CSR
Check a VIN

Look up

About

Lincoln · NHTSA safety record

2013 Lincoln MKX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 163 safety complaints about the 2013 Lincoln MKX with the US government. Of those, 7 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 2 people were injured and 1 death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the power train.

The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 60 complaints, 37% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 59,000 miles, the median across the 103 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers April 2013 to July 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

163 complaints on file

163

Complaints

7

Describe a crash

2

Mention fire

2

People injured

1

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
SERVICE BRAKES 60 · 37%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30 · 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21 · 13%
POWER TRAIN 16 · 10%
ENGINE 15 · 9%
STRUCTURE 9 · 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7 · 4%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6 · 4%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 5 · 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 · 3%
SUSPENSION 5 · 3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 · 2%
0 27 54

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 163.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 25.

28 21 14 7
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2013 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2013 Lincoln MKX, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 14.0% 15.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

1 on file

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

14V393000 · July 2, 2014

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
The risk
If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.

Ford Motor Company · up to 83,250 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEAT BELTS

1 death · crash · towed · 40,000 miles

SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, RESULTING IN DEATH OF DRIVER. DRIVER HIT A TREE HEAD ON THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING DRIVER TO COME UP HIT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH BACK OF HEAD THEN LAND ON TOP OF STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint 10993694. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:TV/RADIO/SPEAKERS

1 injured · 145,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with the radio playing, the contact stated that only the rear speaker was playing. The contact increased the volume to hear the sound in the front speakers; however, while merging onto the highway, the speakers in the front of the vehicle started working and the volume increased. The increased volume of the speakers startled the contact who jumped and jerked the steering wheel. The contact stated that the passenger in the vehicle suffered a panic attack and passed out with his eyes rolling back in his head. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made

NHTSA complaint 11562418, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · 243,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that after her daughter started the vehicle, the parking brake failed and the vehicle began to roll. As a result, the vehicle rolled 300 yards downhill, running over the driver, who had attempted to physically stop the vehicle and came to a complete stop after colliding with a building. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The driver was taken to an area hospital and treated for a sprained hip, a sprained ankle, and various contusions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the vehicle was functioning as intended. The vehicle was not

NHTSA complaint 11572919, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 20,000 miles

WENT FOR A WALK WITH 4 YEAR OLD SON AT THE MOUNTAIN, CAME BACK TO A MELTED MKX. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME. WITH IN A SPAN OF AN HOUR FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE CAB HAD MELTED AND COOLED TO TOUCH. WE BARELY ESCAPED POSSIBLE DEATH HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10678752. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Back up camera don't work half the time or it is upside down and don't allow proper visibility to back up safely. Have to rely on mirrors and windows to back up.

NHTSA complaint 11749706. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed · 155,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal, with the transmission warning light illuminated. Occasionally, the contact was forced to shut off the vehicle and wait a few moments before restarting, after which the vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle was initially towed to the dealer twice; however, the dealer could not duplicate or diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and another service appointment was made. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA complaint 11742681. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
My rear veiw camera only works when it wants to. It is either upside down and no use for backing up or black screen with no working message. I see other years are being recalled for that same reason.

NHTSA complaint 11733840. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. Rear diff is making grinding noise, front ptu is making a grinding noise and pinion seal is leaking, front axle throwing grease out inner boot. 2. Car stopping in middle of travel. Had a hard time getting it off the road. 3. The problem was confirmed by the dealership car was purchased from. 4. Only inspected by dealership mechanic. 5. Only by dealership mechanic. 6. There were no warning lamps prior to failure. The grinding was happening at time of purchase.

NHTSA complaint 11720331. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Brake failure. Pedal drops, especially when ABS is activated. Dealer diagnosed ABS control module and HCU hydraulic leak. Parts for this are on back order per dealer leaving me with a dangerous driving situation or inability to use my vehicle. No warning lamp or message displays. The fact that the parts to fix a major safety item are not available is unacceptable.

NHTSA complaint 11705002. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

100,000 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-over prevention camera displayed a distorted image and an upside-down image. In addition, the contact stated that an error message was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. In addition, the contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA complaint 11700110. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lincoln MKX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 31 5 —
2017 52 5 —
2016 156 7 —
2015 19 0 —
2014 35 1 —
2012 84 1 —
2011 149 3 —
2010 111 6 —

Other 2013 Lincoln models

MKS 142 MKZ 109 MKT 70 Navigator 14 MKZ Hybrid 12

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Lincoln on this site — 85 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst