Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Lincoln Mkx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 66 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 66, in the owner's own words
Brake failure. Pedal drops, especially when ABS is activated. Dealer diagnosed ABS control module and HCU hydraulic leak. Parts for this are on back order per dealer leaving me with a dangerous driving situation or inability to use my vehicle. No warning lamp or message displays. The fact that the parts to fix a major safety item are not available is unacceptable.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed, and the brake pedal felt soft. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floorboard while slowing the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the HECU was leaking, causing the brake booster and other braking systems to fail. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact was advised by an independent mechanic that the brake failure for the year, make, and model was known by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
My brakes have failed on this car three times. I had new front and back brakes installed on [XXX] mileage 44882. Again my brakes failed on [XXX] mileage 47626. A new brake booster was installed along with front brakes. Again on [XXX] brakes failed again and a brake booster and front brakes were installed. Mileage 54924. Today I was driving to my daughters house in Zanesville, Ohio and my brakes failed again. My car is still down in Zanesville because I could not drive it home. The mileage is 57000. Every time this happens I risk an accident. Even though the brake booster is covered by extended warranty, because Lincoln knows about this problem, I still have to pay for brakes and other cost. Isn't there anything that can be done about this? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On two occasions i was on my way to church when the brake pedal went completely to the floor with no braking effect. i pumped the brake peddle several times and then in both instances braking was reestablished. These instances happened about a month and a half apart.
In June 2024, i received a letter dated March of 2024 for a Customer Satisfaction Program 13N02 that ended before i had a chance to take my vehicle into the repair shop to have this item fixed. Actually, i received the letter past the date that it could qualify for the repair as it was 10 years from the original warranty or 150,000 miles. My original warranty start date was December 2013. So they sent the "Customer Satisfaction Program notice 13N02" After the date it could be repaired. I called the dealership anyway, despite their error, to see if they may want to fix this Spongy Break Pedal anyway since they had messed up their mailing date. (Shultz Lincoln in Wexford, PA) They declined and told me they would be happy to look at it for a low fee of $180.00. I told them they should do it for free. I then called Lincoln directly where i spoke with a very nice gentleman. He looked through every possible scenario and decided that i was not able to get it fixed under the program. There really should be some type of law disallowing them to send out post dated letters knowing very well that they were not going to fix it because it was past the date of repair. My brake pedal hits the floor when i try to stop and if i do not push on the pedal hard enough to brake without the booster kicking in, i bump into things. Solution, i have attached a 2 channel dash cam to the vehicle with a live feed posted to a server in order to document my death caused by Lincoln. I have instructed my attorneys to release the feed upon my death and have authorized a law suit in my name. if won, they have been told to distribute the money to all of the homeless people that the Lincoln Executives drive past with their pocket tight and windows up every day on their way to work. This should be a crime. They should fix their safety issues, they should not be allowed to send out notices offering to pay for repairs that they do not plan on repairing. Also, they could spare a dollar for the Homeless
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated when the vehicle was started the "Service Brakes" warning light illuminated. The contact stated that several other unknown warning lights were illuminated when the vehicle was started several days later. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed who retrieved DTC code: U3000; 49-68. The dealer determined that the ABS module needed to be replaced; however, the parts to repair the vehicle were on a national backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,109.
Brake booster is a known issue with these cars. It failed today and my car has 100,000 miles. Ford has issued a customer satisfaction notice, but they refuse to fix my car because it was built 3 months too early.
Our car has been having issues with the breaks. At random times the break peddle gets very spongy and has to be pushed to the floor before the brakes will activate. The reduced break pressure has caused near crashes as the vehicle does not slow down when the breaks are pushed until the pedal is pushed to the floor. We took the car into a Lincoln dealership and they spent a day looking at the vehicle. The mechanic informed us that the vehicle has a faulty ABS pump and that the part needs to be replaced to remedy the brake issue. We were told by the Lincoln dealer that the part is on back order and that this part is known to fail on our year and model of car.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that after her daughter started the vehicle, the parking brake failed and the vehicle began to roll. As a result, the vehicle rolled 300 yards downhill, running over the driver, who had attempted to physically stop the vehicle and came to a complete stop after colliding with a building. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The driver was taken to an area hospital and treated for a sprained hip, a sprained ankle, and various contusions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the vehicle was functioning as intended. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 243,000.
We have had numerous failures in the braking system. This started with occasional spongy pedal issues that resulted in replacement of the brake booster. This started a two year long journey to repair brake issues. This has gone thru two of the most reputable auto mechanic shops in our area. We have gone thru three brake boosters, one master cylinder, and about to replace the second ABS hydraulic unit. The ABS hydraulic/module unit is the most frustrating because it is failing at such a rate the mechanics cannot get them new and we have had to use refurbished ones. This is a tremendous safety issue and we as consumers are working diligently to repair the issues... only to have erratic unsafe braking conditions. This is a huge lawsuit waiting to happen if Ford/Lincoln does not address the issues and research a solution.
Brakes loose pressure and break pedal has to be pushed to the floor before speed is reduced. Likely an issue with the break booster.
When driving the vehicle, the brakes got stiff and mushy and hard to stop the car. There was not indicator on the dash there was an issue with the brakes. Had it checked by a mechanic and he stated it needed to go to the dealership since it was the brake booster which needed attention. I looked for recalls on this model and they had one in 2015 time frame, but I did not purchase it used until 8/17 after the recall. I set an appointment with the Stumpf Ford where they confirmed it was the brake booster. I also found numerous (43) complaints about the same issue with the 2013 Lincoln MKX. I fortunately did not have an accident when this happened, but feel there are issues around the brake booster and it is a hazard for my self and other drivers if there had been an accident. The dealership had stated there was a recall which ended in 2015 for that model, but that there is one on going from 2018 until 2025 for the MKZ. As stated this is a safety issue for the driver of the car and other drivers.
