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2013 Lincoln MKZ steering problems
moderate
Owners of the 2013 Lincoln MKZ have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 67,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Q1 63kmed 67kQ3 91kn=9
Complaints
16
Recalls
2
Avg fix
$700
steering complaints on the Lincoln MKZ, by model year
Of the 16 steering complaints filed for the 2013 Lincoln MKZ,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
1 (100%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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
All 2 active steering recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to March 20, 2015, and 2015 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured February 26, 2015, to February 28, 2015, and originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia
If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealer and replace the steering gear motor bolts as required. If one or more of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S14.
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.
Service BulletinSSM 47638Nov 2018
2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a LKS system with customer complaints of steering wheel vibration, steering pull or vehicle drift may be due to an alert and/or steering aid input from the LKS. The LKS system detects unintentional drifting toward the outside of the lane and alerts and/or aids vehicle to stay in the lane. Be sure the customer understands how the lane departure warning feature settings work for Alert (steering wheel vibration) and Aid (steering input toward lane center). Further information on the LKS can be found in the owners manual. If the customers concern is due to the LKS functioning as intended, do not attempt to repair.
When connecting the Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) and Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) or Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) to the DLC located on the driver side under the steering column at the GWM, make sure that the ignition is off before connecting the VCM. If the ignition is on or the engine is running during the connection, it can result in various warning lights being illuminated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), no start, no crank conditions or the IPC inoperative. If a vehicle displays these issues, disconnect the equipment from the DLC and disconnect the vehicle battery. Wait 10 minutes and reinstall with the ignition off. Clear any DTCs present and retest.
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.
WHEN HOOKING UP THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION MODULE (VCM) AND INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) TO THE DLC LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE GWM, MAKE SURE THAT THE IGNITION IS OFF BEFORE CONNECTING TO IDS. IF THE IGNITION IS ON OR THE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING THE HOOK UP, IT CAN RESULT IN VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), NO START OR NO CRANK CONDITIONS OR THE CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. FOR LINCOLN VEHICLES, THIS INFORMATION IS NOW LISTED IN THE TECHNICAL INSPECTION AND POST ROAD TEST SECTIONS OF EPDI ON THE PTS WEBSITE. IF A VEHICLE DISPLAYS THESE ISSUES, DISCONNECT THE EQUIPMENT FROM THE DLC AND REINSTALL WITH THE IGNITION OFF
WHEN HOOKING UP THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION MODULE (VCM) AND INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) TO THE DLC LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE GWM, MAKE SURE THAT THE IGNITION IS OFF BEFORE CONNECTING TO IDS. IF THE IGNITION IS ON OR THE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING THE HOOK UP, IT CAN RESULT IN VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), NO START OR NO CRANK CONDITIONS OR THE CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. FOR LINCOLN VEHICLES, THIS INFORMATION IS NOW LISTED IN THE TECHNICAL INSPECTION AND POST ROAD TEST SECTIONS OF EPDI ON THE PTS WEBSITE. IF A VEHICLE DISPLAYS THESE ISSUES, DISCONNECT THE EQUIPMENT FROM THE DLC AND REINSTALL WITH THE IGNITION OFF
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Power steering failures dominate this set of complaints. The most serious: steering goes completely dead mid-turn or highway drive, often without warning. One owner made a right turn from a stop sign onto a curve with oncoming traffic when the steering locked up hard enough that she needed "great effort" to avoid a head-on collision. Another lost power steering at 70 mph and could barely budge the wheel. A third had the system cut out briefly, then cut out again, requiring a reset.
In other cases, owners get a warning light or dashboard message ("Service Power Steering Now," "Power Steering Assist Failure") seconds before the steering stiffens dramatically. One driver reported intermittent failures at low speeds with no warning at all. Another's steering wheel vibrates and feels loose at the gear housing.
Water exposure triggered one failure—power steering died after a 3–4 inch puddle—but came back after drying, only to fail again within 5 miles.
Owners cite NHTSA campaigns 19V632000 and 15V250000 (both steering-related), but dealers have repeatedly told them their VINs aren't covered by recall. Lincoln pushed owners to contact NHTSA rather than offering repair. One dealer couldn't even replicate the problem during diagnosis.
Same Lincoln MKZ steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Complete power steering loss
Power steering system goes completely inoperable, leaving the steering wheel difficult or impossible to turn. Some failures are preceded by a 'Service Power Steering Now' or 'Power Steering Assist Failure' warning message; others occur without warning.
When: Between 63,491 and 67,000 miles; some owners don't report mileage. Failures can occur at highway speeds, low speeds, during turns, or after driving through water.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering suddenly becomes inoperable; Steering wheel very hard to turn or nearly impossible to turn; Vehicle becomes difficult or impossible to control; 'Service Power Steering Now' warning light illuminated; 'Power Steering Assist Failure' message on dashboard; Vehicle veers into oncoming traffic when power steering fails mid-turn; Intermittent failures that clear temporarily then return
Codes mentioned:Lane keeping sys malfunction, Steering loss stop safety
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate failures in some cases. Some owners report being unable to get dealer appointments or coverage. One owner reports requiring a reset; another notes fluid was fine, suggesting electrical rather than hydraulic failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 19V632000 (Steering) and NHTSA Campaign Number 15V250000 (Steering) both cited by owners, but VINs excluded from recall coverage in multiple cases. Dealer advised repair was not covered under recall. Lincoln referred complainants to NHTSA hotline rather than offering remedy.
Steering wheel vibration and looseness
Steering wheel vibrates, jiggles, or feels loose near the gear housing area.
When: Approximately 63,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibrating and jiggling while driving; Steering wheel feels loose near gear housing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner associated failure with NHTSA Campaign Number 19V632000 (Steering), but VIN was not included in recall. Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance.
Hard steering on turns
Steering becomes excessively stiff when turning, particularly during u-turns or sharp turns, requiring excessive force to maneuver the vehicle.
When: Mileage not specified in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel requires excessive force to maneuver; Steering is very hard when turning, especially during u-turns or sharp turns; Steering goes stiff after 'power steering assist failure' warning appears
Codes mentioned:Power steering assist failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner noted a recall exists for power steering on 2013 MKZ for cars registered in Iowa, but Lincoln stated the vehicle was not covered.
Water intrusion triggering power steering malfunction
Power steering malfunction triggered after driving through shallow water, with system reactivating after drying but returning within short distance of driving.
When: Triggered by driving through 3–4 inch deep puddle; failure recurs within 5 miles
Symptoms owners cite: 'Power Assist Malfunction' message appears after driving through water; Power steering turns off
Codes mentioned:Power Assist Malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Owner took car to dealer for service
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
2 most recent
steering · 63,800 mi
· filed 12/16/2024
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 diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V632000 (Steering); however, the VIN was…
steering
· filed 10/13/2021
Intermittent power steering failures at low speeds - appears to be random. No warning lights or indicators of problem.
Had steering trouble with your 2013 Lincoln MKZ?
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 2013 Lincoln MKZ?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 63,491 and 91,186 miles, with the median around 67,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 63,491; a quarter make it past 91,186. 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?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2013/Lincoln/MKZ.
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.