What are the most common problems with the 2011 Lincoln MKZ?

Air bags lead the complaint list with 84 complaints. Steering has 32 and brakes have 24.

Does the 2011 Lincoln MKZ have recalls?

Yes. The recall count for this year is 5. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.

Is the 2011 Lincoln MKZ reliable?

NHTSA has 185 complaints for this year. Look at the complaint groups above and the by-year section to judge for yourself.

How is the gas mileage of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ?

See the fuel economy section on this page for the figures.

Which model year of the Lincoln MKZ is best?

See the by-year comparison on this page, which shows complaints and recalls for each year.

2011 Lincoln MKZ Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 185 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Lincoln MKZ^[1]. The biggest group names the air bags, with 84 complaints^[2].

185owner complaints^[1]

5recalls^[3]

19–38MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners raise most, biggest first.

Air Bags. 84 complaints^[2]. Owners describe airbags that did not open in a crash, and a long wait for a repair part after a recall notice.
Steering. 32 complaints^[6]. In the stories we read, power assist cuts out while driving, the wheel turns very heavy, and the car sometimes drifts to one side.
Brakes. 24 complaints^[7]. Owners describe the pedal sinking to the floor with little warning and the car barely slowing.
Engine. 13 complaints^[8]. Owners describe odd fumes in the cabin, warning lights, and sudden loss of power.
Structure. 11 complaints^[9].
Electrical System. 10 complaints^[10].
Speed Control. 7 complaints^[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2011 MKZ is necessarily included.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (21V158), March 2021. About 2,602,668 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (19V001), January 2019. About 782,384 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (18V775), November 2018. About 215 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Remedy pending
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (16V384), May 2016. About 1,892,343 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, death. The remedy was not yet available when this record was filed.^[15]
Steering › Electric Power Assist System (15V340), June 2015. About 393,623 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, steering problems, loss of power. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
MKZ AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[17]	17 / 24 / 19	$3,550
MKZ FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[18]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,200
MKZ Hybrid FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	41 / 35 / 38	$1,750

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD^[5]	4	3	4	5	9.2%
4 DR FWD^[19]	4	3	4	4	10.5%

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
MKZ 4DR SEDAN FWD/AWD/HYBRID^[20]	191 in	72 in	56 in	107 in	3,600 lb

How 2011 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each MKZ model year. The 2011 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2007	259	4
2008	281	4
2009	114	6
2010	170	7
2011	185	5
2012	205	5
2013	122	12
2014	125	13
2015	97	10
2016	71	6
2017	158	4
2018	37	2
2019	23	1
2020	3	1

NHTSA's counts for the MKZ show 185 complaints and 5 recalls for 2011^[3]. Among the 14 model years listed, 10 have fewer complaints than 2011 and 3 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2020 (3) and the most are for 2008 (281)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2011 MKZ?

These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, so treat them as signals and not as proof^[1]. Air bags stand out as the largest group by a wide margin^[2]. Steering and brakes follow, and both involve safety on the road^[6]^[7]. Check the recalls section on this page and make sure any open recall work is done before you buy. Have a mechanic look closely at the steering and brakes on any car you test drive.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Lincoln MKZ?: Air bags lead the complaint list with 84 complaints^[2]. Steering has 32^[6] and brakes have 24^[7].
Does the 2011 Lincoln MKZ have recalls?: Yes. The recall count for this year is 5^[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
Is the 2011 Lincoln MKZ reliable?: NHTSA has 185 complaints for this year^[1]. Look at the complaint groups above and the by-year section to judge for yourself.
How is the gas mileage of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ?: See the fuel economy section on this page for the figures.
Which model year of the Lincoln MKZ is best?: See the by-year comparison on this page, which shows complaints and recalls for each year.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Lincoln MKZ

2008 281 complaints, 4 recalls
2010 170 complaints, 7 recalls
2011 this page
2012 205 complaints, 5 recalls
2013 122 complaints, 12 recalls
2014 125 complaints, 13 recalls
2015 97 complaints, 10 recalls
2016 71 complaints, 6 recalls
2017 158 complaints, 4 recalls

Compare all model years of the Lincoln MKZ

Other Lincoln models from 2011

2011 Lincoln MKX 149 complaints, 3 recalls

All Lincoln models

Similar cars from 2011: midsize cars

2011 Mitsubishi Galant 3 complaints, 0 recalls
2011 Nissan Maxima 106 complaints, 0 recalls
2011 Nissan Versa 269 complaints, 6 recalls
2011 Subaru Legacy/Outback 819 complaints, 16 recalls
2011 Buick Regal 280 complaints, 4 recalls
2011 Cadillac CTS 108 complaints, 2 recalls

All midsize cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 185 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Lincoln MKZ (12 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 6 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
84 complaints name the air bags component group (6 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Lincoln MKZ model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for MKZ Hybrid FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 41 city / 35 highway / 38 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 3 stars, side 4 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.2%. NHTSA vehicle records
32 complaints name the steering component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 71,289). NHTSA vehicle records
24 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 95,570). NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 79,789). NHTSA vehicle records
11 complaints name the structure component group (2 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,000). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 79,400). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the speed control component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,273). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 21V158, filed March 10, 2021: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V001, filed January 7, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V775, filed November 1, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V384, filed May 31, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V340, filed June 2, 2015: Steering › Electric Power Assist System. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for MKZ AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for MKZ FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 3 stars, side 4 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MKZ 4DR SEDAN FWD/AWD/HYBRID: length 191 in, width 72 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 107 in, curb weight 3,600 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2011 Lincoln MKZ: problems, recalls and fuel economy