There are 1 stored owner reports matching the powertrain & transmission leading-label group for the 2016 Lincoln MKZ in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 1 of 1 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)PTU (POWER TRANSFER UNIT) KEEPS FAILING INITIALLY LINCOLN STATED IT WASN'T A SERVICEABLE PART. NO DRAIN PLUG PRESENT. IF LEFT UNCHECKED OR SERVICED BY SUCKING OUT THE OIL THAT GETS BURNT BECAUSE OF HEAT FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WITH ONLY 1 QUART OF 70/140 FUILD IT COULD SEIZE UP AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THE PTU COULD EITHER BUST OPEN OR LOCK UP CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT AS THE PTU IS JUST THE THE RIGHT OF THE GAS PEDDLE UNDER YOUR FOOT. SIMCE THERE ISN'T A FIX FORM THIS PART IT MUST BE WARRANTIED FOR LIFE FLUID CHANGED ANNUALLY PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW. THEY ATTEMPTED A FIX IN 2018 WITH A WATER JACKET ATTACHED TO THE SIDE I HAVE SEEN PTUS WITH 25,000 MILES ON THEM ALREADY TURNING BLACK. THE OIL IS AN AMBER SEE THROUGH COLOR NEW. THE PTU SITS IN A 5 SIDED BOX COOKING AWAY EVERYTIME YOU DRIVE IT THERE ISN'T EVEN ANY PASSIVE AIRFLOW OVER IT ON 2016 AND 2017 MKZ'S AND FORD FUSIONS AND FORD EXPLORERS ALL HAVING ALL TIME AWD
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.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.