2013 Lincoln Mkz Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Lincoln Mkz.

20122014
Complaints
146
Crashes
9
Fires
3
Injuries
6
Fatalities
Recalls
12

Worst 2013 Lincoln Mkz Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#117 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:36,099 mi
#216 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:64,497 mi
#315 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:45,470 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Lincoln Mkz.

Electrical Faults
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
36,099
Steering Defects
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
64,497
Transmission / Drivetrain
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
45,470
Seat Belt Issues
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
42,350
Engine Problems
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
49,938
Body Structure
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
61,806
Wheel Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
23,754
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
67,280
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
39,425
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Backup Camera
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Firerelated
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Assist
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Warning
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Lincoln Mkz. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2013 Lincoln Mkz

12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~6,470,794 vehicles.

23V162000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
~1,280,726 affected

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

20V331000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~2,147,323 affected

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.

19V632000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~116,160 affected

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.

17V210000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~191,432 affected

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.

16V875000Seat Belts:front
~603,392 affected

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.

15V250000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~487,301 affected

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 other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.

15V246000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
~456,440 affected

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 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.

14V597000Seat Belts · Air Bags:side/window · Airbags
~746,842 affected

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.

14V164000Seats:front Assembly:recliner
~43,135 affected

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 Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."

13V594000Automatic Transmission
~7,153 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid vehicles manufactured April 26, 2012, through September 24, 2013. Due to a manufacturing error, the transmission range sensor may not function properly allowing the affected vehicles to be shifted out of the Park position without first applying the brake pedal. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection."

+ 2 more recalls

Other Lincoln Mkz Years

2013 Lincoln Mkz — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2013 Lincoln Mkz reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2013 Lincoln Mkz has 146 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash-related, and 12 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 17 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2013 Lincoln Mkz?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (17 complaints, avg 36,099 mi); Steering Defects (16 complaints, avg 64,497 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (15 complaints, avg 45,470 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Lincoln Mkz?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 48,167 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2013 Lincoln Mkz?
NHTSA complaints for the 2013 Lincoln Mkz include 9 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2013 Lincoln Mkz have any recalls?
Yes — 12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 6,470,794 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2013 Lincoln Mkz?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Lincoln Mkz reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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