Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Lincoln MKT, and it carries 7 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 26 | 38% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 7% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 6% |
| Suspension | 4 | 6% |
| Structure | 3 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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 " Cam
NHTSA complaint: Visibility/wiper
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 unpredict
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
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 dealersh
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2013 Lincoln MKT. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Fix: 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 servic
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 causin
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.
Fix: 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 custo
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.
Fix: 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
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
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.
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 66 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 67 | good |
| Maintenance | 51 | average |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 76 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 26 of them (38%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 66/100 (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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 67/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2013 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 60/100. 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.