2013 Lincoln MKZ

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Lincoln MKZ has 146 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (12% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 lincoln mkz. the contact stated that while traveling at unknown speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the power line to the battery junction was loose. the vehicle was repaired. the contact also mentioned th. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 5 crash reports 2 injuries

146

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

12%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER LINE TO THE BATTERY JUNCTION WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED TH
• TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, HIS HAND ERRONEOUSLY BRUSHED AGAINST THE PUSH-TO-START BUTTON. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ONCE IT WAS SECURED IN PARK. THE RENTAL
• VEHICLE LOCKED OUT OF ABILITY TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES OVER 20 MINUTES IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. CAUSED OBSTACLE TO TRAFFIC. BLIND CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING ALARM IS ACTIVATED WITHOUT PROPER STIMULUS, SLOWING THE VE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER LINE TO THE BATTERY JUNCTION WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

16 complaints

11%

• INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER TURNING RIGHT FROM A FULL STOP AT A STOP LIGHT ONTO CURVY ROAD WITH MODERATE DOWNHILL SLOPE AND CONSTRUCTION BARRICADES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. TRAFFIC WAS APPROACHING IN OPPOSITE LANE. ROAD WAS CURVING TO THE RIGHT. FRONT COLLISION AVOIDANCE AUDIBLE ALARM AND FLASHING RED LIG
• FOLLOWING DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, NOT AN OVERLY DEEP PUDDLE, PERHAPS 3-4 INCHES, THE POWER ASSIST MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEARED AND THE POWER STEERING TURNED OFF. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO DRY, THE FAILURE CLEARED FOR A SHORT TIME BUT COMES BACK ON WITHIN 5 MILES OF DRIVING. TAKING CAR TO DEALER FO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS) WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL REPORT DATE WAS SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 AND THE RECALL REMEDY WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2015. THE MANUFACT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER TURNING RIGHT FROM A FULL STOP AT A STOP LIGHT ONTO CURVY ROAD WITH MODERATE DOWNHILL SLOPE AND CONSTRUCTION BARRICADES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. TRAFFIC WAS APPROACHING IN OPPOSITE LANE. ROAD WAS CURVING TO THE RIGHT. FRONT COLLISION AVOIDANCE AUDIBLE ALARM AND FLASHING RED LIG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

16 complaints

11%

• FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING DOES NOT DOES NOT LIGHT UP OR BEEP FOR AROUND 4 BLOCKS OF TRAVEL. IF MOST ACCIDENTS HAPPEN CLOSE TO HOME THIS COULD BE SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THIS WAY WITH ALL THE OTHER MODELS HE COMPARED MINE TO. THIS DOES NOT MAKE A SAFE SITUATION. THE D
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTUR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR FRONT END CRASH. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXCHANGING INFORMATION WITH THE OCCUPANT OF THE OTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED INTO A STONE WALL. A POLICE REPORT

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

“FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING DOES NOT DOES NOT LIGHT UP OR BEEP FOR AROUND 4 BLOCKS OF TRAVEL. IF MOST ACCIDENTS HAPPEN CLOSE TO HOME THIS COULD BE SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THIS WAY WITH ALL THE OTHER MODELS HE COMPARED MINE TO. THIS DOES NOT MAKE A SAFE SITUATION. THE D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

15 complaints

10%

• THE CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO LOW WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR SHIFTS FROM REVERSE TO PARK WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES A FEW TIME IT ALMOST RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND WILL WAIT AND SEE IF I
• VEHICLE LOCKED OUT OF ABILITY TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES OVER 20 MINUTES IN ORDER TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. CAUSED OBSTACLE TO TRAFFIC. BLIND CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT AND FORWARD COLLISION WARNING ALARM IS ACTIVATED WITHOUT PROPER STIMULUS, SLOWING THE VE
• CAME TO A STOP AT STOP SIGN. MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AT APPROX. 7 MPH. WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING AT WENT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO PARK. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER ON 4/14 FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS ALSO THE 3RD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *JS

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

“THE CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO LOW WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR SHIFTS FROM REVERSE TO PARK WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES A FEW TIME IT ALMOST RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND WILL WAIT AND SEE IF I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

• 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY HE AND HIS WIFE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT READ PARK BRAKE LIMITED FUNCTION SERVICE REQUIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS
• WHEELS ARE 19". SPARE TIRE IS 17".DROVE A 100 MILES ON THE SPARE. AFTER WHEELS WAS REPLACE. I HAD TO HAVE 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT CORRECTED. SERVICE DEPT. SAID A CONTROL ARM HAD SHIFTED. STANDARD WHEELS ARE 18". I HAD 19" FACTORY INSTALLED WHEELS. THERE IS A FULL SIZE SPARE AVAILABLE WHICH DID NOT COME
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARK. THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“2013 LINCOLN MKZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY HE AND HIS WIFE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT READ PARK BRAKE LIMITED FUNCTION SERVICE REQUIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 146 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER LINE TO THE BATTERY JUNCTION WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER TURNING RIGHT FROM A FULL STOP AT A STOP LIGHT ONTO CURVY ROAD WITH MODERATE DOWNHILL SLOPE AND CONSTRUCTION BARRICADES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. TRAFFIC WAS APPROACHING IN OPPOSITE LANE. ROAD WAS CURVING TO THE RIGHT. FRONT COLLISION AVOIDANCE AUDIBLE ALARM AND FLASHING RED LIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING DOES NOT DOES NOT LIGHT UP OR BEEP FOR AROUND 4 BLOCKS OF TRAVEL. IF MOST ACCIDENTS HAPPEN CLOSE TO HOME THIS COULD BE SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THIS WAY WITH ALL THE OTHER MODELS HE COMPARED MINE TO. THIS DOES NOT MAKE A SAFE SITUATION. THE D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING. THE CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO LOW WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR SHIFTS FROM REVERSE TO PARK WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES A FEW TIME IT ALMOST RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND WILL WAIT AND SEE IF I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)