There are 6 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2017 Lincoln MKZin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
After filling up with gas, started the vehicle & it displayed SEVERAL warnings regarding the steering, stability control, etc. Only about 2 miles from home. Started driving home & the steering wheel was variably going from fairly difficult to turn to VERY difficult to turn. Got within about 150 feet of my home & could not turn the steering wheel AT ALL. Tried multiple times to back up / go forward while attempting to move the steering wheel in hopes of getting in my driveway, to no avail. Ended up having to call a tow truck & having vehicle taken to a local dealership.
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle jerked abnormally with the powertrain warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to function properly and became difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,168.
When I stop at a stop sign & then turn right, my steering wheel locks up. It does clear up after trying to turn it but I’m stuck in traffic & cannot move because the steering is locked. This happened twice in 4 days. Brought car to dealership & they never heard of this.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAND LEDGE FORD LINCOLN (6080 E SAGINAW HWY, GRAND LEDGE, MI 48837, (517) 627-8100) WHERE IT WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO LAFONTAINE FORD OF LANSING (5103 S CEDAR ST, LANSING, MI 48911, (517) 394-7000) WHERE IT WAS TEST DRIVEN. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS UNEVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V167000(STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 24864137. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATE, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND THE "SEE MANUAL" LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH TOOL - FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO COAST CAR OFF EXIT RAMP SAFELY AND PULL OVER, AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE CHUGGED AND STALLED. FIRST RESTART "SEE MANUAL" LIGHT STILL ON, SPUTTERED AND STALLED. TURNED OFF VEHICLE. 2ND ATTEMPT SAME AS 1ST. 3RD CAME ON AND RAN WITHOUT ENGINE LIGHT AND SEEMED TO REV UP HIGHER THAN NORMAL, THEN CAME BACK DOWN. NO OTHER INDICATIONS APPEARED OTHER THAN "NO USE OF AUTO BRAKE AVAILABLE"
WITH THE V6 TWIN TURBO EQUIPPED FRONT WHEEL DRIVE MKZ YOU GET AN EXTRA TRILL IN ADDITION TO THE FAST ACCELLERATION . THE TORQUE STEER PROBLEM IS SO BAD THE STEERING WHEEL SNAPS OUT OF YOUR HAND AND JUMPS INTO THE ON COMMING LANE ! IF YOUR LOOKING FOR AN EXCITING CAR TO DRIVE, THIS IS IT !!!!
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