2011 Lincoln Mkz: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2011 Lincoln Mkz: 5 recalls, 145 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Steering Vehicle recall #15V340000 · 2015 · 393,623 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The 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 be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the pscm inspection, the pscm software…
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V384000 · 2016 · 1,892,343 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford ranger, edge and Lincoln mkx vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford fusion, Mercury milan and Lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford gt vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will…
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V775000 · 2018 · 215 vehicles
What's wrong: In the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing May deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out.
Why it matters: If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V001000 · 2019 · 782,384 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford ranger and Mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford fusion and Lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina,…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V158000 · 2021 · 2,602,668 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver's side air bag inflator May explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #14E028000 · 2014 · 82,579 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected floor mats May move and possibly interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Why it matters: The floor mat could shift such that it could interfere with the accelerator pedal, preventing its return to an idle position, which could result in unintended vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement mats, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014.
Airbags, Airbags Equipment recall #21E013000 · 2021 · 249 vehicles
What's wrong: The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford mustang and mustang gt500. It also includes certain passenger-side air bag inflators and/or modules designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford mustang, 2010-2012 Lincoln mkz, 2010-2012 Ford fusion, 2010-2011 Mercury milan, 2007-2011 Ford ranger, and 2007-2010 Lincoln mkx vehicles. Please see Ford's recall report for the…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 6 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (66): the most common themes are deploys unexpectedly / inflator (5), fails to deploy (3).
- Brakes (20): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (11), warning light on (4).
- Steering (19): the most common themes are steering problems (15), warning light on (4), noise or vibration (3).
- Engine (10): the most common themes are leaks (3), warning light on (3), electrical failure (3).
The 2011 Lincoln Mkz has 145 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 15 Mkz model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 111). Complaints peaked in 2017 (33 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 68,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (169 complaints, 7 recalls), 2012 (146 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 Lincoln Mkz.
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FAQ
Does the 2011 Lincoln Mkz have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2011 Lincoln Mkz, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2011 Lincoln Mkz problems?
Owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (66), brakes (20), steering (19).
What gas mileage does the 2011 Lincoln Mkz get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2011 Lincoln Mkz repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.