repaired · 2023 Q1
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2011 Lincoln MKZProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 145 owner complaints about the 2011 Lincoln MKZ, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-384 the manufacturer reports only 24% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Lincoln MKZ has problems
145 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
66Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
20Service brakes2 crash/fire/injury
19Steering2 crash/fire/injury
10Engine
10Structure
8Electrical system
7Vehicle speed control
5Tires
4Power train
2210 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 66 | 6 |
| Service brakes | 20 | 2 |
| Steering | 19 | 2 |
| Engine | 10 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 4 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 5 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 |
| Power train | 4 | 1 |
| 10 other systems | 22 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2011 Lincoln MKZ recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2019 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Do not driveRisk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show 1 more recall
repaired · 2016 Q4
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Lincoln.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other MKZ year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MKZ median. How we score
'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Lincoln MKZ safety ratings
2011 Lincoln MKZ 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.2% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Lincoln MKZ, and the recalls they led to.
- Floor mat interference with acceleratorLed to recall 14E-028
- Electric power steering failureLed to recall 15V-340
In owners' words
What MKZ owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact…
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. An unknown…
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…
Own a 2011 MKZ?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.