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2013 Lincoln MKT problems

The most common problem on the 2013 Lincoln MKT is steering, typically around 111,000 miles. It has 2.8 times the complaints of a typical MKT model year.

Year to avoid2.8x the typical complaints
Year score
33/100
Owner complaints
70
Recalls
7
Service bulletins
79
Worst area
Steering
Fuel economy
18-23mpg

The worst 2013 Lincoln MKT problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Steering
    32
  • Fuel system
    11
  • Electrical
    7
  • Body
    6
  • Suspension
    6
  • Visibility
    5
  • Driver assistance
    4
  • Lights
    4
  • Engine
    2
  • Transmission
    2
  • Brakes
    1
  • Seat belts
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 2013 Lincoln MKT

Power steering loss 14Steering lock-up 5

Recalls 7

Suspension: rearReported February 10, 2020 · 211,207 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Risk
A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1‑800‑521‑4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.

Recall number 20V072000 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pumpReported August 25, 2016 · 77,502 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
Risk
A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.

Recall number 16V621000 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasolineReported December 2, 2015 · 868 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.

Recall number 15V812000 · Recall details

Steering: electric power assist systemReported June 2, 2015 · 393,623 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Risk
If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.

Recall number 15V340000 · Recall details

Electrical systemReported March 24, 2015 · 1,549 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Lincoln MKT vehicles with a limousine or hearse preparation package, manufactured March 6, 2012, to March 10, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the vacuum pump relay may overheat due to an internal fault or contamination.
Risk
If the vacuum pump relay overheats, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vacuum pump relay with a new electro-mechanical relay, free of charge. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S10.

Recall number 15V172000 · Recall details

Power train: axle assembly: axle shaftReported July 2, 2014 · 83,250 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
Risk
If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑800‑392‑3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.

Recall number 14V393000 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasolineReported May 31, 2013 · 390,783 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.

Recall number 13V227000 · Recall details

See all 7 recalls for the 2013 Lincoln MKT

Technical service bulletins for the 2013 Lincoln MKT 79

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 79 bulletins for the 2013 Lincoln MKT

2013 Lincoln MKT fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.0L 4‑cylFWD202823
3.7L 6‑cylFWD172420
3.7L 6‑cylAWD172319
3.5L 6‑cylAWD162218

What 2013 Lincoln MKT owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 29, 2026 · Steering · OK

The electronic power steering motor has quit working. This is a $1,000 part to be replaced. Almost every other Ford\Lincoln vehicles have had this part recalled. Eventhough Ford knows this part will fail, they failed to include all vehicles with this terrible piece of equipment. It has caused me to lose my pilot car business,due to the cost of replacement.

Filed Nov 4, 2025 · Driver assistance, Visibility · IA

Rear camera requires replacement approx. every 3 years Images start getting reversed or upside down, then very grainy and then the camera completely fails altogether. When the camera fails you get a warning stating " Camera is unavailable please contact the dealership" I have put 2 cameras in the vehicle, both were Motorcraft parts purchased at the dealership. When I purchased the vehicle the dealership that sold the car to me indicated they had replaced the camera in July of 2022 with an aftermarket unit that failed on me in November of 2022. These cameras frequently fail, it is widely reported across all Ford/Lincoln vehicles. Edge, Explorer, Flex, MKT, MKX being the most widely spoken about.

Filed Nov 4, 2025 · Body · IA

B and C pillar trim panels have come loose requiring replacement when they fall off. One completely detached while I was driving on the interstate and was run over by a vehicle behind me.

