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Lincoln MKZModel year report

2011 Lincoln MKZ Problems

Compared with other Lincoln MKZ years

Typical for this model

53/100 1.1× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008, 2012, 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
145filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
68,500miles, 74 complaints with mileage
Recalls
52 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 3 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

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

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ report two dominant themes in the sampled complaints: airbag inflator recall notices (mostly Takata-related) and a sudden loss of brake pedal pressure that sends the pedal to the floor. Steering complaints — hard-to-turn or intermittently seized wheels — recur through the sample as well, often after the power assist recall repair. Many reports come in above 70,000 miles, though brakes and steering issues also appear well under 50,000 miles.

  1. Brakes

    Brake pedal sinks to floor, brake assist lost

    • 26 complaints (18%)
    • median 94,070 mi at 9.0 yrs old (18 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,145 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2012–2025

    Owners describe the brake pedal dropping to the floorboard with little or no warning, sometimes accompanied by ABS, traction control and brake warning lights. Several reports say the car kept rolling and had to be stopped with the parking brake or by shutting off the ignition. Complaints mention replacement of the hydraulic control module, ABS module or master cylinder, and several say the condition returned after repair. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 135,000 miles, in ordinary driving conditions rather than a specific climate or season.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the ABS/hydraulic control module or master cylinder has been replaced and keep records. Test the pedal for a firm, consistent feel and treat any warning-light cluster as a reason for a professional inspection.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving at roughly 35mph suddenly and without any warning lights or chimes, my brakes lost pressure, the pedal then sunk to the floor. Upon pumping the brakes a few times I was able to slow to a stop but the pedal then continued to sink to the floor. Upon going all the way to the floor, the car barely stops and pulls hard left, as if the passenger side front brakes aren't working.”

    NHTSA complaint #11257263, filed 2019-09, 133,000 miles

    “My car couldn't break, suddenly got warning while driving through a parking lot by walmart store. Red check brake system yellow service advance trac break and ABS dash lights started popping up and I could not even break a little bit even after stepping on the break pedal real hard, I was fortunate enough to not having anyone in front of me on the parking lot as I absolutely couldn't break!!!!!! I put my blinkers on and placed the car in parking gear, yet it wouldn't stop!! …”

    NHTSA complaint #11407408, filed 2021-04, 116,427 miles
  2. Steering

    Power steering assist cuts out or wheel hard to turn

    • 12 complaints (8%)
    • median 66,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2023

    Owners report the steering wheel suddenly becoming very heavy or locking up, often at low speed, while parking, or upon starting the car. Complaints describe accompanying power steering, stability control and check engine lights, and dealers either unable to duplicate the condition or reporting that the vehicle was not covered by the power assist recall. A few owners say the recall repair was performed but symptoms came back. Reported from very low mileage (a few hundred miles) up past 130,000 miles, with many cases in the 50,000-100,000 mile range.

    Recall 15V3400004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Verify whether the power steering assist recall (15V340000) applies to this specific VIN and whether the repair was done. Ask about any steering noise, warning light history, or drift, and have the steering gear and assist inspected.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The first time it happened was while driving when my wheel locked up and I was unable to turn it at all. It happened again after gas at a gas station, I was stationary but the steering wheel still locked up.”

    NHTSA complaint #11271448, filed 2019-10, 131,800 miles

    “I drive a 2011 Lincoln MKZ and today I had a bit of a problem. A coworker of mine needed to be taken to a hyundai dealership so that she may pick up her vehicle for some servicing that she had done, and during my attempt at parking I lost my power steering. At first I couldn't move the car so I had put my vehicle in park and then I turned it off. I had turned to my coworker and she had noticed my difficulty steering. I had then started my car once again and tried to park but this time I was capable of steering. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10641882, filed 2014-10, 39,000 miles
  3. Body and structure

    Door handles and latches fail to open or close

    • 12 complaints (8%)
    • median 53,745 mi at 6.7 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • filed 2015–2020

