Lincoln MKT Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2010 draws 2.9 complaints per run and the 2019 1.31, a 2.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age, so 74% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Steering, with 98 complaints, typically at 7.6 years.

Lincoln MKT years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Lincoln MKT — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2019	1.31	17	13	yes
2018	1.4	7	5	yes
2017	1	3	3	yes
2016	1.29	9	7	yes
2015	1.53	23	15	yes
2014	2	50	25	yes
2013	2.46	69	28	yes
2012	2	26	13	yes
2011	2	18	9	yes
2010	2.9	58	20	yes

ROWS 10·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Among the 6 Lincoln MKT years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2010, 2013, 2012; the three worth hunting are 2019, 2015, 2014.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Lincoln MKT — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	17	6.1%	covered
1 year	14	11.2%	covered
2 years	20	18.4%	covered
3 years	21	26%	covered
4 years	14	31%	you pay
5 years	20	38.3%	you pay
6 years	37	51.6%	you pay
7 years	39	65.7%	you pay
8 years	20	72.9%	you pay
9 years	28	83%	you pay
10 years	22	91%	you pay
11 years	11	94.9%	you pay
12 years	12	99.3%	you pay
13 years	2	100%	you pay

ROWS 14·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 26% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 74% 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 7% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Lincoln MKT, the early trouble is Fuel/propulsion System — reported at around 3.7 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Steering at 7.6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Lincoln MKT — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Steering	98	7.6 yrs	3	—
Structure	49	4.8 yrs	1	1
Unknown Or Other	44	5.2 yrs	1	—
Electrical System	24	5.7 yrs	—	1
Back Over Prevention	24	7.4 yrs	—	—
Fuel/propulsion System	21	3.7 yrs	—	1
Engine	20	5.9 yrs	—	—
Suspension	17	6.6 yrs	2	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

1 models share the MKT's vehicle class.

FIG.05·Lincoln MKT — rivals in the same class
Same class as the MKT	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Subaru Brat	1	1	1981–1986

ROWS 1·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 MKT

Recalls34 campaigns Fuel economy23 mpg best Common problems296 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Used prices173 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2010–2019

Frequently asked questions

Is the Lincoln MKT reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 2.04 against 3.73 for the average car.

Which MKT years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2010, 2013, 2012. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2019, 2015, 2014. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do MKT problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 6 years of age. The most reported system is Steering, typically at 7.6 years, followed by Structure.

Will the warranty cover MKT problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 26% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 7% of the complaints here.

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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