Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln MKT vs FORD F 150
How the Lincoln MKT and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Lincoln MKT vs FORD F 150: The MKT averages 29.5 complaints per year with steering as the top issue, while the F-150 averages 1,162.1 complaints per year, led by power train problems. The F-150 also has 330 crash-related complaints versus 6 for the MKT. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln MKT or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln MKT
The Lincoln MKT is a luxury crossover that averages about 30 complaints per year over a decade, with steering problems dominating owner reports. Many complaints describe sudden power steering failure mid-turn, which can cause the vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic. Structural issues like shattering moonroofs and falling trim also appear, suggesting that while the overall complaint count is low, the failures that do occur can be serious and safety-related.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a massive owner base, generating over 1,100 complaints per year on average. Power train and electrical issues are the most common, with many owners reporting transmission limp mode, lead frame failures, and rear window defroster shorts that can shatter the back glass. The sheer volume of complaints and recalls means that while many trucks are fine, the odds of encountering a recurring, expensive problem are higher.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln MKT | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 295 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 31 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 6 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.5 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 5 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Lincoln MKT
- 01STEERING101
- 02STRUCTURE48
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER43
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION24
Owners report sudden power steering failure, often mid-turn, which can cause the vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic. This is a critical safety concern because it happens without warning and can be difficult to control.
Complaints include moonroofs shattering spontaneously during normal rain and keyless entry trim falling off while driving. These failures can lead to water damage, unexpected repair costs, and potential hazards from flying debris.
Owners describe check engine lights for lean conditions, backup cameras that blink on and off, and power steering sensor faults. These electrical gremlins can be frustrating to diagnose and may affect safety features like rear visibility.
Rear camera alerts sometimes fail to detect people or vehicles when backing up, according to owner reports. This reduces confidence when reversing and could increase the risk of low-speed collisions.
“Car begin smoking out of the back took car to dealership car oil was low. Car dealership refilled oil and told me to come back after driving 1000 miles. Car began smoking again like it was going to catch on fire took car in was told the turbo boost failed. De…”
“ON 12/10/2018 AT 5 PM I MADE A RIGHT TURN TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED MID TURN. SHOCKED AND SURPRISED AT TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I VEERED INTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE PROPER LANE BECAUSE OF THE AM…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners report transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden loss of power. These issues often recur even after repairs and can leave the truck undrivable.
The same lead frame issue also appears under electrical complaints, along with output speed sensor failures that trigger limp mode. A separate complaint describes a rear window defroster short that caused the back glass to shatter outward.
Some owners report rear window defroster shorts that lead to the back window exploding, with no external impact. This is a rare but alarming failure that can happen while driving.
While specific complaint text is not provided, exterior lighting is a top component with over 1,200 complaints. Buyers should check for recurring bulb or housing failures that could affect visibility.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Lincoln MKT — 31 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
The risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy p…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
The risk: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKT vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
The risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 23, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owner…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKT vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
The risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 23, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owner…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Lincoln MKT or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lincoln MKT has far fewer complaints per year (about 30) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100), but the MKT's steering failures are particularly dangerous. In practice, the F-150's higher volume means more chances for transmission and electrical problems, while the MKT's lower volume still includes serious safety defects.
Key differences
- The Lincoln MKT's most common complaint is steering failure (101 reports), often described as sudden loss of power assist mid-turn, while the Ford F-150's top issue is power train problems (3,648 reports), including transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- The F-150 has 330 crash-related complaints and 297 injuries reported, compared to the MKT's 6 crash-related and 5 injuries, though the F-150's much larger sales volume must be considered.
- Structural issues on the MKT include shattering moonroofs and falling trim, while the F-150 has reports of rear window defroster shorts causing the back glass to shatter.
- The MKT averages about 30 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages over 1,100, meaning the F-150 has a much higher rate of owner-reported problems even after adjusting for sales volume.
- During a test drive, check for any hesitation or stiffness in the steering, especially at low speeds or during turns, as sudden power steering failure is a reported issue.
- Inspect the moonroof for cracks or previous repairs, and ask if it has ever shattered, since owners report spontaneous breakage during rain.
- Test the transmission for smooth shifting and check for any signs of limp mode or getting stuck in gear, as these are common complaints.
- Inspect the rear window and defroster operation, looking for any cracks or signs of overheating that could lead to shattering.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls, especially for steering on the MKT and power train on the F-150.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the steering system for the MKT and the transmission and electrical system for the F-150.
- During a test drive, specifically test the backup camera and rear alerts on the MKT, and the rear defroster and window on the F-150.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly any repairs related to steering, transmission, or electrical issues.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest recalls using the VIN, and confirm that all recall work has been completed.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Lincoln MKT | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 17 | 52 |
| 2018 | 7 | 79 |
| 2017 | 3 | 59 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Lincoln MKT or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln MKT vs FORD F 150
- Lincoln MKT total complaints
- 295
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Lincoln MKT total recalls
- 31
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Lincoln MKT avg complaints/year
- 29.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln MKT
- Lincoln MKT top complaint area
- STEERING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN