2013 Lincoln MKX Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 Lincoln MKX most often describe brake problems, especially a brake pedal that goes to the floor or needs heavy pressure, and many of these complaints name the brake booster. Beyond brakes, the sample covers stalling or sudden loss of acceleration with a wrench warning light, a shifter that does not register Park, door ajar warnings that stay on, and reports of fluid leaking from the transfer unit (PTU). Complaints arrive across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal soft or going to the floor (booster)

   • 52 complaints (32%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and finding it soft, low, or all the way at the floorboard, sometimes with a hissing noise and much longer stopping distance. Several say they had to pump the pedal or use both feet with heavy pressure to stop. Where the vehicle was diagnosed, mechanics commonly pointed to the brake booster, vacuum booster, master cylinder, or hydraulic control unit; some repairs did not end the symptom and it returned. Some owners note the vehicle had to be restarted before brakes felt normal again. Reported from roughly 20,000 to 199,000 miles, with many reports above 90,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records on the brake booster, master cylinder, and ABS/hydraulic control unit, and check whether the extended warranty coverage on the booster described in service bulletins applies to this vehicle. Test the pedal at a standstill and while rolling slowly: it should feel firm and not sink or hiss.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle was in motion when brake pressure was lost as I was turning right. I have to push the brake all the way into the floor board. This has happened three other times, where the brakes eventually reset themselves to where I gently push down on the brake pedal. At this moment I have to push hard on the brake pedal all the way down to the floor board.”

   NHTSA complaint #11269805, filed 2019-10, 139,800 miles

   “I purchased this car in september 29, 2013, with 3 miles on it. It currently has just over 20,000 miles on it. The brake booster started hissing, squealing, when I depressed the brakes to start the car last week, but I thought it was because I had just washed the car. Now the car was just out of warranty. This should be covered under the warranty, but Lincoln wants $1,000 to repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11133089, filed 2018-10, 20,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving

   • 31 complaints (19%)
   • median 52,550 mi at 5.6 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off or the vehicle refusing to accelerate, sometimes at highway speed, with loss of power steering and power brakes until the car is coasted to a stop and restarted. A wrench or low oil pressure light is sometimes mentioned. In several cases dealers could not reproduce the problem or found no stored codes, and one owner reports a fuel pressure sensor was replaced without permanently resolving it. Mostly reported between about 4,000 and 94,000 miles, at both city and highway speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or fuel pressure sensor has been replaced and whether any stored codes were found. On a test drive, include a stretch at steady highway speed and note any hesitation, warning lights, or sudden loss of response.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on the highway at over 70 with my whole family in the vehicle the vehicle simply stopped responding and went into what I have now been informed is limp mode by the grace of god we survived this frightening experience on another instance after that another car hit me thankfully no damage, while doing some research I see there is a safety campaign 13no3 but for some reason this model was not included. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11351747, filed 2020-08, 120,000 miles

   “When you hit the gas pedal you lose all acceleration. You have to drift to a complete stop, turn the car off and then restart it. Have almost been hit multiple times and once on the highway traveling about 50 MPH. Thankfully traffic was not heavy and I was able to get my car stopped and restarted before the possibility of someone running into us. There was no shoulder to pull off on because of construction. It was terrifying. It happens randomly and there is no warning as to when. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11366359, filed 2020-10, 94,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter does not register Park ('shift to park')

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the vehicle does not recognize that the shift lever is in Park, with a chime and a 'shift to park' message even though the lever is in position, sometimes plus difficulty locking the doors. Some describe repeatedly cycling the shifter until the P indicator lights, and one says a replacement shift switch resolved it. A related complaint describes the car rolling when left in Park on uneven pavement. Reported from about 31,000 to 120,000 miles, often at a standstill in driveways and parking lots.

   Recall 14V393000

   What to check: With the car parked, shift into Park several times on flat and sloped ground and confirm the P indicator lights and the warning stays off. Ask whether the shift switch or shifter assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In regards to my 2013 Lincoln MKX, the automatic transmission frequently does not engage in park --- about half the time. When stationary, the automatic transmission gear shift lever is pushed into the p position, but the vehicle warns via a dinging and dash warning that it is not in park. Stationary locations include my garage, which is level, and public parking lots, which are typically level in my area. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11349308, filed 2020-08, 45,000 miles

   “I purchased my vehicle 2 years ago with only 36k miles. 10 months ago I noticed on occasion that after shifting to park the vehicle was not recognizing and alert said to shift to park. Also while braking on hills I could feel pressure building up and pressing against my foot causing me to be forced to press very hard to stop,this continued only on occasion until recently while stopped at a traffic light my car will loose power and the low engine pressure light beeps 3 times. As this has progressed my vehicle is now un driveable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11327074, filed 2020-06, 56,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Door ajar warning stays on after doors close

   • 15 complaints (9%)
   • median 75,500 mi at 6.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2021

   Complaints describe the door ajar chime and message remaining on with all doors shut, along with interior and exit lights staying lit, the alarm sounding at random, dead batteries, and automatic door locking that stops working. Some owners report the condition appearing intermittently at first and later becoming constant, and several mention a recall notice covering one door but not the one that is misbehaving. Reported from about 45,000 to 120,000 miles, occurring both while driving and while parked.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Close each door in turn and watch for the ajar warning and interior lights to go out, and check for battery drain or a history of repeated alarm activations. Ask whether any door latch or wiring repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The driver's door is closed, but the 'open door' alert remains on, as well as the interior lights & exit lights. Multiple door closures, soft, slamming, park, restart. No resolution. Ramdomly turns off , but has stayed on overnight, & in parking lots, being unaware it stayed on. Also at these times, the auto unlock does not work, I have to use the keypad to open the driver's door”

   NHTSA complaint #11405661, filed 2021-03, 97,500 miles

   “Door ajar warning comes on despite all doors being closed securely. This causes any number of issues including interior lights coming on which is not safe at night, entry alarm going off at any hour of the day or night, and excessive drain on battery. The problem occurs both while in motion and while stationary.”

   NHTSA complaint #11310731, filed 2020-02, 107,000 miles

Buying note. Have any candidate inspected with attention to the brake booster and hydraulic system, and ask for records of brake, PTU, and shifter repairs. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a highway test drive are worthwhile, since several of the most common complaints in this sample were intermittent and sometimes not reproducible at the dealer.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.