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2013 Lincoln MKS: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 57 of 142 complaints (40.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior6042.3%
Engine operation1812.7%
Electrical and battery issues64.2%
Fuel system concerns53.5%
Braking behavior21.4%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering57
Electrical System25
Engine22
Fuel/Propulsion System12
Power Train9
Unknown Or Other6
Exterior Lighting4
Fuel System, Gasoline4

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00017
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,99921
75,000 to 99,99916
100,000 to 149,99917
150,000 and above9

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20139
20143
20154
201610
20177
201810
201919
202011
202123
20228
202314
202410
202511
20262

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 10512227 · 2013-05-15 (May 15, 2013)

HAPPENED 2 - 3 TIMES. ENGINE WILL SPUTTER/DIE AFTER COMING TO NEAR STOP AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC FLOW OR MAKE A TURN THROUGH TRAFFIC ONTO A STREET. CAR WILL START UP AGAIN AFTER PRESSING GAS PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS AS CAR DIES IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC .I WAS TOLD AT FORD DEALER THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING A VERY EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILE. FORD NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND EITHER FIX THE PROBLEM OR REFUND …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,019 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512227 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10512862 · 2013-05-20 (May 20, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MY-TOUCH SYSTEM ENABLED THE MY-KEY SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 59 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE MY-TOUCH SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY REBOOTED AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,500. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512862 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 10535374 · 2013-08-14 (August 14, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 13V227000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE RECALL. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A DATE IN WHICH PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535374 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10535383 · 2013-08-14 (August 14, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V227000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE EXPECTED DATE FOR THE REMEDY PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE ANY FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10535383 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10542485 · 2013-09-08 (September 8, 2013)

WHILE DRIVING THE 2013 MKS AT 70 MPH ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY THE POWER CUT OUT AND THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE CAR FROM FAR LEFT LANE ACROSS 2 ADDITIONAL LANES TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER, WE COASTED. LUCKILY THERE WAS LIGHT TRAFFIC AT THE TIME. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED. WHEN OUR SON PICKED US UP ROADSIDE HE CONVEYED THAT THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM HAPPENED TO HIM IN THE CAR. THIS WAS APPROXIMATELY A MONTH EARLIER. I AM SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CREATED AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIO…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542485 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Recall history

7 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V227000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported: 2013-05-31 (May 31, 2013)

Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
13V270000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages

Reported: 2013-06-26 (June 26, 2013)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured November 29, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety locks may change from an activated position to a deactivated position without notice.

Consequence: If the child lock is deactivated, the door could be unlocked and opened from the inside which could lead to personal injury to an unrestrained child.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the safety locks. If necessary, the locks will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S07. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V393000 · Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft

Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.

Consequence: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
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 ↗
15V812000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported: 2015-12-02 (December 2, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Reported: 2016-08-25 (August 25, 2016)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.

Consequence: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

NHTSA campaign record ↗