Engine complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have noticed a coolant leak that is the result of a faulty water pump design. To make it worse, the rocket scientists at Ford Motor Company buried the water pump internally in the engine. It is a very expensive repair on what should be a component bolted to the exterior of the engine. There are numerous Class Action Lawsuits against FMC for this matter. I think a recall should be issued or compensation for repairs on what is a very expensive endeavor. My wife drives this car. I am going through the repair process. FMC is known to have hidden the problem. Please issue a recall so people are not burdened by a bad corporate decision. Faulty water pumps can cause engine failure resulting in an accident on the public roadway. Cars should have building codes that forbid these stupid designs. Cars should be designed to be easier to repair with modularity. …
The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH or faster, the vehicle lost automotive power. During the failure the vehicle was coasted over to the side of the road and turned off for one minute before the vehicle restarted and continued driving. The failure was intermittent but had occurred twice within 10 minutes during the most recent failure. An unidentified warning light was illuminated during the failure. The failure occurred mainly while driving on highways or freeways. The rear-view camera intermittently failed to display an image of the rear of the vehicle. The failure had become more persistent over time. During an oil change, it was discovered that the drive axle from the rear to the front of the vehicle was leaking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle stalled upon acceleration. There were no warning lights illuminated. After exiting the vehicle, the doors began to lock and unlock. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who stated the failure was due to the fuel pump. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V621000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
Vehicle turned off while driving. Luckily, I was driving in a parking lot when it happened, therefore, I was not at a high volume of speed. The issue has been confirmed by a dealer. No inspection by manufacturer or others has been conducted. No warning lamps or other messages were noted prior to failure. Issues have been ongoing for about 2 months now.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while attempting to close the front driver's side door, she heard a beeping noise. The contact then stated that when she placed the shifter in reverse(R), the screen failed to display an image and the defogger failed to operate. Additionally, the contact stated that she noticed that the vehicle was overheating and that the hood was discolored. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that when she placed the gear shifter into reverse(R) the defogger failed to operate as needed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while reversing, there was a huge blast of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine maintenance and was diagnosed and determined that the water pump was leaking, the turbo charger was losing power, the power transfer unit was overheating, and the water pump was overheating. The water pump was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
Engine/Coolant Reservoir, Yes you can inspect it. When driving, or stop at a traffic light or just parked, the car will just start smoking and getting hot, the temperature gauge would not show it was getting hot until after it started smoking. The car would stop in the middle of the street or on the freeway. All the Antifreeze would leak out of the Reservoir and be all over the Engine and the ground, when you put Antifreeze in the reservoir the next day, you can drive for a little distant, but it will start doing the same thing all over again. The Cooling Fan would come on and never goes off, it gets louder and louder, it has never done this before. I have taken my car to the Dealer 3 times and they charged me over $4.000 and still couldn't fix it. They told me that they do not know what's wrong with it. The Engine Cooling System / Reservoir should be Recalled.
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the temperature gauge would rise from cool(C) to hot(H) and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that once she turned off the cooling fans, the vehicle would cool off while idle; however, the temperature would rise once she resumed normal driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where she was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed her that there was a service bulletin on the vehicle and referred her back to the dealer. The dealer was again notified about the failure and referred her to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred her to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln MKS years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (24), 2010 (8), 2015 (6) and 2011 (5) model years. Engine complaints make up 17% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Lincoln MKS engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Lincoln MKS model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Lincoln MKS engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles; 38% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cooling system (1 mentions), followed by the engine › engine control module (ecu/ecm) (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.