2011 Lincoln MKS
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Lincoln MKS has 57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (37% of all complaints), specifically: 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. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
57
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
21 complaints- • 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
- • 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
- • 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
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
5 complaints- • 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 TH
- • 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
- • 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.
“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 TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
5 complaints- • 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 DIAGNO
- • HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/CU8J1MSZ8OE CAM PHASER WITH DOCUMENTATION
- • The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the temperature gauge would rise from cool(C) to hot(H) and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that once she turned off the cooling fans, the vehicle would cool off while idle; howe
“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 DIAGNO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
LIGHTING
3 complaints- • 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
- • 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
- • 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
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
3 complaints- • 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
- • 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 T
- • 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.
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 57 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: 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 TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 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 DIAGNO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐LIGHTING: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Lincoln MKS — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 57
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 3
- Injury reports
- 38
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Lincoln MKS