Skip to content
Lincoln MKSModel year report

2011 Lincoln MKS Problems

Compared with other Lincoln MKS years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010, 2014

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
43filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
50,000miles, 29 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.7L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Lincoln MKS (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2011 Lincoln MKS. The part named most often is steering, with 21 complaints (49% of the total), followed by brakes (5) and engine (4). 29 of the complaints include a mileage, and 45% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 39 an injury, 40 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 31 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Lincoln MKS model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Engine cooling (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Suspension (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “While driving my car it instantly lost steering no forewarning lights. It was very difficult to turn or control the car. I took it to Lincoln and they said they can't cover this exact thing these cars have a recall on because my car was past the warranty. They even charged me to look at it because its past warranty. My car is 4,000 miles past coverage soo they're charging me $2800 for a malfunction that is noted a flaw for this same car.”

NHTSA complaint #11362454, filed 2020-10, 154,000 miles

Brakes: “Power steering randomly locks and unlocks its self, causing the vehicle to pull to the left and displaying difficulty to steer wheel to the right or straight ahead. Brakes seem to lock or slip in certain enviroments at moderate speeds.”

NHTSA complaint #10721926, filed 2015-05, 64,000 miles

Engine: “Engine/Coolant Reservoir, Yes you can inspect it. When driving, or stop at a traffic light or just parked, the car will just start smoking and getting hot, the temperature gauge would not show it was getting hot until after it started smoking. The car would stop in the middle of the street or on the freeway. All the Antifreeze would leak out of the Reservoir and be all over the Engine and the ground, when you put Antifreeze in the reservoir the next day, you can drive for a little distant, but it will start doing the same thing all over again. …”

NHTSA complaint #11515682, filed 2023-04, 143,323 miles

Electrical system: “Vehicle parked at restaurant, when came back out the doors were unlocked, the windows were down and the sunroof was open. This has happened three different times.”

NHTSA complaint #10945257, filed 2017-01, 40,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

45% of the 29 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 100,000 miles.

10%0–1014%10–2521%25–5021%50–757%75–10021%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (29 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 50,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

’12’145’16’18’20’225’245’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 Lincoln MKS. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
MKS · sedan AWDnot rated———4 · 11.8% risk
MKS · sedan FWDnot rated———4 · 11.8% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Lincoln MKS version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
MKS AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172520$3,350
MKS AWD3.7L 6-cyl6-speed automatic162219$3,550
MKS FWD3.7L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172419$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 Lincoln MKS → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 31 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 31 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lincoln MKS

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20151849,0003522—Stable
20144477,000252225 · FewerFalling
201314271,0007521100 · MoreStable
20121774,6253—20—Rising
20114350,0003—1950 · TypicalRising
20105161,0000—1934 · FewerFalling
20095666,0001—1967 · MoreFalling

All Lincoln MKS model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Lincoln MKS have?

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2011 Lincoln MKS as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Lincoln MKS is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 21 complaints (49% of the total), followed by brakes with 5.

Has the 2011 Lincoln MKS been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Lincoln MKS get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Lincoln MKS (MKS FWD, 3.7L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Lincoln MKS reported?

Among the 29 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,000 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 100,000 miles; 45% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.