What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2013 Lincoln MKZ

Typical pattern

8.2% of complaints about the 2013 Lincoln MKZ came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2013 vehicle — around the middle of the 210 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (17 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 8,865 miles.

Complaints
147
Median age at failure
6.4 yr
Median mileage
40,000 n=92
Crash / fire / tow
10.2% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
17 reports · 8,865 mi
6.8 yr
0%
Steering
16 reports · 67,000 mi
9.1 yr
6.2%
Power train
15 reports · 30,000 mi
2.9 yr
6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

23V162000 2023-03-10
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V331000 2020-06-08
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

20E025000 2020-04-24
Exterior lighting:headlights

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Replacement Headlamps, part number DP5Z-13008-T and DP5Z-13008-V, sold for use with 2013-2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The headlamps may have an improper beam pattern and incorrect horizontal adjustment, the side markers may not illuminate and DOT markings may be missing. As such, these headlamps fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

The incorrect headlamps may reduce the driver's visibility or make the vehicle less visible, increasing the risk of a crash.

19V632000 2019-08-29
Steering:electric power assist system

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.

If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

17V210000 2017-03-27
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Fiesta, 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

16V875000 2016-12-05
Seat belts:front

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.

If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.

15V250000 2015-04-28
Steering:electric power assist system

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to March 20, 2015, and 2015 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured February 26, 2015, to February 28, 2015, and originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, snow or water containing road salt or oth

If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

15V246000 2015-04-24
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta vehicles manufactured February 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 119,567 vehicles, including certain model year 2011 Ford Fiestas manufactured from November 11, 2009, to May 31, 2013 and certain model year 2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012. A component wit

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

14V597000 2014-09-26
Air bags

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to November 1, 2013; and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to September 30, 2013. The coating on portions of the Restraint Control Module (RCM) may crack, and when exposed to humidity, circuits on the printed circuit board may short.

The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.

14V164000 2014-04-02
Seats:front assembly:recliner

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured from July 23, 2012, through May 28, 2013. The driver and passenger seatback assemblies may have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The affected seat backs may have insufficient strength to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Ve

The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 175 mi 9 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER LINE TO THE BATTERY JUNCTION WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175.
Electrical system 8,865 mi 1.0 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, HIS HAND ERRONEOUSLY BRUSHED AGAINST THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ONCE IT WAS SECURED IN PARK. THE RENTAL COMPANY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ADVISED IF THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,865. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system 3,000 mi 1.0 yr in service
VEHICLE LOCKED OUT OF ABILITY TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES OVER 20 MINUTES IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. CAUSED OBSTACLE TO TRAFFIC. BLIND CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING ALARM IS ACTIVATED WITHOUT PROPER STIMULUS, SLOWING THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THERE IS NO THREAT OF COLLISION. THIS ALMOST CAUSED THREE SEPARATE ACCIDENTS. LINCOLN SERVICE SUGGESTED DISABLING THIS SAFETY FEATURE. NOTE THAT THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING DOES NOT MEET NHTSA STANDARD ACCORDING TO JD POWERS. *TR
Power train 3,000 mi 1.0 yr in service
VEHICLE LOCKED OUT OF ABILITY TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES OVER 20 MINUTES IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. CAUSED OBSTACLE TO TRAFFIC. BLIND CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING ALARM IS ACTIVATED WITHOUT PROPER STIMULUS, SLOWING THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THERE IS NO THREAT OF COLLISION. THIS ALMOST CAUSED THREE SEPARATE ACCIDENTS. LINCOLN SERVICE SUGGESTED DISABLING THIS SAFETY FEATURE. NOTE THAT THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING DOES NOT MEET NHTSA STANDARD ACCORDING TO JD POWERS. *TR

Other MKZ model years

2017201520142013201220112010200920082007

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