    Owners describe interior and exterior door handles breaking so the door cannot be opened from inside, sometimes forcing occupants to lower the window and use the outside handle. Other reports say a door unlatched on its own or would not latch shut, and dealers quoted repairs or told owners the part was back-ordered. A couple of owners describe flames at the door panel near the rocker area. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, with several cases just outside the warranty period.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Open and close every door from both inside and outside, checking for a loose or sticky handle. Ask whether any latch or handle assembly has already been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The front drivers door will no longer open from the inside. This started on september 30, 2016 while I was on a road trip. I thought maybe it was a fuse or electrical problem. I started rolling the window down to open the door from the outside. We went to the ford dealership and was told the part was back ordered by more than 700 parts. If we hold two parts of the handle at the same time we can get the door open. I have carpal tunnel and that is sometimes difficult. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10926089, filed 2016-11, 78,600 miles

    “My wife got to the mall and tried to get out of the car and the door would not unlatch. She called me frantic asking what to do. She did not dare ask a stranger, so I told her to wait and I would be right there. She was very upset by the time I got there.-20 min. The door opened normally from the outside. Later I took the door apart and found that a plastic part of the handle that transfers motion to the door latch had broken. This seems like a poor design and/ or a poor choice of material. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11001171, filed 2017-06, 56,000 miles
  4. Air bags

    Passenger/driver airbag inflator recall notices unaddressed

    • 47 complaints (32%)
    • median 47,500 mi at 7.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2016–2022

    Owners describe receiving Takata-related recall notices warning that the front airbag inflator may be affected, and then being unable to get the repair done. Complaints say dealers did not have parts, could not say when parts would arrive, or told owners to wait for another letter. A few owners describe dash cracking near the airbag area and being quoted for a new dash instead. Reports span roughly 30,000 to 130,000 miles with no clear mileage pattern; many are tied to notice letters rather than a failure event.

    Recall 16V384000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 19V001000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V775000Recall 21V1580002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the VIN against open recalls and ask for documentation that the inflator replacement was completed. Confirm parts availability with the dealer before relying on the car for daily use.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall. We purchased this car new apr 11, 2011 from mack haik Lincoln in georgetown tx. We have since received two safety recall notices but get no help from the dealer. Our last recall notice included a warning not to allow passengers in the right front seat.”

    NHTSA complaint #11091945, filed 2018-05, 40,000 miles

    “Takata notice and dashboard where airbags are.fash is splitting and dealer said can't be fixed. Have to order and pay for a new dash. I received a class action notice about airbags. Dealer checked and no recalls I concerned”

    NHTSA complaint #11150424, filed 2018-11, 50,000 miles
  5. Engine

    Water pump failure leading to coolant in the engine

    • 8 complaints (6%)
    • median 115,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2016–2024

    Owners describe knocking noises, overheating, or the engine stalling without warning, with diagnosis pointing to a failed water pump that let coolant reach the engine oil. Complaints mention engine damage from the leak and repair estimates running several thousand dollars. Some reports tie the situation to a diagnostic trouble code and to a timing chain concern. Reports cluster from roughly 60,000 to 140,000 miles, often appearing as a sudden event while driving.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check coolant level and look for coolant contamination or a milky appearance in the oil. Ask whether the water pump has been replaced and listen for knocking at cold start.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving down the highway with no warning my engine started knocking real bad and then I lost all power due to the engine stopping. Had I been on an interstate with lots of traffic this could have been a very dangerous situation. After a tow and taking the car to a ford dealership. I found out that the water pump failed and allowed coolant to go into the oil pan, causing damage to the bearing on the pistons. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11354103, filed 2020-09, 140,000 miles

    “I had heard a wheezing noise in the front end so I took the car to my mechanic. He was unable to find a problem. A week after while driving the car I was driving and as I turned the car completely shut down. Two days later it began to not drive properly I took the car back to the mechanic and said I had a bad sensor but the water pump was going bad. He stated it shouldn't go bad in this newer of a car. My car has been undrivable ever since. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10911345, filed 2016-10, 70,578 miles

Buying note. Check open safety recalls by VIN first, particularly the airbag inflator and power steering campaigns, and confirm the repairs were actually completed. A pre-purchase inspection should cover the brake hydraulic system, steering assist, coolant and oil condition, and all four door latches before you commit.

