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2011 Lincoln Mkz Hev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
183 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Airbags problems dominate (46% of complaints).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#138 of 400Among the 2011 models with a matured record, the 2011 Lincoln Mkz Hev ranks #138, scoring higher than 64% of them. See the 2011 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hev 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%
3 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Lincoln Mkz Hev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (84) · Brakes (24) · Engine (10) · Body & structure (10)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
46%84 complaints
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall…”
Steering
17%32 complaints · typically near 76k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering failure message was displayed. The vehicle was not ta…”
Brakes
13%24 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the brake service warning light illuminated. The contact used excessive fo…”
Engine
5%10 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer wher…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 183 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 13 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Lincoln before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report steering problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 76k miles). Has this car shown any steering symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Lincoln MKZ HEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every Mkz Hev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Lincoln Mkz Hev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.