Home · 2011 Lincoln Mks · Complaints

What 43 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Lincoln Mks

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (43)Crash / fire / injury (4)Steering (21)Brakes (5)Engine (4)Electrical system (3)Fuel system (3)Lights (3)Speed control (3)Airbags (2)Body & structure (2)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (2)

Newest first · 43 complaints · page 2 of 2

Jan 14, 2017Electrical system

VEHICLE PARKED AT RESTAURANT, WHEN CAME BACK OUT THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED, THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN AND THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 10945257

Oct 31, 2016Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKS. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT 20 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPEN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 10920175

Oct 21, 2016Steering

RECENTLY, THIS CAR STARTED INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYING THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" CODE AND AT THE SAME TIME THE STEERING WOULD SEIZE UP WHEN IN MOTION. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. ON INVESTIGATION, 2011 LINCOLN MKS VEHICLES WITH THE 3.5L GTDI ENGINE (MY VEHICLE) WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY RECALL 15S18 WHICH ADDRESSES THIS EXACT SAFETY SITUATION. WHEN I CALLED BOTH THE FORD DEALER AND THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, THEY INDICATED THIS VIN IS NOT COVERED AND THAT THEY COULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD IT BE COVERED (TRANSLATION--I GET TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIR). IT IS CLEARLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HOW CAN FORD JUSTIFY NOT COVERING THIS CAR WHEN THE RECALL WAS QUITE LARGE IN SCOPE AND CARS OF THE SAME YEAR, SAME MODEL, SAME ENGINE WERE SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL? THANKS! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10917850

Sep 7, 2016Airbags

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT MY CAR IS INVOLVED IN THE MASSIVE TAKATA RECALL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND HERE IT IS SEPTEMBER, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN CONTACTED TO GET THIS CORRECTED. THE RISK OF METAL FRAGMENTS HITTING A PASSENGER IS UNSETTLING TO SAY THE LEAST. WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG TO GET RECTIFIED? GOD FORBID I AM INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A PASSENGER. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHEN I CAN EXPECT THIS TO BE RESOLVED. THANKS

NHTSA ODI 10904290

Sep 30, 2015Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 10778758

May 28, 2015SteeringBrakes

POWER STEERING RANDOMLY LOCKS AND UNLOCKS ITS SELF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT AND DISPLAYING DIFFICULTY TO STEER WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR STRAIGHT AHEAD. BRAKES SEEM TO LOCK OR SLIP IN CERTAIN ENVIROMENTS AT MODERATE SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 10721926

Dec 15, 2014Steering

2011 LINCOLN MKS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING LOCKING UP PERIODICALLY. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING ISSUE, OCCURRED AT START UP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10658476

Nov 4, 2014Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKS. WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AT 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE LOCKED WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI 10652437

Aug 23, 2014SteeringBrakes

POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND HAD POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT ERROR. INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627690

Jul 25, 2014Speed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP ON AN INCLINE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SURGED UNEXPECTEDLY. IN ADDITION, THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE VEHICLE SURGED AND CRASHED INTO A DOG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI 10616372

Feb 9, 2014SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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

NHTSA ODI 10563543

Aug 20, 2013Lights

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 MANAGER HAD HIS STAFF CONNECT MY DRL, *TR

NHTSA ODI 10536290

Feb 1, 2013Brakes

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

NHTSA ODI 10496102

Jul 17, 2012Electrical system

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

NHTSA ODI 10465950

Jun 18, 2012Lights

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.

NHTSA ODI 10462061

Aug 31, 2011Fuel system

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.

NHTSA ODI 10422762

Mar 22, 2011Steering

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

NHTSA ODI 10392532

Feb 25, 2011Electrical systemLights

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

NHTSA ODI 10384447

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Working with the data? Download all 43 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 27, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Lincoln Mks verdict →