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What 140 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 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 (140)Crash / fire / injury (19)Steering (59)Electrical system (25)Engine (22)Fuel system (16)Transmission & drivetrain (9)Visibility & wipers (6)Lane Departure (4)Lights (4)Seats (4)Body & structure (3)

6 of 140 complaints match · Visibility & wipers · clear filters

Apr 7, 2025Visibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the defroster setting malfunctioned, and the contact was unable to defrost and clear the windows, creating a visibility hazard. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 157,000.

NHTSA ODI 11653232

Sep 6, 2022Visibility & wipersEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while attempting to close the front driver's side door, she heard a beeping noise. The contact then stated that when she placed the shifter in reverse(R), the screen failed to display an image and the defogger failed to operate. Additionally, the contact stated that she noticed that the vehicle was overheating and that the hood was discolored. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that when she placed the gear shifter into reverse(R) the defogger failed to operate as needed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11483018

Nov 16, 2021Visibility & wipers

The HVAC controls are touch sensitive/haptic. They fail with high frequency at low mileage. My vehicle has 70k miles, it started at 65k. They won't allow control of the HVAC system or activation of the front defrost/defog. The touchscreen controls can not over ride the fault which means no driver control. When it faults, the HVAC goes to the highest setting of 85deg F, the blower goes to high and can't be changed which is a defrost/defog safety issue. Sometimes it will stop if you continue pressing "OFF" for 5-10 minutes. It will continue beeping which is distracting and can be indistinguishable from other warning sounds. Also a safety issue. Very common problem on the 2013-up Lincoln MKS & MKT. If parts can be located, it's at least a $1,200 repair.

NHTSA ODI 11440656

Aug 15, 2019Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGED TITLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF DRAIN WAS CLOGGED AND CAUSED WATER TO DRAIN INTO THE PANELS, WHICH DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND AIR CONDITIONING. IN ADDITION, AN UNKNOWN SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. ONE MECHANIC REMOVED THE PANELS AND DRAINED THE WATER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11244246

Aug 16, 2018Visibility & wipersEquipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD CHANGE FROM COOL TO EXTREMELY HOT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GENE MESSER FORD OF AMARILLO (3400 SONCY RD, AMARILLO, TX 79119, (806)-355-7471) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL INTERFACE MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11120446

Jan 14, 2015Visibility & wipers

WHILE DRIVING (ENTERING) A MAIN STREET FROM A SERVICE STATION IN MILES CITY,MT. IN A HEAVY DOWNPOUR, AS I PASSED THROUGH THE CURB/STREET DRAINAGE AREA, I HEARD A SLIGHT BUT LOUD THUMP LIKE A BIRD STRIKE BUT IT WAS RAINING TO HARD FOR THAT. A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE INITIAL TURN I ENTERED I-94 EAST WHEN MY WIFE SAID THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM AS A WINDSHIELD CRACK APPEARED FROM UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AS WE DROVE FURTHER DOWN THE FREEWAY THE CRACK CONTINUED TO RUN TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE CRACK WAS SO BAD THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WOULD JUMP EVERY TIME IT PASSED OVER THE CRACK. THIS WAS ON A SUNDAY & NO DEALERS IN THE AREA WERE OPEN, ON MONDAY MORNING I CALLED LINCOLN FROM OUTSIDE OF JAMESTOWN, ND ABOUT THE PROBLEM & THEY DIRECTED ME TO A DEALER IN FARGO,ND TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE WINDSHIELD & SEND DIRECTLY TO LINCOLN WHICH THEY DID. AS WE WHERE ABOUT 30 MILES EAST OF FARGO, LINCOLN CALLED US NOT TO DRIVE ANY FARTHER AND THAT LINCOLN WOULD REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD AT THEIR COST WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. I CALLED A DEALER THAT LINCOLN SUGGESTED & THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE 2 DAYS TO GET A WINDSHIELD FROM ST. PAUL. THE WINDSHIELD WAS ONLY CRACKED ON THE OUTER GLASS & CLOUDED UP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CRACK. WE STAYED IN OSAKIS,MN UNTIL 7SEPT.14, THEN DROVE TO ST. PAUL FOR A WINDOW CHANGE ON 8SEPT.14 AT WHITE BEAR LINCOLN IN ST. PAUL. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON INVOICE [XXX], CUSTOMER # [XXX], WHILE THIS WAS IN PROGRESS I ASKED THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER IF HE HAD EVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE & HE STATED NO, NOT ON THIS NEW OF A LINCOLN. I HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM LINCOLN AS TOO WHY THIS CRACK APPEARED, BUT I DO BELIEVE THEY KNOW WHY??. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10672575

Working with the data? Download all 140 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 2013 Lincoln Mks verdict →