Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Lincoln MKX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while his wife was driving 35 mph and coming to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed but hesitated to respond causing 30 feet stopping distance delay. The contact stated that the brake pedal was soft. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power brake booster had failed, and the failure was related to an unknown recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated the failure reoccurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the unknown recall since the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the repair would not be completed under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.
We have had numerous failures in the braking system. This started with occasional spongy pedal issues that resulted in replacement of the brake booster. This started a two year long journey to repair brake issues. This has gone thru two of the most reputable auto mechanic shops in our area. We have gone thru three brake boosters, one master cylinder, and about to replace the second ABS hydraulic unit. The ABS hydraulic/module unit is the most frustrating because it is failing at such a rate the mechanics cannot get them new and we have had to use refurbished ones. This is a tremendous safety issue and we as consumers are working diligently to repair the issues... only to have erratic unsafe braking conditions. This is a huge lawsuit waiting to happen if Ford/Lincoln does not address the issues and research a solution.
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 repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 243,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed, and the brake pedal felt soft. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floorboard while slowing the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the HECU was leaking, causing the brake booster and other braking systems to fail. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact was advised by an independent mechanic that the brake failure for the year, make, and model was known by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and attempting to decelerate, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to stop as needed. After pumping the brake pedal, the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the brake master cylinder. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed an additional failure with the ABS. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 126,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated when the vehicle was started the "Service Brakes" warning light illuminated. The contact stated that several other unknown warning lights were illuminated when the vehicle was started several days later. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed who retrieved DTC code: U3000; 49-68. The dealer determined that the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, the parts to repair the vehicle were on a national backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,109.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal went all the way to the floorboard and failed to stop the vehicle within a reasonable time frame. The contact was able to pull over and restart the vehicle after waiting approximately 10 minutes. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,482.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, he heard an abnormal noise and had to depress the brake pedal to the floor to stop the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the brake booster system needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was firm, requiring added force to depress the brake pedal while attempting to stop the vehicle. The ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while her father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes became inoperable; however, the contact stated that her father was able to safely drive the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed as a brake control module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Brake complaints in other MKX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2013 Lincoln MKX?
NHTSA has 66 complaints about the brakes of the 2013 Lincoln MKX, 40% of the model year's 163 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Lincoln MKX brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2013 Lincoln MKX, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Lincoln MKX brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.