Lincoln MKS Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2013 draws 3.61 complaints per run and the 2011 1.6, a 2.3-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 77% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Steering, with 119 complaints, typically at 8.3 years.

Lincoln MKS years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Lincoln MKS — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2016	1	3	3	yes
2015	1.29	18	14	yes
2014	1.83	42	23	yes
2013	3.61	130	36	yes
2012	1.42	17	12	yes
2011	1.6	40	25	yes
2010	1.81	47	26	yes
2009	2.2	44	20	yes

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Among the 4 Lincoln MKS years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2013, 2014, 2010; the three worth hunting are 2011, 2010, 2014.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Lincoln MKS — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	25	7.5%	covered
1 year	16	12.2%	covered
2 years	17	17.3%	covered
3 years	19	23%	covered
4 years	20	29%	you pay
5 years	27	37%	you pay
6 years	35	47.5%	you pay
7 years	32	57%	you pay
8 years	34	67.2%	you pay
9 years	27	75.2%	you pay
10 years	31	84.5%	you pay
11 years	20	90.4%	you pay
12 years	17	95.5%	you pay
13 years	8	97.9%	you pay
14 years	4	99.1%	you pay
15 years	3	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 23% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 77% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 18% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Steering at 8.3 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Lincoln MKS — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Steering	119	8.3 yrs	3	1
Electrical System	53	6.8 yrs	2	2
Engine	38	6.6 yrs	1	4
Service Brakes	29	4.2 yrs	3	—
Unknown Or Other	24	7.7 yrs	—	—
Power Train	23	6.2 yrs	—	—
Vehicle Speed Control	21	4.4 yrs	7	—
Fuel/propulsion System	21	5.8 yrs	—	1

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the MKS's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 2.19 for the MKS. That is the fewest complaints of the group.

FIG.05·Lincoln MKS — rivals in the same class
Same class as the MKS	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Dodge Charger	5,784	133	1983–2026
Chrysler 300	6,171	86	1999–2026
Kia K5	486	21	2021–2026
Hyundai Sonata	16,220	152	1989–2026
Chevrolet Impala	10,373	98	1981–2026
Lincoln Continental	2,687	80	1981–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Lincoln MKS

Recalls23 campaigns Fuel economy22 mpg best Common problems373 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space18 cu ft Used prices254 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2009–2016

Frequently asked questions

Is the Lincoln MKS reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.19 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.

Which MKS years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2013, 2014, 2010. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2011, 2010, 2014. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do MKS problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Steering, typically at 8.3 years, followed by Electrical System.

Will the warranty cover MKS problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 23% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 18% of the complaints here.

Is the MKS more reliable than the Dodge Charger?

Yes: 2.19 complaints per production run for the MKS against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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