2010 Lincoln MKT

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

64/100

Skip unless cheap

AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Lincoln MKT, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Steering	24	37%
Unknown or other	5	8%
Engine	4	6%
Structure	2	3%
Visibility	2	3%
Unknown or other	2	3%
Electronic stability control (esc)	2	3%
Visibility	2	3%
Power train	2	3%
Service brakes	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I was driving home from work thru a construction area and all of a sudden my power steering/collision warning came on and the signal with the slippery tire car symbol. My power steering went out i almost hit a concrete
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Front sub frame rusted out completely on drivers side, passenger side is fine. The frame could separate at any time which could cause you to loss control of car without warning. Took car to get lower control arm replaced
NHTSA complaint: Structure

4th time in 12 years that the moonroof has broken and the side shields that hold each side in place need to be replaced. This is a recurrent issue at least with me on this vehicle causing my roof to stay open until fixe
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

There is an apparent transmission issue and, according to my research, it is somewhat common with this model vehicle. There is an intermittent problem with shift delay and/or "jumping" during acceleration from first gear
NHTSA complaint: Power train

I was driving the car and the power steering went completely out without warning and almost caused a serious collison. After researching the car I found that there were multile issues with the power steering modules on t
NHTSA complaint: Steering

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 ano
NHTSA complaint: Steering

TURBO HAS GONE OUT BUT THIS MAKES THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHERS AND HAVE FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TURBOS! I NOTICE IT SMOKES EXCESSIVE AND WAS TOLD ITS A FI
NHTSA complaint: Power train

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 RET
NHTSA complaint: Steering

The seven scores

Reliability raw	76	good
Longevity est.	72	good
Maintenance	51	average
Depreciation	60	average
Performance	76	good
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 51% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 35% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 12% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 42% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 76: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 72: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2010 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 51: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2010 Lincoln MKT?

Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 24 of them (37%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2010 Lincoln MKT reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2010 Lincoln MKT last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2010 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2010 Lincoln MKT?

AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.