2015 Lincoln MKZ problems: what to check before you buy
The 2015 Lincoln MKZ has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns to check, the newest filed in 2025, plus 94 owner complaints, the second-most of the six MKZ model years in our 2015–2022 collection, with the electrical system (20) and the rear-view camera (12) named most often. Before you buy one, run its VIN through NHTSA's free recall lookup; the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF shows title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file.
Buying this 2015 MKZ? Enter its VIN.
The decode is free. The original ClearVIN PDF is $14.99 one time, with no account: title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for that VIN. Check open recalls with NHTSA’s free VIN lookup.
Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
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See what the paid report includes →NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ, alongside 94 owner complaints filed with the agency, most often about the electrical system. Eligible recall remedies are generally free through the manufacturer's approved repair process, even after the warranty ends; some software remedies are delivered remotely. Federal no-charge coverage has an age limit for vehicles first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. Check the specific VIN — a previous owner may already have had the work done.
Half of the 55 NHTSA owner complaints on the 2015 Lincoln MKZ that list mileage came after 48,000 miles (NHTSA complaints file of November 11, 2026). How many miles will a Lincoln MKZ last? →
One VIN. One $14.99 history report.
For $14.99, VIN Lookup delivers an original ClearVIN vehicle-history PDF for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ VIN you enter: title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file. ClearVIN is on the U.S. Department of Justice’s list of approved NMVTIS data providers; VIN Lookup sells that original report. The records returned vary by VIN.
The VIN decode is free. No card is needed until you choose to buy; applicable tax is shown at checkout. A missing record is not proof that an event never happened.No account · Refund reviewed if not delivered, unopenable or wrong VIN by our error · Sold by VIN Lookup (SH LLC, Sheridan, WY)Original provider PDF
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What to check before buying a used 2015 MKZ
Model-year data describes the production run, not the car in front of you: two cars of this model year can differ entirely, one with every recall repaired and the other with none. The counts below are from NHTSA data collected on 2026-09-15.
- Verify the 11 recall campaigns by VINCopy the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label, not from the listing, and run it through NHTSA's free recall lookup. It shows unrepaired recalls within its coverage and does not show completed repairs, so ask the seller for dated repair paperwork. The 8 campaigns listed below cover the rear-view camera, the brakes, exterior lighting, the door latches and more. 1 of the 11 was filed in 2025 or 2026 and has had the least time to be repaired.
- Test-drive for what MKZ owners report most20 of the 94 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system: on the drive, try every light, window, lock, screen and power outlet, and watch for warning lights or a slow start. Another 12 name the rear-view camera: put it in reverse and check the camera image and parking sensors. Complaints are unverified owner reports, not proven defects, but they show where to look.
- Check the title and odometer in the history reportRecall and complaint data describe the 2015 production run, not this car's past. The VIN decode here is free; the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF lists title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for that VIN. Records vary by vehicle, and a missing record does not prove nothing happened.
- Book an independent pre-purchase inspectionHave a mechanic you choose inspect this MKZ before you buy, and ask them to look hardest at the electrical system, the rear-view camera and the brakes.
Is the 2015 MKZ a good car to buy used?
NHTSA's records cannot rate one used 2015 Lincoln MKZ; they can show how this model year compares with the other MKZ years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection. The 2015 has 94 owner complaints on file; of the six MKZ model years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection (2015–2020), one drew more and four drew fewer. The median of the MKZ years with enough complaints to compare is 94. The 2017 stands out instead, at 153. Its 11 recall campaigns are the most of any MKZ year in the 2015–2022 collection. These counts track how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they rank years within the MKZ, not build quality; whether one 2015 MKZ is a good buy depends on its own history and condition.
Which 2015–2022 MKZ years have the most complaints?
Among the six MKZ model years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection, the 2017 has the most owner complaints, 153. The 2015 has 94. Older and better-selling years have had more time and more owners to file reports.
2015 Lincoln MKZ recalls and reported problems at a glance
What owners report most
These are the vehicle systems named most often in complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Lincoln MKZ. A complaint is an unverified owner report: it does not establish a defect, and a high count can simply reflect a popular model. Use it to decide where an inspection should look hardest.
| Vehicle system | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Back Over Prevention | 12 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Steering | 8 |
Recall campaigns for the 2015 Lincoln MKZ
Each campaign below is an official NHTSA record. An eligible remedy is generally free through the manufacturer’s approved process, which may be an authorized service visit or remote software update. Federal no-charge coverage has a 15-year first-sale limit measured at the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. A campaign covers a production range. Check the VIN for open recalls within NHTSA’s coverage; confirm applicability and completed repairs with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
| Campaign | Component | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 25V695000 | BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA | 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 w… |
| 23V162000 | 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. |
| 22V011000 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 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… |
| 20E025000 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 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 markin… |
| 20V177000 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 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, Washing… |
| 19V632000 | STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 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, Mi… |
| 19V590000 | SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 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. |
| 18V167000 | 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. |
NHTSA records 11 campaigns in total for this model year; the 8 most recent are listed above. Run the VIN through NHTSA’s free lookup for open recalls within its coverage, not a complete recall history.
What this data cannot tell you
- A complete recall or repair history for one vehicle. NHTSA’s VIN lookup covers unrepaired recalls within its scope; confirm missing campaigns and completed work with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
- Whether a complaint is accurate. NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them.
- How reliable the model is overall: complaint volume tracks how many vehicles were sold as much as how they hold up.
- Anything about title brands, accident history, odometer records, or liens on an individual vehicle.
Primary sources behind this page
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- Recalls Lookup by VINNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle recall remedy age limitNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall and complaint datasets: scope and API documentationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 25V695000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 23V162000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 22V011000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 20E025000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 20V177000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 19V632000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 19V590000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 18V167000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 16V875000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 15V250000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 15V248000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Approved NMVTIS Data Providers — checked October 26, 2026U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
The 2026-09-15 data collection queried these NHTSA model names for 2015 Lincoln: MKZ and MKZ HEV. Records appearing under more than one name are counted once. The documentation explains the collection endpoints; a campaign link opens its official record across all affected vehicles, not the recall status of a specific VIN.
2015 Lincoln MKZ questions
What should I check before buying a used 2015 Lincoln MKZ?
Check the 11 NHTSA recall campaigns against the car's VIN with NHTSA's free lookup and ask for dated repair paperwork. Owners name the electrical system and the rear-view camera most often in 94 complaints; those are unverified reports, not proven defects, but they show what to test on the drive. Recall data says nothing about this car's past: the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF lists title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for the VIN. Finish with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2015 Lincoln MKZ have?
NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls covering the 2015 Lincoln MKZ as of 2026-09-15. Whether a specific vehicle is affected — and whether the repair was already done — depends on its VIN.
What are the most common 2015 Lincoln MKZ problems?
Owners most often report problems with the electrical system, the rear-view camera and the brakes to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports and do not establish a defect, but they show where to focus an inspection.
Are Lincoln recall repairs free?
Generally, yes for eligible vehicles, even after the warranty ends. Federal law limits the required no-charge remedy when a vehicle was first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; a manufacturer may still cover an older vehicle voluntarily. Check the VIN with the manufacturer for the approved remedy, which may be a dealer visit or a remote software update.
Can I check recalls on a specific 2015 Lincoln MKZ VIN?
Yes. NHTSA's free VIN lookup reports unrepaired recalls within its coverage. It excludes completed repairs and can omit some recent recalls, older campaigns and vehicles outside its coverage. A zero result is not a complete recall or repair history. Ask the seller or manufacturer for dated repair documentation.