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2013 Lincoln MKZ problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Lincoln MKZ. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 27% of relevant complaints.
Better than 76% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 24%).
Does the 2013 Lincoln MKZ have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 29 of 107 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Lincoln MKZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 15% and the 2014 scores 22%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Lincoln MKZ years
Of the 9 Lincoln MKZ years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 3rd-worst on engine and transmission share (27%). The worst is the 2017 (71%), the best the 2012 (15%). By volume, the 2013 drew 121 complaints (29 drivetrain), against 205 for the 2012 and 124 for the 2014.
Lincoln MKZ years to avoid and best years →
2010 MKZ problems · 2011 MKZ problems · 2012 MKZ problems · 2013 · 2014 MKZ problems · 2015 MKZ problems · 2016 MKZ problems · 2017 MKZ problems · 2018 MKZ problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Lincoln MKZ
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 29 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Lincoln MKZ transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2013 Lincoln MKZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid vehicles manufactured April 26, 2012, through September 24, 2013. Due to a manufacturing error, the transmission range sensor may not function properly allowing the affected vehicles to be shifted out of the Park position without first applying the brake pedal. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform with the requirements of…
Risk: Without requiring the brake to be pressed, the vehicle may be unintentionally shifted out of Park, allowing it to roll which may result in a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with new software, free of charge. The recall began on January 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.…
11 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Lincoln MKZ? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2013 Lincoln MKZ have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 29 of 107 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Lincoln MKZ concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Lincoln MKZ?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Lincoln MKZ is steering: 19 of 121 complaints (16%) name it, followed by electrical system (18) and power train (17). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 27% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Lincoln MKZ reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 27% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 76% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 9 Lincoln MKZ years we score, it ranks 3rd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Lincoln MKZ?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2013 Lincoln MKZ involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 13 in total: 13V594000 (power train: automatic transmission), 13V227000 (fuel system, gasoline). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Lincoln MKZ years are better?
Among the Lincoln MKZ years we track, the 2012 (15%), the 2010 (16%) and the 2015 (17%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (27%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/lincoln-mkz
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.