2017 Lincoln MKZ · symptom sheet

Engine overheats or leaks coolant

58owner reports
72,400median miles
$7,103median quote
1involved a crash

Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

83 of the 139 complaints on this car are about the engine. 58 of those describe overheating, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 MKZ.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

1 crashin 58 reports

2 people hurtin these reports

2 firesin 58 reports

Tick what matches of 58 reports

the temperature gauge climbed into the red

coolant is disappearing or on the ground

white smoke from the tailpipe

the heater stopped blowing hot

the dealer found a head gasket or cracked block

the engine was replaced afterward

Overheating on other MKZ years

No other MKZ model year has enough reports of overheating for a sheet of its own. See every MKZ year.

What this problem usually is

Most owners in this group notice the coolant before they notice the heat: a reservoir that keeps dropping, a sweet smell, or a bright puddle under the front of the car. Across the vehicles on this site, about four in five of these complaints mention coolant, a leak or a puddle, and roughly two in five mention the temperature gauge or overheating.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the head gasket (5 reports) and the coolant hose or reservoir (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the engine covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

What owners paid

17 of the 58 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,864 to $8,000.

$3,864$7,103$8,000

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 53,000 and 82,000 miles, from the 29 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Lincoln MKZ that deal with this problem. Newest first.

Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

Service bulletinTSB 22-2229Jun 10, 2022
Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2017-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
Service bulletinTSB 19-2172Jun 13, 2019
Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2015-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
Service bulletinSSM 47462Aug 13, 2018
2015-2018 Edge, Fusion, Focus, MKZ, MKC, Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit coolant consumption, white smoke and/or a runs rough condition.
Service bulletinSSM 47204Mar 30, 2018
Some 2015-2018 Fusion/MKZ/MKC/Escape/Edge vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a runs rough condition with DTCs P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P0316. This may be due to coolant intrusion due to corrosion on the engine block.

What owners wrote

“Faulty engine, head gasket failure and needing total engine replace at 83,000 miles”
Filed Jan 13, 2026 · 83,000 miles

“Coolant intrusion into cylinders 2&3 causing misfire at 126,000 miles. Car lost coolant without warning and started overheating. Took to West Herr Lincoln in Buffalo NY and they said car needs new engine, Lincoln wont cover or help me with repair. I owe ally $16,000 on this car still.”
Filed Aug 27, 2025 · 126,000 miles

“My name is [XXX] , and I am leasing a 2017 Lincoln Mkz, with 60000 miles on it and experience total engine failure due to coolant leaking into it INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
Filed Aug 23, 2025 · 60,000 miles

“Internal engine failure causing coolant to leak into the cylinders. Have been advised that a new engine is necessary. Car warranty has expired due to age. Mileage is 53,042.”
Filed Oct 21, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 58 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

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