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2011 Lincoln MKX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
27%
38 of 149 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2011 Lincoln MKX. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 27% of relevant complaints.

Better than 76% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2011 Lincoln MKX have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 38 of 149 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Lincoln MKX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). For comparison, the 2010 scores 19% and the 2012 scores 24%. 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.

Drivetrain complaints
38
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
149
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
6 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM41 · 28%
SERVICE BRAKES30 · 20%
ENGINE24 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER24 · 16%
STRUCTURE13 · 9%
POWER TRAIN12 · 8%

The years either side

2010
19%
10 of 111
2011
27%
38 of 149
2012
24%
19 of 84
2013
23%
36 of 163
2014
37%
13 of 35
2015
too few complaints
2016
33%
49 of 156
2017
19%
9 of 52
2018
23%
6 of 31
2019
no data
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE08/15/2026
It’s been a 4 year battle. I received a bait and switch clone vehicle A Frankenstein!! The vehicle and vin are clones. The vehicle was delivered in the dark after hours during a time I was sick. Im also disabled. I had looked at the vehicle on the [XXX] website Hyundai Genesis lot then went and looked in person and t…
POWER TRAIN06/10/2026
PTU failing and leaking fluid. Needs replacement. Ford stated it’s a lifetime fluid but the fluid fails due to sitting next to hot exhaust. The unit needs replacement at a cost of $3400. Unit is currently being replaced. This can cause the PTU to fail, lock up, and implode taking the transmission with it. Extremely exp…
POWER TRAIN10/01/2024
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, upon shifting the gear shifter into drive, the vehicle started reversing independently. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle five times before the vehicle started operating as intended. The vehicle…

Three of 38 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2011 Lincoln MKX (3)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 FORD F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, EDGE, AND LINCOLN MKX TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 25, 2010, THROUGH NOVEMBER 20, 20…
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 EDGE AND LINCOLN MKX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2010, THROUGH OCTOBER 8, 2010. THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH INCORRE…
STRUCTURE:BODY
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, EDGE AND LINCOLN MKX VEHICLES. DURING A SIX-DAY PRODUCTION PERIOD, THE SUPPLIER OF THE BODY …

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2011 Lincoln MKX

Questions people ask about the 2011 Lincoln MKX

Does the 2011 Lincoln MKX have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 38 of 149 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Lincoln MKX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (27%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Lincoln MKX?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2011 Lincoln MKX. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Lincoln MKX years are better?

Among the Lincoln MKX years we track, the 2010 (19%), the 2017 (19%) and the 2013 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (27%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2011 Lincoln MKX?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2011 Lincoln MKX shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental 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.