YearToAvoid

2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

44/100

#6 most-complained of 10 MKZ Hybrid years

The 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid has 12 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 44, ranking 6th among 10 model years, with a

Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
38
38 city / 37 hwy

Top 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid problems

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

  1. Structure & Body4 (33%)
  2. Steering3 (25%)
  3. Other2 (17%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain2 (17%)
  5. Brakes1 (8%)
  6. Electrical System1 (8%)
  7. Engine1 (8%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (8%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Door latches on rear and front passenger doors fail, causing doors to become ajar or not stay shut while driving.
  • Panoramic sunroof glass delaminates, developing air bubbles along the edges and eventually across the whole roof.
  • Power steering assist control module reportedly causes sudden loss of steering ability while turning.
  • Engine lost power at highway speed with the check engine light on, followed by smoke and an under-hood fire.
  • Tires wore unevenly and went bald well before expected, requiring full replacement.
  • Owners report ABS and hill assist warnings along with a heavier steering wheel and transmission slipping during acceleration and braking.
2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2014Jan 2015Nov 2016Apr 2017Jan 2018Jul 2018
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2014 to Oct 2018; peak Feb 2017 (3).

2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
38 MPG
Highway
37 MPG
Combined
38 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,700
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.

2013 compared with other MKZ Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid7840038
2012Avoid8959038
2013Good4412038
2014Avoid10027038
2015Caution6712040

All Lincoln MKZ Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid reliable compared to other MKZ Hybrid years?
NHTSA data gives the 2013 model a Complaint Index of 44 and a 'Good' verdict, ranking 6th out of 10 model years, better than 2011, 2012, and 2014, which are rated 'Avoid'.
What are the most common problems on the 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid?
Structure & Body complaints make up 33% of the 12 total complaints, mostly door latch failures and sunroof delamination, followed by Steering issues at 25% and Transmission & Powertrain at 17%.
Does the 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2013 MKZ Hybrid, though one owner complaint references a seat belt recall (16v875000) that applied to other model years.
Did the 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid have any fires?
NHTSA lists 1 fire complaint out of 12 total, involving a reported loss of power followed by smoke and flames under the hood at 75,000 miles.
At what mileage do problems typically show up on the 2013 MKZ Hybrid?
Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 50,000 miles, with Structure & Body issues at 52,500 miles and Steering issues at 51,750 miles.

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.