There are 6 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2016 Lincoln MKZin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My MKZ started slowly losing coolant and running rough particularly upon starting the engine. Two days later the overheating warning came on and I pulled over and shut off the engine. Sioux Falls Ford has diagnosed it as coolant intrusion in the engine requiring a new engine block.
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle lost motive power but was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Eco Boost 2.0 Coolant Intrusion to Cylinders Needs new motor, very well known issue by Ford and they are not willing to pay for repairs
Check engine light came on, car ran hot, and emitted smoke. It also began to run rough. Frightening to say the least. I immediately drove home and took it to my mechanic the next day. He found coolant leaked into cylinder 3. He did research and found tons of reports of the same problem with the Ford 2.0 eco boost engine. Several people reported engine seizing, smoke, or fires. This is a safety hazard.
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the contact smelled a odor of burning. The contact was able to pull over into a parking lot and examined under the hood and notice that coolant had leaked. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and stated that cylinder two had misfired and coolant had leaked into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced and advised to contact the local dealer. The vehicle was towed to the dealer that also stated that the engine needed to be replaced and advised to contact the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but did not provide any assistance and was advised to contact NHTSA. The failure mileage was 70,000.
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE WENT TO LOW IDLE. THE PLACES THE OPERATOR IN A VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE CAR TO TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AT ISSUE WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. FORD AND LINCOLN SEEM TO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A SERVICE BULLETIN OR A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE. FORD HAS NOTHING UP ON THEIR WEB SITE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026