BestCarRank
Lincoln

2011 Lincoln MKZ

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Lincoln MKZ has 180 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (37% of all complaints), specifically: 40 m, car when right off road, hit a poll. center to right front damage. air bag did not deploy. i did not have any cuts on face but my head was hurting hard. alot i don't remember after that for days. *tr. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 21 crash reports 10 injuries

180

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

66 complaints
37%
  • 40 M, CAR WHEN RIGHT OFF ROAD, HIT A POLL. CENTER TO RIGHT FRONT DAMAGE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID NOT HAVE ANY CUTS ON FACE BUT MY HEAD WAS HURTING HARD. ALOT I DON'T REMEMBER AFTER THAT FOR DAYS. *TR
  • I WAS THE DRIVER; THE ACCIDENT OCCURED DAY;SUNNY AROUND NOON;I WAS IN A LIBRARY PARKING LOT PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE -SLOWLY SUDDENLY , THE CAR LEAPT FORWARD THE AND "SOMETHING" SEEMED TO BE UNDER THE ACCELERATOR- IT LEAPT FORWARD I COULD LT NOT MAKE THE CAR STOP; WHAT STOPPED THE CAR WASAE
  • NOT INSPECTED NO PAPERWORK AVAILABLE FOR VEHICLE
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 6 crashes

40 M, CAR WHEN RIGHT OFF ROAD, HIT A POLL. CENTER TO RIGHT FRONT DAMAGE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID NOT HAVE ANY CUTS ON FACE BUT MY HEAD WAS HURTING HARD. ALOT I DON'T REMEMBER AFTER THAT FOR DAYS. *TR

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

20 complaints
11%
  • AFTER MY WIFE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY SHE LOST ALL OF HER BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE,SHE SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. SHE MANAGED TO GET IT BACK HOME BY TURNING THE IGNITION ON AND OFF. SHE CALLED AUTONATION FORD AN
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. ALSO, WHEN THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT THE SAME TIME, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPL
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CRAFT HYUNDAI (2625 LAKESIDE DR, LYNCHBURG, VA 24501, (434) 455-7060) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CALIPERS, FRONT BRAKE PADS
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

AFTER MY WIFE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY SHE LOST ALL OF HER BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE,SHE SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. SHE MANAGED TO GET IT BACK HOME BY TURNING THE IGNITION ON AND OFF. SHE CALLED AUTONATION FORD AN

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

19 complaints
11%
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A
  • STEERING IS VERY HEAVY AND SOMETIMES FAILS COMPLETELY ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. IT IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN SLOWING INTO A CURVE. THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO BECOMES NOTICEABLY LOUDER. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE BUYING THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO. *TR
  • I DRIVE A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ AND TODAY I HAD A BIT OF A PROBLEM. A COWORKER OF MINE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP SO THAT SHE MAY PICK UP HER VEHICLE FOR SOME SERVICING THAT SHE HAD DONE, AND DURING MY ATTEMPT AT PARKING I LOST MY POWER STEERING. AT FIRST I COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR SO I HAD
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

14 complaints
8%
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PROPANE FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MIGHT HAVE FAILED BUT WAS UNAWARE HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PROPANE FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MIGHT HAVE FAILED BUT WAS UNAWARE HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF
  • I HAD HEARD A WHEEZING NOISE IN THE FRONT END SO I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. A WEEK AFTER WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I WAS DRIVING AND AS I TURNED THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. TWO DAYS LATER IT BEGAN TO NOT DRIVE PROPERLY I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND SAID I
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PROPANE FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MIGHT HAVE FAILED BUT WAS UNAWARE HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

11 complaints
6%
  • DATE: MAY 16TH 2015 ROAD RUNNER AUTO SALES, INC ADDRESS OF BUSINESS : 24560 EUREKA RD , TAYLOR , MI 48180 PHONE : 734-947-4667 SALESMAN KNOWN BY TAZ(MOTAZ) I AM PROVIDING YOU WITH A WRITTEN COMPLAINT AND EXPLANATION OF BUSINESS/VEHICLE SALE AND PURCHASE.A LEMON AUTO. THE VEHICLE WAS ADVER
  • NOT INSPECTED NO PAPERWORK AVAILABLE FOR VEHICLE
  • JUST OVER 5 YR WARRANTY AND ONLY 39K MILES OF 50K WARRANTY, WHEN PARKED, DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING PREVENTING DRIVER FROM OPENING DOOR TO EXIT WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN WINDOW WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY AND/OR INABILITY IN PULLING OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. TO EXIT IN NML CASE OR IN CASE OF COL
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

DATE: MAY 16TH 2015 ROAD RUNNER AUTO SALES, INC ADDRESS OF BUSINESS : 24560 EUREKA RD , TAYLOR , MI 48180 PHONE : 734-947-4667 SALESMAN KNOWN BY TAZ(MOTAZ) I AM PROVIDING YOU WITH A WRITTEN COMPLAINT AND EXPLANATION OF BUSINESS/VEHICLE SALE AND PURCHASE.A LEMON AUTO. THE VEHICLE WAS ADVER

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
STEERING(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~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 180 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • AIR BAGS: 40 M, CAR WHEN RIGHT OFF ROAD, HIT A POLL. CENTER TO RIGHT FRONT DAMAGE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID NOT HAVE ANY CUTS ON FACE BUT MY HEAD WAS HURTING HARD. ALOT I DON'T REMEMBER AFTER THAT FOR DAYS. *TR

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • BRAKES: AFTER MY WIFE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY SHE LOST ALL OF HER BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE,SHE SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. SHE MANAGED TO GET IT BACK HOME BY TURNING THE IGNITION ON AND OFF. SHE CALLED AUTONATION FORD AN

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PROPANE FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MIGHT HAVE FAILED BUT WAS UNAWARE HOW TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
180
Recalls
0
Fire reports
8
Crash reports
21
Injury reports
10
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2011 Lincoln MKZ