Recalls
12campaigns
3 latch · 2 steering · 1 brake
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
109filed
Owner reports, 2009–2018 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
5★overall
★★★★★ Frontal 5★ · Side 4★ · Rollover 4★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
26mpg combined
$2,512/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
2 L 4-cyl· 6-speed automatic
4 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (12)
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Front Brake Hoses May Rupture
Service brakes, hydraulic · foundation components · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.
- Consequence
- A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S12.
44.7% repairedof 1,280,726 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 23V162000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Doors May Open While Driving
Latches/locks/linkages · doors · latch
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
- Consequence
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
58.4% repairedof 2,147,323 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 20V331000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Steering Gear Motor May Detach
Steering · electric power assist system
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
- Consequence
- If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.
63.7% repairedof 116,160 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 19V632000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Doors may Unexpectedly Open
Latches/locks/linkages · doors · latch
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Fiesta, 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
- Consequence
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began May 1, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S16.
62.6% repairedof 191,432 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 17V210000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Front Seat Belts May Not Restrain Occupants
Seat belts · front
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured November 2, 2012, to July 31, 2014, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured November 14, 2012, to July 31, 2014. In the event of a crash, heat from the deployment of a seat belt pretensioner may cause a front seat belt anchor cable to fail.
- Consequence
- If the driver or front passenger seatbelt cables cannot properly restrain the front seat occupants, they would be at an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply a protective coating to the seat belt cable, free of charge. The recall began May 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S42.
61.5% repairedof 603,392 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V875000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Loss of Power Steering Assist From Salt Corrosion
Steering · electric power assist system
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to March 20, 2015, and 2015 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured February 26, 2015, to February 28, 2015, and originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, snow or water containing road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
- Consequence
- If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will apply sealer and replace the steering gear motor bolts as required. If one or more of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S14.
90.9% repairedof 487,301 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 15V250000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Doors may Unexpectedly Open
Latches/locks/linkages · doors · latch
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on April 23, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured July 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, and 2012-2014 Fiesta vehicles manufactured February 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 119,567 vehicles, including certain model year 2011 Ford Fiestas manufactured from November 11, 2009, to May 31, 2013 and certain model year 2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured from February 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
- Consequence
- A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Interim notifications were mailed to owners on June 5, 2015. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S16.
70.4% repairedof 456,440 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 15V246000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Air Bags may not Deploy as Intended
Air bags
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to November 1, 2013; and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to September 30, 2013. The coating on portions of the Restraint Control Module (RCM) may crack, and when exposed to humidity, circuits on the printed circuit board may short.
- Consequence
- The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S21.
54.3% repairedof 746,842 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V597000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Welds on Seat Assemblies may Fail/FMVSS 207
Seats · front assembly · recliner
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured from July 23, 2012, through May 28, 2013. The driver and passenger seatback assemblies may have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The affected seat backs may have insufficient strength to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."
- Consequence
- The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.
77.2% repairedof 43,135 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V164000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Transmission can be Shifted out of Park/FMVSS 114
Power train · automatic transmission
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid vehicles manufactured April 26, 2012, through September 24, 2013. Due to a manufacturing error, the transmission range sensor may not function properly allowing the affected vehicles to be shifted out of the Park position without first applying the brake pedal. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 114, "Theft Protection."
- Consequence
- Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll which may result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with new software, free of charge. The recall began on January 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13C09.
96.6% repairedof 7,153 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 13V594000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Fuel Delivery Module may Crack And Leak
Fuel system, gasoline
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.
Repair progress not yet reported390,783 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 13V227000
Listed for 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Not checked against your VIN.
Electrical Insulation Cracking on Engine Heater
Electrical system
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, through March 15, 2013 and equipped with an engine block heater. During use, the engine block heater cords may be bent and in certain temperatures, the wire insulation may crack, exposing the electrical wires.
- Consequence
- Exposed electrical wires increase the risk of electric shock.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S05. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Repair progress not yet reported107 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 13V230000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (109)
109 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
4involved a crash
2involved a fire
3injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 109 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 15.6% |
| Steering | 16 | 14.7% |
| Power train | 15 | 13.8% |
| Seat belts | 12 | 11% |
| Structure | 12 | 11% |
| Engine | 10 | 9.2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 7.3% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 7.3% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 7.3% |
| Wheels | 7 | 6.4% |
How 2013 compares with other MKZ years
Best and worst MKZ years →2009114
2010169
2011145
2012146
2013109
201497
201583
201664
2017139
201835
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 114 | 6 |
| 2010 | 169 | 7 |
| 2011 | 145 | 5 |
| 2012 | 146 | 5 |
| 2013 | 109 | 12 |
| 2014 | 97 | 13 |
| 2015 | 83 | 10 |
| 2016 | 64 | 6 |
| 2017 | 139 | 4 |
| 2018 | 35 | 2 |
This year (2013)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Overall★★★★★
Frontal crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 4★★★★★★
Side crashDriver 3★ · Passenger 5★★★★★☆
Side pole★★★★★
RolloverRollover risk 10.9%★★★★☆
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2013 Lincoln MKZ 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
26
mpg combined
22
city
32
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 343 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
$2,512per year
$209per month
577gallons a year
Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 | 343 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 31 / 25 | $2,700 | 358 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | $3,050 | 410 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 426 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2013 MKZ for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2013 Lincoln MKZ FAQ
How many recalls does the 2013 Lincoln MKZ have?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns: 23V162000 (brake), 20V331000 (latch), 19V632000 (steering), 17V210000 (latch), 16V875000 (seat belt), 15V250000 (steering), 15V246000 (latch), 14V597000 (air bag), 14V164000 (seat), 13V594000 (power train), 13V227000 (fuel system), 13V230000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2013 Lincoln MKZ problems?
Owners filed 109 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (17), Steering (16), Power train (15) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2013 Lincoln MKZ get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 22 city, 32 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2013 Lincoln MKZ get?
NHTSA rated the 2013 Lincoln MKZ 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 4 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2013 MKZ compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2018 Lincoln MKZ model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (35) and the 2010 the most (169). The 2013 drew 109. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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