2013 Lincoln MKZ Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
60/100
#5 most-complained of 11 MKZ years
The 2013 Lincoln MKZ has 109 NHTSA complaints, 12 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 5th worst of 11 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Structure & Body issues (24 complaints, 22% share) are the top concern.
- Complaints
- 109
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23.5
- 20.5 city / 29 hwy
Top 2013 Lincoln MKZ problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body24 (22%)
- Electrical System18 (17%)
- Steering16 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain15 (14%)
- Engine13 (12%)
- Seat Belts12 (11%)
- Other11 (10%)
- Brakes10 (9%)
- Fuel System8 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (7%)
What owners report
- Owners report door latches failing to hold, in one case allowing a vehicle to roll forward into a canal after being placed in park.
- Some drivers describe the vehicle unintentionally shifting from drive to neutral, low, or park while in motion, with one incident happening three times before a repair visit.
- Electrical system complaints include the vehicle stalling suddenly at highway speed after brushing the push-to-start button, and a loose battery junction power line causing repeated stalls at very low mileage.
- Fuel system reports describe fuel leaking at an alarming rate from a failed fuel line, along with unavailable recall parts to fix a related fuel system campaign.
- Electric parking brake systems have displayed a 'park brake limited function service required' message shortly after vehicle pickup, described by the dealer as a recurring but non-issue.
2013 Lincoln MKZ recalls
12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V162000Mar 10, 2023Brakes1,280,726 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Risk: A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.
- NHTSA 20V331000Jun 8, 2020Structure & Body2,147,323 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
- NHTSA 19V632000Aug 29, 2019Steering116,160 vehicles
Steering:electric power assist system
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
Risk: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.
2013 Lincoln MKZ fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20.5 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 23.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,775
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Lincoln MKZ a good year to buy?
- NHTSA data give the 2013 MKZ a Complaint Index of 60 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among 11 model years tracked. Later years like 2018 and 2019 score lower (better) at 20 and 10.
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Lincoln MKZ?
- Structure & Body complaints are the largest category with 24 complaints (22% share), followed by Electrical System (18 complaints, 17%) and Steering (16 complaints, 15%), according to NHTSA data.
- Does the 2013 Lincoln MKZ have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2013 MKZ covering brakes, structure/body door latches, steering gear motor bolts, and seat belt cable coating, though none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2013 MKZ compare to other MKZ years?
- The 2013 model's Complaint Index of 60 is better than 2010 (100), 2011 (80), and 2012 (90), but worse than 2014 (50), 2015 (30), 2016 (40), 2018 (20), and 2019 (10).