Filed Oct 31, 2025 · MD

I own a 2013 Lincoln MKT (VIN: [XXX] ). The backup camera intermittently fails when the vehicle is placed in reverse. The screen will either go completely black or show a distorted/blurred image, and it happens unpredictably. When the failure occurs, there is no usable rear visibility through the camera. This presents a significant safety hazard, especially when backing out of driveways, parking lots, and areas where pedestrians or children may be behind the vehicle. Lincoln has already issued a recall for the same backup camera malfunction on later model-year MKT vehicles, and the symptoms on my vehicle are identical to those in the recall description. However, my VIN is not currently included. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this issue for potential recall expansion, as the same defect appears to affect additional production years. I have video documentation available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 29, 2025 · Suspension · NY

Both rear driver and passenger side toe links were replaced at Colonial Ford in Connecticut due to the recall. The driver side is fine, the defective part installed at Colonial Ford is the passenger side. This should be covered by Colonial Ford, as I'm at no fault for the time it took to find this defect which is not apparent until you place the vehicle on a lift and perform a professional inspection. There are no warning lamps or messages to alert the owner there is a defective part that could cause a life threatening accident with a replaced suspension part. Both Lincoln and Colonial Ford state there's nothing they can do because the replacement recall part is out of warranty, 1yr./12,000. I'd driven less than 3,000 miles when the defective replacement was found during a multi-point inspection at a different dealership. Also, the left rear toe link is fine, which proves the problem is with that specific part. Now I'm stuck with a future out of pocket replacement cost and I'm driven around with a recalled part that's more dangerous than the original. the federal safety agency and Lincoln should hold dealerships accountable when a life or death situation is created with an installed replacement part during a recall. Not wait for a person to get killed in an accident or a lawsuit to correct a recall replacement part defect.

Filed Nov 11, 2024 · OR

I purchased a used vehicle and had an open safety recall for the rear tow link replacement do to the fact that it could lose steering control and crash if not replaced so I scheduled an appointment with my local dealership to have them replaced I took it in on a Friday they called me to come pick it up asked me to return the following Friday for an alignment so I did after the following Friday's alignment my steering wheel was sideways when it was going forward it was a bad alignment so I call them back up and explain the situation and that they needed to fix it to which they called back and left a message saying that it was not part of the recall and that I would have to pay for it out of pocket which is completely incorrect as I have also confirmed with another dealership that it is part of the recall after discussing that with them they took it back in they said they'd look at it according to the paperwork they gave me when I picked it up yet again it said that he had clocked in for 2 minutes so I obviously was concerned with the alignment so I called another dealership and asked if I could take it into them. Long story shorts the safety recall had never been performed at all!

Filed Oct 8, 2024 · Body · FL

While traveling out of state, the latch on the passenger’s side door would not latch. Doing a quick google search, we found that in 2015 and 2020a recall was issued for a broken pawl spring tab. We did not own the car in 2015 and never received a notice for 2020. Since the door was unable to latch, I had to physically hold door while my husband drove down the interstate. We contacted our local Lincoln dealership and scheduled an appointment to be inspected. We were advised that we would have to pay for the repairs and to contact Ford. Ford was contacted and advised that the extended warranty had expired and they were not responsible. We never received a recall notice. We have appt October 8 with Lincoln dealership to be repaired since you’re unable to drive car without door flying open.

Filed May 3, 2024 · Steering · 121,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the steering wheel was seized. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact researched online and discovered the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

Filed Apr 26, 2024 · Steering · 111,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic signal, the light changed, and the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the contact attempted to turn the steering wheel and the steering wheel was firm. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed and determined that the steering rack and pinion gears needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Filed Nov 20, 2023 · Electrical · CA

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 the hazards, I tried the button again and the hazards shut off. I believe there is an issue with the front control panel.

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2013 Lincoln MKT

Is the 2013 Lincoln MKT reliable?

Owners have filed 70 complaints about the 2013 Lincoln MKT, 2.8 times a typical MKT model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.

What is the 2013 Lincoln MKT year score?

The 2013 Lincoln MKT scores 33 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Lincoln MKT: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Lincoln MKT?

Steering, with 32 complaints, typically around 111,000 miles. Next is fuel system (11).

How many recalls does the 2013 Lincoln MKT have?

7 recalls, covering suspension, fuel system, gasoline and steering.

Was there a recall on the 2013 Lincoln MKT steering?

Yes, 1 recall: 15V340000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Lincoln MKT have bad steering?

The Lincoln MKT model years with the most steering complaints are 2013 (32 complaints), 2010 (28 complaints) and 2012 (20 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2013 Lincoln MKT get?

Official estimates for the 2013 Lincoln MKT range from 18 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 20 city and 28 highway.

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