Is the 2013 Lincoln MKT reliable?

The 2013 Lincoln MKT has 90 complaints filed with NHTSA (3.3x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: STEERING problems.

What are common problems with the 2013 Lincoln MKT?

Top problems: STEERING (31 complaints, avg repair $500); FUEL SYSTEM (12 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (8 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2013 Lincoln MKT?

Yes, there are 7 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SUSPENSION:REAR. Contact any Lincoln dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Lincoln MKT?

The 2013 Lincoln MKT gets 18 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2667. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2013 Lincoln MKT?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2013 Lincoln MKT is approximately $2,079/year (suv-luxury class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2013 Lincoln MKT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Lincoln MKT has 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.3x the segment average of 27. The most common issue is steering problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 lincoln mkt. the contact stated he heard a loud clunking noise when turning . the vehicle was taken to dealer. the dealer stated the entire steering shaft assembly would need to be repaired. the vehicle was repaired. however, the failure persisted. the dealer then stated . There are 7 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

STEERING

31 complaints

34%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKT. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN STATED
• I WAS ON A HIGHWAY,GOING AROUND 50~55 MILES PER HOUR.SUDDENLY I LOST POWER IN STEERING WHEEL.THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN,NO SOUND AT ALL.I TURNED MY RIGHT SIGNAL BUT IT WAS STOPPED WORKING AS WELL.I PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND PULLED OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER.IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO MOVE A STEERING WHEEL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKT. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN STATED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Lincoln MKT

Based on 57 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 88K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 100-150K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

Earlier than typicalmedian 55K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Earlier than typicalmedian 60K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Reported earliermedian 58K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 111K mi · 21 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (7)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM24/03/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Lincoln MKT vehicles with a limousine or hearse preparation package, manufactured March 6, 2012, to March 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the vacuum pump relay may overheat due to an internal fault or contamination.

Risk: If the vacuum pump relay overheats, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vacuum pump relay with a new electro-mechanical relay, free of charge. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S10.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2013 Lincoln MKT

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,667

Per month

$222

Per mile

22.2¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$3,001/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$2,182/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Lincoln MKT

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$2,079

Full coverage / month

$173

Liability only / year

$732

vs US avg

+24%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-luxury)1.35x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$2079

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Lincoln MKT Service Intervals

Oil change

10K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

Complimentary maintenance for select models; check with your dealer for eligibility.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Lincoln New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

6 yr / 70K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

6 yr / 70K mi

These are the terms for a new Lincoln. If you're buying a used 2013 MKT, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Lincoln dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 90 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKT. THE CONTACT STATED HE HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN STATED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, FUEL FUMES FILLED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM HAD RUPTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE PANORAMIC ROOFS ON THE LINCOLN MKT BLOW OUT FOR NO REASON. WE HAVE 14 OF THESE MKT'S IN OUR FLEET WE HAVE HAD CLOSE TO 10 OF THE GLASS ROOFS SHATTER. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT GLASS COULD FALL INTO A DRIVERS EYES AS WELL AS OUR PASSENGERS. ALSO WHEN THEY DO BLOW OUT A GOOD SIZE CHUNK OF THE R
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY DRAINED COMPLETELY AND THERE WAS NO ACCESS TO THE TRUNK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY EACH OF THEM TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 7 recalls have been completed — free at any Lincoln dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)