Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.
2014GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual
31 serious complaints of 44, the most about steering (12) and fuel system (6); 1.0× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2014 vehicles. 2 recalls.
What owners report
“The contact’s daughter owned a 2014 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The failure recurred several times and the steering wheel became locked completely.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the steering, May 2023
“Vehicle turned off while driving. Luckily, I was driving in a parking lot when it happened, therefore, I was not at a high volume of speed. The issue has been confirmed by a dealer. No inspection by manufacturer or others has been conducted. No warning lamps or other messages were noted prior to failure.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the fuel system, Jun 2024
44 owner complaints · 2 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 20–22 mpg · NHTSA: 5 of 5 stars · 2014 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp; 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp · Drive: AWD, FWD
2014 MKS trims
| EcoBoost |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Lincoln reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Lincoln aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp | AWD, FWD | 19–20 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 3 | Electrical system (3) | No |
| 2015 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp | AWD, FWD | 20–22 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 18 | Engine (5) | No |
| 2014 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp | AWD, FWD | 20–22 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 44 | Steering (12) | No |
| 2013 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp | AWD, FWD | 20–21 mpg | 5 of 5 | 7 | 141 | Steering (60) | No |
| 2012 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 275 hp | AWD, FWD | 19–20 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 17 | Steering (8) | No |
| 2011 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 275 hp | AWD, FWD | 19–20 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 43 | Steering (21) | No |
| 2010 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp | AWD, FWD | 19–20 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 51 | Steering (15) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Apple lists CarPlay for: MKS 2017–2018 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 3 |
| 2016 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 3 |
| 2015 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 18 |
| 2015 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 18 |
| 2014 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 44 |
| 2014 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 44 |
| 2013 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 7 | 141 |
| 2013 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 7 | 141 |
| 2012 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 17 |
| 2012 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 17 |
| 2011 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 43 |
| 2011 | Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 43 |
| 2010 | Lincoln MKS 4-DR. w/SAB | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 51 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | MKS AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo |
19 |
| 2016 | MKS FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 20 |
| 2015 | MKS AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo |
20–21 |
| 2015 | MKS FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 22 |
| 2014 | MKS AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo |
20–21 |
| 2014 | MKS FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 22 |
| 2013 | MKS AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo |
20–21 |
| 2013 | MKS FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 21 |
| 2012 | MKS AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
19–20 |
| 2012 | MKS FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 20 |
| 2011 | MKS AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
19–20 |
| 2011 | MKS FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2010 | MKS AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L |
19–20 |
| 2010 | MKS FWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 19 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.