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)

8 of 115 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Jun 4, 2025Fuel system

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that on several occasions while exiting the vehicle, the contact observed an abnormally strong fuel odor outside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not able to be replicated; however, the gas cap was replaced. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact believed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V227000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI 11664875

Nov 30, 2022Fuel systemFirerelatedFire

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, he saw smoke entering through the vents. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving the vehicle to a near friend's residence. The contact stated when he open the hood he saw the fire was located on the engine. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with water nearby. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The fire department did come to the location of the vehicle but a fire report was not filed. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V227000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

NHTSA ODI 11495511

Feb 6, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

WHILE STATIONARY AFTER TURNING ON THE VEHICLE THERE IS A HARD SHIFT IN GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE. WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON THE CITY STREET THERE IS A HARD SHIFT AROUND 35 MPH TO 55 MPH. WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET AFTER 5 MILES THE VEHICLE START SPUTTERING AND NOT SHIFTING GEARS PROPERLY THEN THERE ISN'T ANY ACCELERATION FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT STOP AND GO. AND THEN IT PICKS BACK UP AND DRIVE HIGH RPM SOUND. OR HIGH REV SOUNDS. IN ADDITION THE GAS CAP UNIT IS FAULTY I REPLACED IT BEFORE AND NOW IT APPEARS IT HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE IT WON'T CLOSE PROPERLY. A P0171 CODE MAF SENSOR CAME UP ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION CODES FOR THE 5TH AND 4TH GEAR RATIO ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED FROM THE OB READING AND SOME ADDITIONAL CODES THAT I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE. FOR THE MOST PART THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING CITY AND HIGHWAY WHICH MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE

NHTSA ODI 11307404

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 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

Sep 13, 2013Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STOP SAFELY NOW WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND A GASOLINE ODOR WAS NOTICED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL LINE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,600.

NHTSA ODI 10543482

Sep 6, 2013Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REMEDIED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V227000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000.

NHTSA ODI 10542314

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 →