Lincoln MKT problems
69 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 7 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Lincoln mkt. While parked for approximately nine hours, the vehicle caught fire on the driver side tail light housing. The owner extinguished the fire. The fire department arrived after the fire was extinguished. A report was filed by the fire…
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while exiting out of a parking spot, the steering wheel locked up and would not turn. The power steering fault warning light was illuminated. The contact shifted the vehicle into PARK and restarted the vehicle for the power…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Lincoln mkt. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v6210000 (fuel system, gasoline) was received in august. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the…
I applied my hazards when pulling over and once it was safe to resume, I went to turn off my hazards and they would not turn off. I tried shutting off the vehicle and restarting but nothing was clearing it. The button was not stuck either. After about 20 mins of driving with…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2013 Lincoln MKT reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Lincoln MKT is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2013 Lincoln MKT?
On the NHTSA data, the 2013 Lincoln MKT does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2013 Lincoln MKT?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 31 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 108,911 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 108,911 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Lincoln MKT has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Lincoln MKT?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 69 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.