If you're shopping for a used Lincoln MKZ this fall, aim for a 2017-2020 car. Those years got Sync 3 in place of the clumsy MyLincoln Touch system, a stronger front structure that scored Good in every IIHS crash test, and the optional 400-hp twin-turbo V-6. The hybrid is the fuel-economy pick if you can live with a smaller trunk. The cheap 2007-2012 cars are where I'd slow down, because several of their air bag recalls tell owners not to drive the car until it's fixed.
The MKZ is a Ford Fusion underneath, and MotorTrend's reviews say so plainly. Consumer Reports splits it into two generations, 2007-2012 and 2013-2020, and says 2020 was the last year. If you're cross-shopping the Ford, our used Ford Fusion guide covers the sister car. Many of its recalls are shared Fusion campaigns, as you will see below.
The two generations, briefly
The first MKZ is the 2006 Zephyr renamed for 2007, when CR says all-wheel drive arrived. Stability control came for 2009. A 2010 refresh improved the turning circle, the cabin materials and the noise levels, and a hybrid joined for 2011 at the same price as the gas car. CR's retail ranges in mid October 2026 run about $3,025-$3,225 for a 2007 and $5,650-$5,700 for a 2012, so this is cheap transportation now, not a luxury purchase.
The 2013 redesign was a much bigger step. MotorTrend's 2013 review notes it's still Fusion-based, with push-button gear selectors on the center stack instead of a shift lever, and the hybrid uses a CVT. CR called it the most appealing and well-executed Lincoln in memory but knocked the MyLincoln Touch controls as cumbersome. CR also says a rear camera was added for 2015. For 2017, MotorTrend says the 3.7-liter V-6 (300 hp) was dropped for a Lincoln-only 3.0 twin-turbo making 350 hp with front drive or 400 hp with AWD, and the base 2.0 turbo four went to 245 hp. Both gas engines use a six-speed automatic. To confirm which engine and drive a specific car has, run it through our Lincoln VIN decoder guide.
What reviewers didn't like
The MKZ is comfortable more than it is sharp. Car and Driver's 2020 review praised the twin-turbo engine and the cabin but listed sloppy handling when pushed, torque steer on front-drive V-6 cars and slow shifts as the downsides, and it called the base four-cylinder unremarkable. C/D says the hybrid's battery cuts trunk space from 15 to 11 cubic feet. That's a real loss if you haul strollers or golf bags. The EPA numbers it quotes for 2020 are 42 mpg city and 39 highway for the front-drive hybrid versus 17/26 for the AWD V-6, so the hybrid is the one that saves real money at the pump.
Crash scores by year
This is the clearest reason to pay up for a 2017 or newer. IIHS says Ford changed the front-end structure for 2017 Fusion and MKZ models, and the 2017-2020 cars scored Good in the driver-side and passenger-side small overlap tests, moderate overlap, side and roof strength. Headlights were Marginal, and IIHS notes that rating varies by trim. A 2016 MKZ was rated Acceptable in the driver-side small overlap test, and IIHS lists no passenger-side score for it.
Recalls to check on the exact VIN
I ran every model year from 2007 to 2020 through the NHTSA recalls API on Friday afternoon, October 16, starting with the 2010 MKZ query. The ones I'd look for first:
- 16V384 and 17V024, 2007-2012: passenger air bag inflators that can rupture after years of heat and humidity. Coverage depends on where the car was sold or registered, and both records tell owners not to drive the car until it's repaired. 18V775 then replaced some of those first replacement bags again.
- 21V158, 2007-2012: the driver air bag inflator can explode, and dealers fit an alternate inflator or module.
- 18V167, 2014-2018: the steering wheel bolt can loosen and let the wheel come off. Dealers fit a longer bolt.
- 23V162, 2013-2018: front brake hoses can rupture and leak fluid.
- 15V250 and 19V632, 2013-2016: steering gear motor bolts can corrode and break in certain cold-weather states, which can cut power assist.
- Door latch campaigns, 2013-2016: several rounds (15V246, 17V210, 20V177, 20V331, 23V775) because a broken latch part can leave a door that looks shut but isn't, and it could open while you're moving.
- 25V695, 2015: a rear camera that can show a blank or distorted image. The record says the remedy is rolling out in phases by model and year, so ask the dealer whether parts exist for that car yet.
Our Lincoln recall check by VIN post shows how to see what's still open on the car in front of you. A clean CARFAX doesn't mean recall work was done.
Alternatives worth a look
If you want a quiet midsize luxury sedan from a different maker, see our used Lexus ES guide. If you've decided you actually want a crossover from Lincoln, the used Lincoln Nautilus guide covers the closest thing in the lineup today.
Price, history and the report
CR's retail ranges run about $8,275-$13,175 for a 2017 and $14,275-$17,650 for a 2020. Read the history for rental use and for mileage that jumps around. Look up title brands for free through NMVTIS, and don't trust a history PDF a seller texts you, since those are trivial to edit. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. One report costs around $5.50 as a guest, closer to $4.50 if you're a member, and roughly $6.75 for both brands together, against about $39.99-$44.99 when you buy direct. Go by the total on the checkout page.
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