Problems · by component
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid steering problems
32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid cite steering, 17% of all 183 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
32
17% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“While making a right turn into Walmart parking lot, car was suddenly very difficult to turn. We almost hit the car in the lane next to us. We had to back up into the main road and risked a collision there as well just to pull into the parking lot. Like the power steering went out. Just a mile before that turn we made a turn and had no issue. Highway driving is okay, it is just difficult to steer in low speed city driving conditions. I had a mechanic look at it. he could not find anything wrong so we flushed the power steering with fresh fluid. It did not seam to help. He concluded that the electric assist is probably what failed. We looked this up, and it is a common problem with this model year MKZ and a recall has been out for this. But, for some reason my car does not pull up this recall.”
“SECONDS AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING APPROX 200 FEET MY, 2011 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID , CARS POWER STEERING STOP WORKING. ON THE MESSAGE CENTER ON THE DASH LITE UP LISTING THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE IN RED LETTERS. I STOPPED TURN THE KEY OFF RESTARTED THE CAR UPON STEERING WAS NORMAL, THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, I HAD THE FORD DEALER,"MULLAHEY FORD" IN ARROYO GRANDE LOOK AT IT. HE STATED THAT NO CODES CAME UP SO THEY WOULD NOT DO ANY REPAIRS, WE PURCHASED A FULL WARRANTY, $3500 FOR REPAIRS BUT HE WASNT WILLING TO REPAIR IT SINCE NO CODES AROSE ON THE CARS COMPUTER.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INJURING HIS GIRLFRIEND. HIS GIRLFRIEND SUSTAINED CUTS TO THE STOMACH AS THE CONTACT STATED IT SEEMED THAT METAL SHRAPNEL HAD DEPLOYED FROM THE AIR BAG. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR MIDDLE ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HIP. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, HE CONTACTED ST AUTO SALES INC (4545 GLENWOOD RD, DECATUR, GA) TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE STEERING WHEEL FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY ADVISED HIM TO ADD STEERING FLUID TO THE RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AFTER THE COLLISION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.*DT”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERABLE. THE POWER STEERING SENSOR LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. CENTRAL FLORIDA LINCOLN (2055 W COLONIAL DR, ORLANDO, FL 32804, (407) 841-4550) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.”
Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.