Ten problems related to engine and engine cooling have been reported for the 2011 Lincoln MKX. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2011 Lincoln MKX based on all problems reported for the 2011 MKX.
Water pump failure 3 times. Internal water pump failed causing engine to overheat dumping coolant into the engine oil. Original water pump replaced 5/16/21. Replacement water pump failed and was replaced 6/19/22. Second replacement water pump has failed also as of January 1, 2023 resulting in catastrophic engine failure.
Car just went from complete cool to over heating and engine light to flash. Checked to make sure I had fluids. All full. While I had car turned off turned it back on after 15 minutes and car went straight to overheating again. Had a garage look at my car, there’s a 3 cylinder misfire on just the one side of the engine. They agree and don’t understand why this happened or how.
I have had fairly issues with overheating and have had several repairs done including: 12/29/2019 - radiator fan assembly and electric fan motor replacement 10/02/2021 - replace thermostat and gasket & replace coolant recovery tank 8/9/2022 - installed module, control, sensors and fuel filler (all done with regards to presumably fixing the overheating and rpm fluctuation while overheating) I paid $3k for the August 2022 repairs and they told me they could not replicate the issue but believe that the repairs are related to the problems I am experiencing. I use my car to drive to periodically drive to another town (60 miles away) and then to drive to the airport for work (about 25 miles). After August, I took my car on the 60 mile drive and 30 miles in, the car started overheating. I called the Ford dealership and they told me to check the radiator (it was full and slightly bubbling). The idea of driving a vehicle that is not safe (not going to make it to my destination after repairs intended to do so) is terrible. When I got back home (terrified after having to drive the same car back 60 miles later that evening), I took the car back to the same Ford dealership. After a couple of days, they told me they think it is the internal water pump. When I asked them if that would guarantee the fix, they said no because no codes are showing up and there are no other signs of overheating (so it should be the internal water pump). This does not seem right to me. The car has electronic sensors everywhere and the dealership put me back on the road with a car that started to overheat within 30 miles.
The problem was diagnosed as a failed throttle body, with trouble codes p2111 present in the on-board computer system, indicating the electronic throttle actuator control system was stuck open and closed, respectively.
Transmission issues. Shifts hard. Already spent 2500 to fix the transfer case. We've heard tons of people have this problem.
The brake booster failed on my vehicle and was just replaced by the dealership for nearly $900 dollars. This is the 2nd major safety issue I have had with this vehicle because the throttle body had an issue that caused the vehicle to completely shut down while driving with no warning. That was replaced at no cost but I had to do my own research for the repair and that issue could have caused an accident with injuries or death. Because Lincoln determined that my particular VIN is not eligible then the cost is on me, again a major safety issue that could have caused injury and death when the brakes barely stopped. I know I cannot recover money for own repair but I feel Ford/Lincoln should not be able to get away with making their own determinations of what vehicles should be covered when they are at fault for building a poor. Substandard product. I do not want other owners to be railroaded by this policy.
The throttle valve assembly was bad. The car stopped running when the wife was driving highway 105 at 50 mph. She turned on the flashers and was able to get off to the side of the highway after a short time the car was able to be restarted and driven back to the house. The same thing happened again about two months later. This is a very dangerous situation. The engine stops with no warning.
Even with meticulous maintenance my Mkx engine catastrophically failed. The dealership said the oil and water mixed and it was in no way caused by us. They are wanting me to pay $7000. 00 to replace the engine. We followed manufacturers recommendations for service and preventive maintenance. I believe Lincoln should cover this as this was no fault of us as the owners. We are the original owners and purchased it brand new. My wife was driving to bend, or from prineville, or on the highway and the vehicle lost power and then died. She was stranded on the roadside with no cell service.
While driving about 55 mph on the highway my car suddenly stopped. The engine was still on but I had no control except to coast to the side of the road. A sign that said awd failed appeared. I turned it off and restarted it and drove home. We took it to the Ford garage. They had no idea what was wrong since there was no "code". We took it home after about a week. In less than a week my husband was driving home from work and the same thing happened to him. After the Ford garage had it for about 3 weeks they called and said they were going to replace the throttle body. My husband said that is a design flaw and Lincoln's problem. They didn't want to call so gave us the phone number and my husband called. Their response was things fail in cars. My husband said cars shouldn't quit working while you are driving down the highway. Next day Lincoln rep said they would pay $250 toward the repair. We now have possession of the car but no idea if the problem is fixed or not as of yet. (not sure of exact dates. But it was in may and/or June of 2016).
This is the second of 3 incidents with this vehicle. On this occasion I was accelerating onto the expressway. I was on the entrance ramp traveling 55 mph, when this vehicle lost all power for the second time in 6 months. I was able to maneuver to the right hand side of the ramp (with no power steering) and come to a stop. On this occasion I was close to being rear ended. The car did start back up and I returned home and contacted the Lincoln dealership. The vehicle went in for servicing and again they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. The mechanic suggested that I never allow my vehicle to get below 1/2 tank before filling with gas.