Most common 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid problems
Share of the 40 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid complaints by model year
Best MKZ Hybrid years: 2016, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2012, 2011, 2014. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid:
Floor mat interference with accelerator
On May 27, 2014, Ford Motor Company submitted recall 14E-028 (Ford recall #14S07) to correct a safety-related problem with certain driver's side Ford optional all-weather floor mats sold for use in model year 2006 through 2011 model year Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr, and Lincoln MKZ vehicles built at Hermosillo Assembly Plant (HAP) from November 9, 2007, to October 31 ,2010.NHTSA testing determined…
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid owners say
Air bags
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V384000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer future Ford Lincoln of concord (2285 diamond blvd, concord, ca 94520) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The contact was referred to the manufacturer at [phone]. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V384000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The dealer was contacted and stated that the manufacturer would inform the contact when parts were available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 06/21/17 updated 11/20/2017
Steering
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring an increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the steering rack. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 130,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering failure message was displayed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V34000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not repaired under the recall, and that the recall had expired. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went down to the floorboard and the stopping distance was extended. The "Check Braking System" and "Service Advancetrac" messages were displayed. The ABS, brakes, and the electronic stability control warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and engaged the electronic parking brake. The contact stated that when she turned off and restarted the vehicle, the warning lights turned off and the vehicle operated as needed. The contact stated that the failure recurred on two separate occasions; however, on the last occasion, the warning lights remained illuminated upon restarting the vehicle, and the brake failure persisted. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. …
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the brakes failed to operate upon depression of the brake pedal with several unknown warning lights flashing on the instrument panel. The contact immediately applied the parking brake and drifted the vehicle off to the roadway. The contact restarted the vehicle three times and the warning lights reappeared on the instrument panel. The contact drove the vehicle home and later had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer inspected the vehicle and informed him that the ABS hydraulic control unit was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 69,500. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired.
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 41 / 35 / 38 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid a good car?
Based on 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 MKZ Hybrid rates avoid: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the MKZ Hybrid at the same age. It is one of the MKZ Hybrid years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid?
The air bags — 18 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the steering (13) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2011 and 2014. See the full Lincoln MKZ Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 21% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.