln MKZ crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?

Summary of 80 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
80
Crash Reports
4
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
0
Total Injuries
0

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Back Over Prevention / Camera 8 complaints
Service Brakes 7 complaints (1 crash)
Steering 7 complaints
Service Brakes 5 complaints
Electrical System 4 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2015 Lincoln MKZ problems & component breakdown (35 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #25V695000 Active Recall
Affected Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
NHTSA Campaign #23V162000 Active Recall
Affected Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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

Free Manufacturer 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.
NHTSA Campaign #22V011000 Active Recall
Affected Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: 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.
View all 2015 Lincoln MKZ recalls & campaign history (11 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2015 Lincoln MKZ

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ

How many safety recalls does the 2015 Lincoln MKZ have?

The 2015 Lincoln MKZ is associated with 11 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 11 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?

NHTSA records list 80 consumer defect complaints for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Back Over Prevention / Camera, appearing in 8 filings (10% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2015 Lincoln MKZ defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2015 Lincoln MKZ earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2015 Lincoln MKZ get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ range from 21 to 40 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.