Fault ABS module. Common complaint on this vehicle.
lOSS OF PRESSURE IN BRAKES AND FUEL FOOT PEDALS AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE. PRESSURE WAS SO LOW IN BRAKES I HAD TO PRESS BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR TO COME TO A JERKING STOP. IT FELT AS IF THERE WAS NO BRAKE AT ALL AS IT WAS SLOW TO BRAKE COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP ONCE PEDAL FLOORED. I DO NOT HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM SERVICE CENTER AS I HAVE NOT HAD IT LOOKED AT SINCE THE ISSUE HAPPENED YESTERDAY MORNING, AND I HAVE NO POLICE REPORT AT THIS TIME AS THERE WAS NO CRASH.
While driving on Sept 22 2023 I hit a pothole and immediately felt a change in the pressure in the gas pedal, upon braking I noticed a loss of pressure in the brake system. Vehicle was slow to respond to applicsation of brake pedal to where I had to move my seaty forward so that I could depress the pedal to the floor ( im 4'10" and could not apply the brake to the degree needed to stop my vehicle from the seat position I usually drive in). When pressing the brake pedal it felt as if it wanted to engage the ABS system but was not doing so and I would have to press the pedal to the floor which then would bring me to a jolting stop. I don't know how to explain it but there was also a differnce in the feeling of pressure when pushing on the gas pedal so whatever happened affected pressure in both the fuel and brake syatem foot pedals. I have not had the vehicle inspected as of writing this, nor have I reported it to Police as I did not experience a collisionbeing that it happened a short distance from my house abnd the vehicle has not been driven since the issue began yesterday morning Sept 22 2023.
Brakes went out completely and it took several times to hit the brakes in order for you to stop. I almost had to choose hitting a pole to keep from endangering someone else. I could have lost my life. I am still frightened about this incident. After having the brake pads and rotors replaced, for $500, at Jiffy Lube, the vehicle still wouldn’t stop. I contacted Ford to inform of the issue and was informed that’s there two active recalls. After I found out there was a recall on the brake booster, I had the vehicle towed to Ford AutoNation, Arlington, Tx. They told me they were two weeks behind and would get to the vehicle ASAP. Waited over three weeks and not until the week of September 11, 2023, I was informed, that the recall expired in March 2023. I purchased vehicle in 2017. The incident occurred in July 2023. I informed them that this isn’t fair, because from research, several consumers are still complaining about the brake booster going out. I called Ford and was advised the same thing. I asked to speak with someone above and was informed, I’m it. He was the case manager. I called AutoNation back asked if they can give me a discount. Finally, I was advised repairs would go from $1413 to $865. I still feel the recall should be honored. I had no idea about this recall and it went out when it did. I guess Ford doesn’t care about their consumers life or the life of others that could have been hurt or killed. This is very poor customer service. So now, I have to spend more money which is now coming to a total of $1913, (includes brake pads/rotors), and Ford took approximately $600 off repairs, still leaving me with almost $900 out of pocket. Please assist me with my concern to this matter.
The brake booster on this car is going bad. It is exactly the same part that was recalled on our daughter's 2013 Ford Edge. There are no warning lamps or other feedback to the driver. It is an audible sound of air escaping that I recognized from her experience. It is not yet difficult to make the car stop, but, it is a significant concern. I first heard the issue in August of this year at just over 108,000 miles. It has not been inspected by a mechanic yet, I will be taking it in. This is a significant issue. It is continuous and I first thought it was in the air conditioning. My husband identified it as the same sound we heard on my daughter's edge.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and attempting to decelerate, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, but the vehicle failed to stop as needed. After pumping the brake pedal, the vehicle was able to come to a complete stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the brake master cylinder. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed an additional failure with the ABS. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 126,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was firm, requiring added force to depress the brake pedal while attempting to stop the vehicle. The ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while her father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes became inoperable; however, the contact stated that her father was able to safely drive the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed as a brake control module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Without any warning light on dashboard, brake pedal on our 2013 Lincoln Mkx became very difficult to press. So difficult my wife is unable to do so at all. Takes an alarming amount of space to come to a complete stop. Very dangerous and almost caused an accident. A recall took place a few years back before we owned this vehicle (recall 13n02) and listed brake booster as the cause up through the 2013 model. For some reason our vehicle was not included. Regardless of if manufacturer says the problem was resolved by the time our vehicle was manufactured, that is clearly not the case. I have read countless testimonials from people in similar situations (same vehicle, year,and problem), so why is this not being addressed? Why has this recall not been reopened? Do you really need to wait until enough people have been effected, or enough accidents have been reported, or enough lives have been lost before this becomes something you'll address? This is extremely dangerous, happened with no warning, and I'll be damned if I'm going to wait on the sidelines until someone finally decides to pay attention. Somebody needs to do their damn job and get on this. For Christ's sake, do better
When braking there is no resistance on the brake pedal and is slow to break. Very scary when it randomly happens when driving and unable to quickly stop!
Had to press brake pedal very hard, brakes were not working well. All pads/rotors were good. Had to bring it to a dealer and they said the brake booster had to be replaced. I noticed there was a recall on later model MKXs but for some reason not the 2103 - it seems like the problem affects a lot of people though.
I had to get my brake booster replaced as it caused delayed braking almost causing me to crash
2013 LINCOLN MKX, CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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