2013 Lincoln MKS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
142 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 91 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 57 of 142 complaints (40.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 60 | 42.3% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 12.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 57 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
Steering: 57; Electrical System: 25; Engine: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Power Train: 9; Unknown Or Other: 6; Exterior Lighting: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 9
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 51 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2012: 1; 2013: 9; 2014: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 10; 2017: 7; 2018: 10; 2019: 19; 2020: 11; 2021: 23; 2022: 8; 2023: 14; 2024: 10; 2025: 11; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 60 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 18 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10543203 · 2013-09-11 (September 11, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING SAID VEHICLE INTO THE SUN, THE INSTALLED FACTORY CHROME DECORATIVE TRIM SHINES BACK INTO THE DRIVERS EYES MAKING IT VERY HARD TO READ THE CAR INSTRUMENTS, THE TRIM AREA SHINES LIKE DIAMONDS INTO THE DRIVERS EYES EVEN WITH SUNGLASSES ON IN THE ARIZONA SUN, THIS ALSO VERY DISTRACTING. EUROPEAN CARS ARE NOT BUILT WITH THIS DISTRACTION. THE DRIVERS SEAT ( CENTER ) DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, IT IS OFFSET TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER OF THE WHEEL BY 1/2 TO 3/4 OF AN INCH, THE SEAT ALSO RUBS VERY HARD AGAINST THE CENTER COUNSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,231 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577344 · 2014-04-04 (April 4, 2014)
DRIVER'S SEAT FOLDED IN ON DRIVER WHILE IN MOTION. FIRST INCIDENT WAS MARCH 25 WHEN RETURNING FROM DINNER AS ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY. MARCH 30 THE SEAT FOLDED AS WE WERE DRIVING 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE ON INTERSTATE 295 OUTSIDE RICHMOND, VA. MARCH 31, THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED AS LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY AND ON THE STREET. APRIL 1, 2014 CAR TAKEN TO WILLIAMSBURG FORD WHERE IT WAS LEFT TWO DAYS. CUSTOMER INVOICE NOTES: NOTES: A: CUSTOMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT BACK WILL FOLD FORWARD/INWA…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513781 · 2013-05-28 (May 28, 2013)
I READ IN THE PAPER THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING FORD F150 TRUCKS WITH THE ECOBOOST ENGINE FOR SUDDEN STALLING PROBLEMS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH MY 2013 LINCOLN MKS WITH THE ECOBOOST ENGINE. PREVIOUSLY I OWNED A 2010 LINCOLN MKS WITH THE ECOBOOST ENGINE THAT ALSO OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553690 · 2013-11-25 (November 25, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V227000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472106 · 2012-08-23 (August 23, 2012)
THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHILE OPERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THIS FORCED THE OPERATOR TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE NAVIGATING THROUGH TRAFFIC. THE POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION/REDUCED POWER (RTT) WRENCH SYMBOL ILLUMINATED IN ADDITION TO THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED THE OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE UNDER ITS OWN POWER EVERY 15 MINUTES. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES THE VEHICLE RESPONDED TO THE ACCELERATOR AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE O…
Owner-reported narrative. 458 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627081 · 2014-08-21 (August 21, 2014)
THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR MAKE, MODEL, & YEAR TO FIX A PROBLEM WHICH WOULD LEAD TO A FIRE. HOWEVER, THE RECALL NOTICE WAS NEVER RECEIVED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, FIDUCIARY, HAVE DENIED THE CLAIM AS THEY DO NOT COVER FIRES CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10627081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11005322 · 2017-07-14 (July 14, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE CONTACT DETECTED A FUEL ODOR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DAVE SINCLAIR FORD (7466 S LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63125) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V621000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOGLER MOTOR COMPANY (1170 E MAIN ST, CARBONDALE, IL 62901) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11005322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033023 · 2017-10-12 (October 12, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKS. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRIC MODULE FAILED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY KOONS SILVER SPRING FORD (3111 AUTOMOBILE BLVD, SILVER SPRING, MD 20904, [phone removed]) THAT THE PART HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT COMPATIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11033023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862553 · 2016-05-02 (May 2, 2016)
WHENEVER I DRIVE 55 MILES PER HOUR OR HIGHER DEPENDING ON WHERE I AM AND I ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE OR I HAVE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN PROPERLY AND IT MAKES A REVVING NOISE UNTIL THE VEHICLE SPEED GETS TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE LINCOLN SERVICE DEPARTMENT SEVEN (7) TIMES, SIX (6) TIMES FOR BRAKES, THEY HAVE DUPLICATED THE ISSUE SIX (6) TIMES, THEY SHAVED THE FRONT ROTORS THREE (3) TIMES AND REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS ONCE. THE LINCOLN DEALER HAS STATED THAT THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11478693 · 2022-08-10 (August 10, 2022)
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated while his wife was driving at 40 MPH, the steering wheel locked up, almost causing her to lose control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's wife slammed on the brakes and veered to the side of the road. The contact's wife wiggled the steering wheel and was able to continue driving. However, the failure reoccurred while driving at 65 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be repl…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11478693 at NHTSA ↗