
2011 Lincoln MKZ
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
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.
180
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
66 complaints- • 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
“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- • 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
“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- • 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
“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- • 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
“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- • 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
“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
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)
Lincoln MKZ — 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
- 180
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 8
- Crash reports
- 21
- Injury reports
- 10
- Segment avg
- 80
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