Lincoln MKZ HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
177 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 177 complaints (22.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 39 | 22.0% |
| Braking behavior | 38 | 21.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 7.3% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.0% |
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 | 40 |
| Air Bags | 36 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
Steering: 40; Air Bags: 36; Unknown Or Other: 20; Electrical System: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 17; Engine: 11; Power Train: 11; Service Brakes: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 38 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 38; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (38). 60 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 39 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 28 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2013: 2; 2014: 10; 2015: 14; 2016: 6; 2017: 39; 2018: 32; 2019: 19; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 8; 2023: 28; 2024: 4; 2025: 6; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 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 10641621 · 2014-10-06 (October 6, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY (LESS THAN 30 MPH), A CHIME SOUNDED AND TWO MESSAGES APPEARED ON MY DASH-BOARD, "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT," AND "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC." SIMULTANEOUSLY, POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPPED WORKING, REQUIRING ME TO MUSCLE THE STEERING WHEEL AROUND IN ORDER TO MANEUVER OUT OF HARMS WAY. IN ADDITION TO THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE, THE SAME THING (LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THOSE TWO MESSAGES) OCCURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO RESTORE FUNCTION BY RESTARTING THE ENGINE ONCE OR …
Owner-reported narrative. 57,099 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643497 · 2014-10-09 (October 9, 2014)
POWER STEERING ASSIST WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING CAR. STEERING SYSTEM FAULT LIGHT WENT ON. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTED IT. POWER STEERING ASSIST WORKED UNTIL A FEW HOURS LATER IT WENT OFF AGAIN IN THE DRIVEWAY. TURNED OFF ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND POWER STEERING ASSIST WORKED AGAIN. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER ON JULY 31. I WAS GIVEN A LOANER CAR AND I PICKED UP MY CAR ON AUGUST 1. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 16,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10806834 · 2015-10-22 (October 22, 2015)
2011 LINCOLN MKZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10806834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11522318 · 2023-05-16 (May 16, 2023)
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the brakes failed to operate upon depression of the brake pedal with several unknown warning lights flashing on the instrument panel. The contact immediately applied the parking brake and drifted the vehicle off to the roadway. The contact restarted the vehicle three times and the warning lights reappeared on the instrument panel. The contact drove the vehicle home and later had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer inspected the vehicle and informe…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11522318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10597391 · 2014-06-10 (June 10, 2014)
5 JUNE 14: ENGINE DIED WHILE STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. RESTARTED IN PARK ON THIRD TRY. BRAKE AND CROSS TRAFFIC FAULT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. 7 JUNE 14: ENGINE DIED SECOND TIME AFTER ENTERING ENTRANCE STREET TO PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH. RESTARTED AFTER STOPPING AND PUTTING TRANSMISSION IN TO PARK. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,924 miles reported. Look up ODI 10597391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958653 · 2017-03-05 (March 5, 2017)
CAR WAS PARKED. STARTED CAR AND PUT TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. WARNING ON DASH "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE". ONLY 37,777 MILES ON CAR. PREVIOUS SERVICE RECORDS ON CAR STATED FIELD SERVICE ACTION 15N01 BUT IGNORED BY DEALER AT LEAST TWICE DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,777 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716957 · 2015-05-17 (May 17, 2015)
LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE - POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND AFTER 5 TIMES OF TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, AND THEN RESTARTING IT, THE ALERT WOULD GO AWAY AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD BE ACTIVE AGAIN. HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS, HOWEVER IT HAS BEEN A DAILY ISSUE FOR THE LAST WEEK.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10663452 · 2014-12-10 (December 10, 2014)
I OWN A LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID (2011). I HAVE WHAT I CONSIDER A SAFETY FAILURE/HAZARD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK/LATCH FAILED AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR BY WAY OF THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. IN AN EMERGENCY, IF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE, A DRIVER WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE SEAT COULD NOT MOVE BACK, THUS, POTENTIALLY TRAPPING A DRIVER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726257 · 2015-06-19 (June 19, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY, RED TRIANGLE WITH "!" IN THE MIDDLE WITH TEXT "STOP SAFELY NOW" APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE SHUT OFF (ALONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO). THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY TO STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN THE KEY TO RESTART AND THEN DRIVE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 45 MINUTES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LINCOLN DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG OTHER THAN RECOMMENDING I PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. I WAS SKEPTICAL, BUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,115 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726257 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
2011: 0; 2012: 0; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 0; 2016: 0; 2017: 0; 2018: 0; 2019: 0; 2020: 0