Home · 2013 Lincoln Mkz Hev · Complaints

What 115 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Lincoln Mkz Hev

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 (115)Crash / fire / injury (6)Steering (18)Electrical system (16)Transmission & drivetrain (16)Body & structure (14)Seat belts (13)Engine (11)Latches & locks (10)Brakes (8)Fuel system (8)Wheels (8)

11 of 115 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Nov 11, 2024Engine

Catalytic converter, reduced engine power and toxic fumes. I had it inspected and would cost me $1200, I purchased the vehicle from dealership and was not made aware of the recalls and customer satisfaction program that would have covered the catalytic converter under campaign #20m01. When I became aware of the program it was too late by a couple of months, there was no prior symptoms prior to the failure, I became aware of the problem December 2023 due to warning light (check engine). This has became an inconvenience and a headache especially knowing the problem could have been avoided if I received the "letter" regarding customer satisfaction program but I never did.

NHTSA ODI 11624473

Feb 20, 2022Engine

Lincoln MK/Z Vehicle 3.7 liter engine has repeatedly stopped running while driving at speeds between forty and seventy miles per hour. On one occasion this occurred on Florida rte 84 in heavy traffic requiring an emergency response to avoid a life threatening collision. While there are numerous reports of similar problems with Ford 3.7 liter V6 engines Ford dealers, including mine, have repeatedly stated they are unaware of any such problems. I guess Ford and the NHTSA are waiting for the death toll to reach some pre-determined level before taking action. How about a class action law suit ?

NHTSA ODI 11453125

Feb 22, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

NOTED A NATURAL GAS SMELL IN MY CAR ONLY WHEN HEAT ON IN CAR AND NOT CONSTENT, JUST IN SPIRTS I WOULD GET A STRONG SMELL. THEN LAST WEEK MY CAR STARTED MAKING A WEIRD WHINNING NOISE THAT HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND MORE CONSISTENT OVER THE PAST WEEK. I NOTED THE 2013 MKZ HAD RECALLS FOR ISSUES LIKE THIS BEFORE. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR USED 3 MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA ODI 11397342

Oct 15, 2020Engine

DRIVING TIME 11:00AM TO 11:45AM, ROUND TRIP 3.5 MILES, SIDE ROAD, IN MOTION, SUNNY 66. 3 TIMES THE MOTOR DROPPED POWER, CAR COULD NOT MOVE. MOTOR WAS STILL RUNNING, SHAKING AND LIKE IT WAS NOT GETTING AIR. HAD TO STOP IN TRAFFIC AND TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART. THIS THING IS A DEATH TRAP. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11364467

Oct 7, 2020Engine

ON 9/28/20 TRAVELING AT 40 MPH ON A 2 LANE SIDE ROAD THE MOTOR CUT OUT OR SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. THE LAST TIME WAS ON 2/7/20. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY FORD DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. I DID NOT TAKE IT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11363157

Feb 12, 2020Engine

2013 LINCOLN MKZ, 3.7L WITH 32516 MILES 2/7/20 AT 9:30 AM TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY THE MOTOR CUT OUT. DROVE IT TO THE FORD DEALER WHO RAIN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11308688

Feb 18, 2019EngineFuel system

A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE FUEL FIRING INLET WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TWO DIFFERENT TIMES THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. WHILE CAR IS IDLE SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN. A NUMBER OF TIMES

NHTSA ODI 11180830

Jun 18, 2018EngineFuel systemCrash

WHILE TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY I SLOWED TO MAKE THE TURN AND MY CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED RPMS REVVED UP. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. THEN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SLOWED TO MAKE THE TURN AND THE RPMS SHOT UP AGAIN CAUSING ME TO HIT A PARKED CAR AND ALSO A BUILDING BEFORE I COULD BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. I TOOK THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO GRAY DANIELS DEALERSHIP IN BRANDON MS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CLD NOT EVEN LOOK AT IT UNTIL TUESDAY. THIS WAS FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2018. NO INJURIES OCCURRED, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE BUT WAS DRIVABLE. I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR SO I GOT A RENTAL CAR AND TOOK THE MKZ BACK TO GRAY DANIELS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT IS CALLED ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS!!!! THE DEALERSHIPS ARE ALSO AWARE! EVEN THOUGH GRAY DANIELS PLAYED IGNORANT, THEY ARE AWARE. I HAVE SENT THEM AN EMAIL OF COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS MADE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND OVER 5000 DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AND A HUGE LAWSUIT STIMPSON VS FORD FOR THIS VERY REASON! I WANT THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED AND A FORMAL COMPLAINT FILED. I WILL ALSO BE ADVISING FORD MOTOR COMPANY (NOT THAT THEY WILL DO ANYTHING) OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HOW I WAS TREATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL AND MY DAUGHTER EVEN WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THEIR SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE STILL GRAY DANIELS COULD CARE LESS AND TOLD MY DAUGHTER TO STOP VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDING. I'VE ATTACHED 5 COMPLAINTS THAT I FOUND ONLINE. I COULD PROVIDE MANY MORE BUT YOUR SITE DOES NOT ALLOW MORE THAN 5. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11102454

Apr 14, 2017EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 10972398

Apr 11, 2017EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE FUEL FIRING INLET WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V227000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,800.

NHTSA ODI 10971820

Jun 15, 2016Transmission & drivetrainEngine

CAR COMPLETE STALLS AND SAYS "RUN POWER ACTIVE". VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED. WAS NOT ABLE TO BE STARTED AGAIN FOR OVER A MINUTE

NHTSA ODI 10874396

Working with the data? Download all 115 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 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 Mkz Hev verdict →