2013 Lincoln Mkz: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2013 Lincoln Mkz? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 108 complaints, with Electrical Faults as the top reported area.
2013 Lincoln Mkz Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 5 2013 Lincoln Mkz trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 5 trims analysed.
2013 Lincoln Mkz Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2013 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWDOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
10.9% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
10.9% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2013 Lincoln Mkz has 108 owner complaints, 4 crash-related complaints, and 13 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Electrical Faults. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Lincoln
- Model
- Mkz
- Model year
- 2013
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 108
- Crash-related complaints
- 4
- Safety recall campaigns
- 13
- Top reported component
- Electrical Faults
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 25
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 22 / 31
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2013 Lincoln Mkz Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Electrical Faults
Steering Defects
Transmission / Drivetrain
Complaint patterns center on Electrical Faults, Steering Defects, Transmission / Drivetrain. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2013 Lincoln Mkz?
The 2013 Lincoln Mkz shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2013 Lincoln Mkz
Inspection Focus
- Inspect electrical system for faults, including battery and wiring.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for steering and transmission repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect electrical system for faults, including battery and wiring.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for steering and transmission repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2013 Lincoln Mkz, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2013 Lincoln MKZ are concentrated in electrical faults, steering defects, and transmission/drivetrain issues. Crash-related complaints are low, but the overall complaint volume is notable for a single model year.
- Electrical faults are the most reported component with 17 complaints.
- Steering defects and transmission/drivetrain issues each have over 15 complaints.
- Seat belt and structural problems each account for 12 complaints.
- Electrical Faults
- Steering Defects
- Transmission / Drivetrain
All 2013 Lincoln Mkz Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Lincoln Mkz. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 15 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 12 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 12 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Gasoline | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Firerelated | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Lincoln Mkz. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Vehicle: Lincoln MKZ 2013 Dealer: Auto Quest Inc. Description of the Safety Issue: I am submitting this report regarding a vehicle safety concern involving a 2013 Lincoln MKZ that I purchased from Auto Quest Inc. in Renton, Washington. Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, wit…
I was slowing down to take a turn and I see an error message saying “power steering assist failure”. And steering went stiff..
Video camera in the back is almost unusable at times, get loss of vision completely or it's flipped image and distorted. Don't know if this counts but I had a issue where key batteries where fine and the car did not want to unlock or start. Also last winter the door would not unl…
the driver side mirror blind spot stopped working and all most hit a vehicle coming up alongside of me. Yes it is available No in October
The contact owned a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while adjusting the driver's side motorized seat, the contact felt an electric shock through her left hand, prompting the contact to cease the action and immediately turn off the vehicle. No warning lights were illumin…
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-over prevention camera screen turned off and turned on independently. Additionally, there was a message to contact the dealer displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independ…
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that the back-over prevention camera was inoperable. The contact stated that occasionally the screen was distorted or blank. The message that the camera was unavailable was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated…
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that on several occasions while exiting the vehicle, the contact observed an abnormally strong fuel odor outside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not able to be replicat…
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering was vibrating and jiggling. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loosened near the gear housing. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnos…
Catalytic converter, reduced engine power and toxic fumes. I had it inspected and would cost me $1200, I purchased the vehicle from dealership and was not made aware of the recalls and customer satisfaction program that would have covered the catalytic converter under campaign #2…
Car (93,000 miles) was operating fine, no check engine nor any other lights. I go into pharmacy come back out get in car to shift gears into drive and I notice the brake pedal sink to floor. As I am driving I notice that when braking it continues to take a longer distance to stop…
Power steering fault, Hard to steering.
When turn and more specifically u-turns or sharp turns, the steering is very hard. I noticed that there was a recall on power steering for the Lincoln MKZ 2013 for cars registered in Iowa. However, Lincoln is saying that my car is not covered.
The power steering suddenly stopped working as I was on the highway and couldn’t control my car without warning. It started working momentarily and then stopped again. It’s been over 24 hours. The fuses were checked. At the same time that the steering went out two messages a…
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated while starting the vehicle and driving at various speeds, there was a loud beeping sound as if the doors were unlocked or opened. There were no warning lights or error messages displayed. The vehicle had not been taken to th…
Took car in for an oil change and tire rotation. The dealer did the oil change but could not do the tire rotation because the lug nuts needed to be replaced.
The seat belts unlock at any given time
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the power steering became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who informed her…
The air blower and radio automatically adjust. The air will turn on and off by itself and go from low speed to full blast and all in between. The radio automatically adjusts volume by itself. Luckily, so far when it’s happens it can be turned off and doesn’t come back on. However…
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2013 Lincoln Mkz.
2013 Lincoln Mkz Recalls
13 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Lincoln Mkz. 13 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2013 Lincoln Mkz Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2013 Lincoln Mkz reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 108 owner complaints, 4 crash-related complaints, and 13 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2013 Lincoln Mkz shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Lincoln Mkz?▾
#1: Electrical Faults (17 complaints). #2: Steering Defects (16 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (15 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Lincoln Mkz?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2013 Lincoln Mkz?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2013 Lincoln Mkz, NHTSA complaints include 4 crash-related reports and 2 fire reports out of 108 total complaints. 2 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2013 Lincoln Mkz have any recalls?▾
Yes. 13 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2013 Lincoln Mkz. A major recall area is STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. 13 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2013 Lincoln Mkz?▾
The 2013 Lincoln Mkz shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Electrical Faults during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Lincoln Mkz reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2013 Lincoln Mkz based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.