YearToAvoid

2011 Lincoln MKT Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

22/100

#8 most-complained of 10 MKT years

The 2011 Lincoln MKT ranks 8th of 10 model years with a Complaint Index of 22, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other MKT years. It has 19 complaints and 1 recall, with Steering the top problem area at 58% of complaints.

Complaints
19
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18
16 city / 21.5 hwy

Top 2011 Lincoln MKT problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering11 (58%)
  2. Engine5 (26%)
  3. Structure & Body2 (11%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (11%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain2 (11%)
  6. Electrical System1 (5%)
  7. Fuel System1 (5%)
  8. Other1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Power steering assist fails suddenly while driving, sometimes triggering a "service power steering now" message and making the wheel hard to turn.
  • Steering gear assembly wear leads to replacement, in one case tied to recall campaign 15V340000.
  • Engine knocking or rattling occurs during acceleration, sometimes with hard shifting or lack of power in stop-and-go traffic.
  • 20-inch aluminum wheels corrode over time, eventually causing tire pressure to deflate faster as corrosion spreads to the wheel flange.
  • Rear liftgate struts or stabilization bars give out, causing the liftgate to fall shut unexpectedly.
  • Fuel injector issues cause repeated hesitation during moderate acceleration in cold weather.
2011 Lincoln MKT complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2013Oct 2015Feb 2017Apr 2019Apr 2021Dec 2021Jul 2023
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to Jul 2023; peak Apr 2021 (3).

2011 Lincoln MKT recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V340000Jun 2, 2015Steering393,623 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.

    Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.

2011 Lincoln MKT fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
21.5 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other MKT years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid7864018
2011Best2219118
2012Caution5627119
2013Avoid10069719.5

All Lincoln MKT years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Lincoln MKT reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 MKT has a Complaint Index of 22, the lowest among the years with a numeric index in this dataset, giving it a "Best" verdict relative to other MKT years.
What is the top problem area for the 2011 Lincoln MKT?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 58% of complaints (11 of 19), with a median failure mileage of 131,500 miles.
Does the 2011 Lincoln MKT have a steering recall?
Yes. Recall campaign 15V340000, reported June 2, 2015, covers a Power Steering Control Module issue and Ford will check for diagnostic trouble codes.
How does the 2011 Lincoln MKT compare to other MKT model years?
The 2011 MKT ranks 8th worst out of 10 years tracked, with far fewer complaints (19) than years like 2013 (69 complaints, Complaint Index 100) and 2010 (64 complaints, Complaint Index 78), both rated "Avoid."
What is fuel economy like on the 2011 Lincoln MKT?
The 2011 MKT gets 18 mpg combined (16 city / 21.5 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,600 according to EPA data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.