2011 Lincoln MKS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
43 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 43 complaints (48.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 21 | 48.8% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 14.0% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 14.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.3% |
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 | 21 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
Steering: 21; Engine: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Electrical System: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 14 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 5; 2024: 5; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10384447 · 2011-02-25 (February 25, 2011)
DEALERS PAMPHLETS AND OWNERS MANUAL LISTS PERIMETER LIGHTS AS A FEATURE ON 2011 LINCOLN MKZ BUT THE VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE THEM (HEADLIGHTS COMING ON WHEN YOU UNLOCK VEHICLE AT NIGHT WITH FOB. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE. FORD SAYS IT IS A MISPRINT ALTHOUGH PAST YEARS MODEL DO HAVE THE FEATURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10384447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392532 · 2011-03-22 (March 22, 2011)
THE 2011 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID DRIFTS TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. LINCOLN SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED OVER 75 CARS AND WAS A FLEET MANAGER FOR THE GSA FLEET. I NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT HAD A DRIFT THAT DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. THIS IS 2011 AND VEHICLES SHOULD NOT DRIFT UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. IT CAN OCCUR WHEN BOTH HANDS ARE ON THE WHELL. HOW IS THIS NOT DANGEROUS? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422762 · 2011-08-31 (August 31, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED HIM THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE AND HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A FUEL LINE WAS PUNCTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A RODENT CHEWED THROUGH THE PLASTIC FUEL LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462061 · 2012-06-18 (June 18, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, OTHER DRIVERS WERE COMPLAINING OF THE LIGHTS BEING EXTREMELY BRIGHT. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THE LIGHTS COULD BE ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465950 · 2012-07-17 (July 17, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ASKING TO PERFORM A HEALTH REPORT SCAN OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE CONTACT AGREED TO THE SCAN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 8/31/12 *CN UPDATED 09/11/2012 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496102 · 2013-02-01 (February 1, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 03/20/13*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536290 · 2013-08-20 (August 20, 2013)
NON CONNECTED DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. I AVOIDED A TOTAL OF THREE HEAD ON COLLISIONS WITHIN THE PAST THREE WEEKS (THE MOST RECENT WAS 08/19/2013). MY CAR IS SILVER AN APPARENTLY DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED TO ME, THEY HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY SEEING MY CAR IN DAYLIGHT HOURS. IN MY CASE I MADE THREE TRIPS TO MY CLOSEST LINCOLN DEALER, PRESENTS A WEBSITE WHICH INFORMED THEIR STAFF HOW TO CONNECT THE DRL FROM THEIR SERVICE MANUAL. MY PROBLEM WITH THESE DRL SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN TO OTHER 2011 LINCOLN MKS OWNERS!. THIS MORNING, THE SERVICE MANAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563543 · 2014-02-09 (February 9, 2014)
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" MESSAGE IN THE DISPLAY CENTER AND MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAD SHUT OFF. IT WAS A 20 MILE DRIVE HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT A MORE BUSY TIME, I MIGHT HAVE HAD A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563543 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V040000 · Structure:Body:Door
Reported: 2015-01-28 (January 28, 2015)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Consequence: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V340000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V247000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
NHTSA campaign record ↗