Why it can be a good car
The 2015 MKZ (second generation) is a comfortable, quiet, well-equipped luxury sedan built on the same platform as the Ford Fusion, with a 2.0-liter turbo four, a 3.7-liter V6, or a hybrid. It's good value used and pleasant to live with; the caveats are two steering recalls, some electronics quirks, and reliability that's average for the class.
The steering recalls — get these confirmed
Two steering items matter most. One recall covers a steering-wheel retaining bolt that can loosen and, in a worst case, allow the steering wheel to detach — clearly a must-fix. A second covers electric-power-steering gear-motor bolts that can corrode (from road salt) and cause a loss of power-steering assist. Both are repaired free at a dealer, and confirming they're completed on the specific VIN — especially on a salt-belt car — is essential.
Other things to know
- Infotainment The MyLincoln Touch / SYNC system and rearview camera can be glitchy; test the screen, camera, and Bluetooth.
- Transmission Some slipping or hesitation when shifting is reported; feel for clean shifts.
- Drive-control warning A "Drive control malfunction, service required" message is common, often traced to the adaptive dampers or a body-control-module software issue.
Open recalls — check the VIN, it's free
Beyond the two steering recalls, the 2015 MKZ had others (seat belts, lighting, and latch items). All are VIN-specific — look up the exact car's open recalls free by VIN at NHTSA; a Lincoln dealer completes any open recall at no charge.
What a history report tells you — and what it doesn't
On a car like this, the individual car's history is most of the decision. A history report is a record of what got reported — title brands, reported accidents and damage, odometer readings over time, and service records where they exist. That is what separates a clean, maintained example from a salvage-title or flood car wearing the same badge.
What a history report is not is a forecast, and an absence of records is not proof of a clean past — plenty happens to a car that never gets reported. That is why the honest answer is always the pair: the documented history and an in-person inspection by a mechanic you trust, on the specific car.
The things to check before you buy
- Steering recalls Confirm both steering recalls (the wheel-retaining bolt and the power-steering-bolt corrosion) are completed on this VIN.
- Steering feel Confirm consistent steering with no looseness, clunks, or warnings.
- Infotainment Test the screen, camera, and Bluetooth for glitches.
- Transmission Feel for clean shifts with no slipping or hesitation.
- Accident and rust The usual panel and underbody checks.
What would make you walk
- Uncompleted steering recalls the seller won't resolve The wheel-retaining bolt item in particular is a must-fix.
- Persistent electronics failures Infotainment, camera, or a recurring drive-control warning with no fix.
- A transmission that slips after service If a fluid service hasn't cleared it.
- Structural damage or rust The usual deal-breakers.