SOME 2010-2016 EPAS EQUIPPED VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT STEERING RELATED NOISES. THE WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED IN SECTION 211-02. WHEN DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING EPAS STEERING NOISES USE THE UPDATED PROCEDURES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Lincoln MKT steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2010 Lincoln MKT have filed 28 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 99,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 MKT (this page) | 28 |
| 2011 MKT | 11 |
| 2012 MKT | 19 |
| 2013 MKT | 31 |
| 2014 MKT | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 28 steering complaints filed for the 2010 Lincoln MKT, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 43% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 28 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2010 Lincoln MKT describe sudden, complete loss of power steering assist while driving—from highway speeds to parking maneuvers—with the steering wheel becoming extremely stiff or locked. The "Service Power Steering" warning light typically illuminates during or after the failure. Multiple owners report near-accidents, including swerving across lanes, crossing into oncoming traffic, and nearly hitting obstacles because the steering became unmaneuverable mid-turn.
The failure pattern is consistent: the vehicle's electronic power steering system cuts out abruptly, sometimes temporarily recovering after an engine shutdown and restart. Diagnostic reports point to failures in the power steering control module (PSCM), steering angle sensor, or TRW Gen 1 EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering) unit.
Owners emphasize a critical issue: Lincoln and Ford issued recall 15V340000 for 2011–2013 Lincoln MKT models with the identical failure mode, but 2010 MKT owners report being explicitly excluded from that recall despite showing the same problem. Dealers have refused warranty coverage, leaving owners responsible for repairs ($400 for sensor replacement with software upgrade up to $2,300 for steering assembly replacement). One owner paid $500 out-of-pocket after manufacturer covered $1,500 of a $2,000 steering assembly repair. Several owners had to pursue complaints with manufacturers to attempt any cost sharing.
Same Lincoln MKT steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden power steering assist loss / electronic power steering module failure
The electric power steering system abruptly loses assist function while driving, forcing the operator to steer manually with significantly increased effort. The failure typically triggers a 'Service Power Steering' or 'Power Steering Assist Fault' warning light and sometimes 'Service AdvanceTrac' messages. Multiple owners report this occurs during turns, highway driving, or while stationary after startup, with some vehicles temporarily recovering function after engine shutdown and restart.
When: Failures reported from 1,000 miles to 184,000 miles; incidents occur during turns at low-to-moderate speed (10–60 mph), on highways, parking maneuvers, and immediately after cold start.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely difficult to turn or locks up; Service Power Steering warning light illuminates; Service AdvanceTrac warning light flashes; Steering Assist Fault warning message displays; Temporary recovery after engine shutdown and restart (intermittent cases); Steering malfunction warning on dash
Codes mentioned: PSCM (Power Steering Control Module) failure, Steering angle module sensor failure, TRW Gen 1 EPAS (Electronic Power Assist Steering) module fault, Power steering electrical unit failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealer repairs involving: Steering angle module sensor replacement with software upgrade ($400 in one case); steering assembly replacement (part CA5Z3504A, $2,000–$2,300 with partial manufacturer coverage of $1,500); steering gear assembly replacement; power steering module replacement; electric power assist unit replacement. One owner paid $500 out-of-pocket after Lincoln covered $1,500 of a $2,000 repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 15V340000 (2011–2013 Lincoln MKT, Ford Fusion, Taurus, Flex; Mercury Milan; Lincoln MKS/MKZ) and recall 15S18 referenced by owners. 2010 MKT owners report they were explicitly excluded from recall coverage despite exhibiting identical failures. Lincoln/Ford dealers advised owners that 2010 VINs were not included in open recalls and declined warranty coverage under the recall campaign.
Steering column / tie rod mechanical failure with electronic control loss
One owner reports a loud bang during driving followed by loss of steering control, with dealer diagnosis indicating simultaneous failure of the steering column, computer system, and tie rods. This occurred after multiple brake system repairs and continued right-pull tendency. A second loud bang later involved failure of the rear-wheel drive system.
When: Initial failure at 1,000 miles; subsequent failures and right-pull pulling occurred between 1,000 and 11,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang noise while driving; Steering wheel becomes very stiff; Vehicle pulls sharply to the right; Vibrations throughout the vehicle at highway speed; Grinding noise when brake pedal pressure applied
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed failure within steering column, computer system, and tie rods; performed repair. Rear-wheel drive system also failed and was repaired.
Intermittent power steering lockup during low-speed maneuvers
Power steering assist intermittently fails or becomes extremely difficult during parking maneuvers, low-speed turns, and initial vehicle startup. Owners describe the wheel becoming nearly impossible to turn, with warning lights appearing either before or after the loss of assist. Some instances resolve temporarily with engine restart; others persist until repaired.
When: Failures occur during turns at 25–45 mph and at parking speeds. One owner reports the issue recurring multiple times within a few days.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering cuts out during hard turns or parking maneuvers; Steering wheel extremely difficult to maneuver; Power Steering Assist Fault warning light; Steering malfunction warning; Difficulty steering manifests during left turns in particular (one report)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report needing steering module replacement, steering gear assembly replacement. One garage diagnosed power steering electrical unit failure; repairs were not completed in all reported cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners noted that recall 15V340000 excluded 2010 models despite covering 2011–2012 MKT. Dealers consistently advised owners that their 2010 VINs had no applicable recalls.
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
2010 Lincoln mkt- we were traveling home on christmas eve 2015 in goffstown, nh when suddenly out of nowhere as we were turning a corner the steering wheel tightened up and just about locked into place in the turn. We had just got off the highway returning from my in-laws from 40 miles away. Luckily there was nobody in that intersection because I was clearly on the wrong side of the road after…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Lincoln mkt. While driving approximately 25-35 MPH, the service power steering warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle became very difficult to steer. The vehicle was taken to hertrich capitol Lincoln (1127 s dupont hwy, dover, de 19901, (302) 241-0087) where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
Driving in the highway the power steering got stock & almost loose control and I put over them the stering became hard to turn
I purchased the car used a month ago. Today is the second day that after starting the car the dash displayed a power steering fault message. Sure enough I can barely steer the car. Each time I turned the car off, waited 30 seconds, turned the car back on and the problem went away.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Lincoln mkt. The contact stated that while reversing out of the driveway, the power steering failed and steering wheel locked. The vehicle was turned off and restarted several times before returning to normal operation. The power steering assist warning light illuminated after the vehicle was re-started and the steering remained in the locked position. The contact…
The steering all of a sudden became impossible to turn the vehicle. I almost had an accident trying to get over to the shoulder. While pulling over on the shoulder the warning signal on the mirror didn’t tell me that another car was next to me. These issues could have cost me my life
Had steering trouble with your 2010 Lincoln MKT?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2010 Lincoln MKT?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 77,000 and 136,000 miles, with the median around 99,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 77,000; a quarter make it past 136,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Lincoln/MKT.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.