2011 Lincoln MKZ Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Lincoln MKZ has a Complaint Index of 64 and ranks 6th worst out of 15 model years, earning a Caution verdict. It carries 145 complaints, 5 recalls (2 do-not-drive), with airbags as the top problem area at 46% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 64/100
- #6 of 15 MKZ years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 145
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 11
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17.5 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2011 Lincoln MKZ problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags66 (46%)
- Brakes22 (15%)
- Engine20 (14%)
- Steering19 (13%)
- Structure & Body14 (10%)
- Electrical System11 (8%)
- Other10 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (3%)
- Fuel System2 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Vehicles have suddenly lurched forward or accelerated unintentionally while parking at low speed, crashing into curbs, buildings, or light posts.
- Drivers report loss of control at low speed, with the vehicle veering off and striking fixed objects like houses.
- Airbags have failed to deploy in crashes, including one where the vehicle ran off-road and hit a pole.
- The brake pedal has slowly sunk toward the floor during braking, forcing use of the emergency brake to stop.
- A fire broke out on the driver's door panel while the door was being opened, which the driver put out without help.
- Under hard braking, the accelerator pedal reportedly traveled to the floor at the same time as the brake, ending in a crash.
2011 Lincoln MKZ recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V158000Mar 10, 2021Airbags2,602,668 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- NHTSA 19V001000Jan 7, 2019Airbags782,384 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
- NHTSA 18V775000Nov 1, 2018Airbags215 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16V-384, 17V-024 or 18V-046. In the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing may deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out.
Risk: If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S34.
2011 Lincoln MKZ fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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 MKZ years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Lincoln MKZ reliable?
- Compared with other MKZ model years, 2011 rates Caution, with a Complaint Index of 64 that ranks 6th worst of 15 years. It has more reported problems than newer years like 2018 and 2019 but fewer than 2007-2010.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Lincoln MKZ?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 66 of 145 complaints (46%), with a median failure mileage of 42,500 miles. Brakes and engine issues follow at 15% and 14% of complaints.
- Does the 2011 Lincoln MKZ have any do-not-drive recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2011 MKZ, 2 of which are do-not-drive recalls covering airbag defects (campaigns 19V001000 and 16V384000).
- How does the 2011 MKZ compare to other years?
- The 2011 MKZ's Complaint Index of 64 is lower than 2007-2010 (all rated Avoid, with indexes from 79 to 100) but higher than 2016-2019, which rate Good or Best.