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 ↗2011 Lincoln MKT steering problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 11 steering complaints filed for the 2011 Lincoln MKT, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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
Power steering assist failures are the main complaint on this 2011 MKT, with eleven reports detailing loss of steering control at both highway speeds and low-speed maneuvers. Owners describe sudden stiffness in the steering wheel, difficulty or inability to turn the wheel, and "Service Power Steering" or "Service Power Steering Now" warning messages on the dashboard. One owner nearly collided with oncoming traffic during a merge when power steering failed mid-turn at rush hour; others report intermittent failures during startup that happen roughly every other week, forcing a restart to restore function.
Failures span 84,000 to 197,000 miles. Diagnostic testing returns code P07AE, which owners note matches the fault code cited in NHTSA Recall Campaign 15V340000, issued June 2, 2015. Repairs involve power steering module or steering gear assembly replacement—expensive work that owners report runs high enough to deter many from completing the job. The sticking point: Lincoln has apparently refused multiple recall requests, telling owners their VINs don't show up in the recall system or that the recall has expired, despite those same VINs exhibiting the exact fault described in the campaign.
Same Lincoln MKT steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering assist loss or intermittent failure at startup/during operation
Power steering assist ceases or severely diminishes without warning, making the steering wheel stiff and difficult to turn. Owners report the vehicle becoming uncontrollable or requiring excessive physical effort to steer, sometimes forcing them to pull over and restart the car to restore function.
When: 84,000 to 197,000 miles; one reported near 200,000 miles; onset varies from startup to mid-drive and mid-turn
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist message on instrument panel; Steering wheel becomes firm or stiff; Steering wheel unresponsive or extremely difficult to turn; Vehicle hard to maneuver out of parking spots; Loss of power steering during high-speed driving (70 mph); Service Power Steering warning message; Intermittent failures occurring every other week or periodically; Problem resolves temporarily after engine restart
Codes mentioned: P07AE
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repairs included power steering module replacement and steering gear assembly replacement; owners report high repair costs and hesitancy to repair due to expense; some vehicles not repaired because owners could not afford the service
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 15V340000 (Steering) issued June 2, 2015; some owners report VINs excluded from recall eligibility or recall expired; manufacturer informed of failures but some owners report refusal to honor recall; one owner reported being told recall did not apply despite vehicle showing the exact diagnostic code cited in the recall
Power steering sensor/module electrical fault
Electronic sensors or modules controlling power steering function develop faults, triggering warning messages and loss of steering assistance. Diagnostic testing confirms module failure requiring replacement.
When: Mileage not consistently reported; first reported issue around 131,500 miles; another at 157,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service Power Steering or Service Power Steering Now warning message; Power steering assist stops working; Power steering sensor fault light illuminated
Codes mentioned: P07AE
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering module replacement required; high repair costs documented by owners researching repairs online
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 15V340000 (Steering); some owners report VINs do not appear in recall system despite having identical fault codes and symptoms described in the recall
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
Sometimes while starting the car, the power steering does not work and the car can barely be maneuvered out of a parking spot. Turning the car off and re-starting it fixes the problem however this happens about every other week. This has not happened while the car has been in motion thankfully as I’m sure this would cause an accident. The mileage this started was about 200,000 miles. There is…
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 amount of effort required to steer. I missed having an accident by inches and cut off a driver whom got angry with me and I thought might…
Power steering assist fault error. The power steering stopped working.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Lincoln mkt. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for routine maintenance. The mechanic stated that there was a failure with the steering wheel. As a result, the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15v340000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the…
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that at start-up the power steering assist failed to operate as needed with the power steering assist message on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The contact was referred to the dealer for…
my power steering sensor fault light came on and it was recalled a while back & expired a few months ago unbeknownst to me.
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became firm. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 197,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Lincoln mkt. While driving 70 MPH, the power steering seized without warning and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was towed to leith Lincoln (located at 7900 capital blvd, raleigh, nc 27616, (919) 872-9500) where it was diagnosed that the power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in…
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. Dealership mention that the turbo boost was previously repaired and under warranty so they repaired it. Car started smoking again I took car…
"takata recall" I am reaching out to NHTSA for the second time do to a recall that was issue back on june 2, 2015 for 2011 Lincoln mkt. The recall number is 15s18. A few weeks ago I had a message that came across my dashboard that read services power steering and 2 sec later it read services power steering now. As we speak my car is at the dealership and I had a diagnostic test done. The code…
Had steering trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Lincoln MKT?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 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?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 115,544 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2011/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.