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.

NHTSA recorded 145 consumer complaints for the 2011 Lincoln MKZ. 74 of the complaints include a mileage, and 32% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 68,500 miles. Of all complaints, 11 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 34 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Lincoln MKZ model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 53 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: Transmission and drivetrain (4), Electronic stability control (3), Exterior lighting (3), Equipment (2), Fuel system (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Seats (2), Suspension (2), Wheels (2).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall - called dealer (robinson brothers Lincoln baton rouge, louisiana) and they told me they did not have the parts at this time and that I should wait for another letter.”

NHTSA complaint #11042188, filed 2017-11, 50,000 miles

Brakes: “I was traveling down a hill that ends with a stoplight on a backroad in the city. The light turned red, I applied my brakes and my foot went to the floor with no brake pressure. I was able to pull over and use my emergency brake to stop me. There was no fluids visible.”

NHTSA complaint #11289939, filed 2019-12, 78,000 miles

Steering: “While driving the car send a fault code of service power steering and loss of power steering happens immediately. Took the car to the dealership they said they fixed the issue (replaced power steering motor and reprogrammed). Picked up the car and within 16 hours as I was making a turn the same issue happened. The car is currently still at the dealership with no solution to the problem. There seems to be a recall out for 2011 MKZ for this reason but for some reason my car VIN doesn't pull up that recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11257482, filed 2019-09, 133,000 miles

Engine: “P0016 code came up.. Lincoln advises repair will be over $5000.00 to fix and I should trade in and get new car. Just made last payment and car only has 66, 000 miles on it. P0016 is part of class action lawsuit. Water pump is leaking on timing chain which will eventually seize engine.”

NHTSA complaint #11183629, filed 2019-03, 65,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

32% of the 74 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 100,000 miles.

3%0–108%10–2522%25–5028%50–7512%75–10027%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (74 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 68,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’12’14’1633’18’20’22’24’26
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 MKZ. 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
MKZ · sedan AWD★★★★☆4 / 3445 · 9.2% risk
MKZ · sedan FWD★★★★☆4 / 3444 · 10.5% risk
MKZ HEV · sedan FWD★★★★☆3 / 4444 · 10.5% risk

Neighbouring years: 2012: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Lincoln MKZ 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
MKZ AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172419$3,550
MKZ FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182621$3,200

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 MKZ → · 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. 34 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 34 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lincoln MKZ

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20192158,1381524—Rising
20183633,00025240 · FewerRising
201714174,000452446 · TypicalRising
20166456,500652639 · TypicalRising
20158459,0001052643 · TypicalStable
20149760,5001352651 · TypicalStable
201310944,5001252660 · TypicalStable
201214653,750542150 · TypicalFalling
201114568,500542153 · TypicalFalling
201017072,6167—2175 · MoreFalling
200911468,0006—2153 · TypicalFalling
200828180,4004—2250 · TypicalFalling
200725977,4564—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

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

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Lincoln MKZ?

Owners of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ report two dominant themes in the sampled complaints: airbag inflator recall notices (mostly Takata-related) and a sudden loss of brake pedal pressure that sends the pedal to the floor. The issues reported most often: Brake pedal sinks to floor, brake assist lost; Power steering assist cuts out or wheel hard to turn; Door handles and latches fail to open or close.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Lincoln MKZ have?

NHTSA recorded 145 consumer complaints for the 2011 Lincoln MKZ as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Air bags is named most often, in 66 complaints (46% of the total), followed by brakes with 20.

Has the 2011 Lincoln MKZ been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2011 Lincoln MKZ do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2011 Lincoln MKZ 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 3 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Lincoln MKZ get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Lincoln MKZ (MKZ FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

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

Among the 74 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 68,500 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 100,000 miles; 32% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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.