Steering complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On April 30, 2021 as I was driving down the road my steering wheel suddenly starting turning left to right involuntarily causing me to lose control of my car and crash. My vehicle is a total loss and I had just paid heavty deposit and financed a Lincoln Mkt with a dealership that never disclosed to me that my vehicle I just purchased had a recall on it that had been issued last year. Now I am out of my deposit, no car, criminal charges for causing an accident that I could not control, and a company that was well aware of the recall gets all their money plus some and I'm the one in the wrong. Doesn't seem right does it? Unfortuntly, the claims adjuster that inspected the vehicle to give an estimate failed to check the rear of the vehicle since all damage was in the front and driver side. …
The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 40 MPH, the power steering was seized, and the contact's husband had to manually steer the vehicle. The "Service Advance Trac" and "Steering Assist Fault Service Required" messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with intermittent sensor failure. The mechanic reset the two sensors however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not diagnose the failure since they were busy with other vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,150.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the power steering assist and traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact immediately felt the vehicle lose power steering assist, and the contact and pulled over. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle to reset the power steering functionality. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering assist and rack and pinion and steering gear needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic referred the contact to a dealer; however, vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 207,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while exiting out of a parking spot, the steering wheel locked up and would not turn. The power steering fault warning light was illuminated. The contact shifted the vehicle into PARK and restarted the vehicle for the power steering functionality to return. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the failure might be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was informed that there would be an out-of-pocket cost to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed, the Service Advancetrac warning light was illuminated, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with steering rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the repair would be covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000(Steering); however, the contact was later informed that the recall had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer scheduled an appointment with the dealer on the contact's behalf; however, the dealer declined to perform the repair. …
The contact's grandmother owned a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that when his grandmother was starting the vehicle, she experienced a loss of power steering assist. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting the repair. The contact's grandmother was then offered and agreed to a trade-in. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that at start-up the power steering assist failed to operate as needed with the power steering assist message on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The contact then had the vehicle towed to the dealer where he was informed that the recall had expired. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the dealer and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that his vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became firm. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 197,000.
Related recalls (1)
Steering › Electric power assist system
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln MKT years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (32), 2010 (28), 2012 (19), 2011 (11) and 2014 (8) model years. Steering complaints make up 46% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Lincoln MKT steering problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 15V-340 (electric power assist system, Jun 2, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Lincoln MKT steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 109,000 miles; 12% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the column (2 mentions), followed by the linkages › tie rod assembly (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.