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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Base Price | $30,820–$39,640 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2013 Lincoln MKS is a sedan that earns a Carivo score of 6.8/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 7.8/10, while Value at 6.1/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional sedan — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 6.5/10 for reliability, this sedan trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 7.8/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Performance at 6.4/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. At 7.3/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $30,820–$39,640, 10 MPG, seating 5, the Lincoln MKS sits in the mid-market bracket of the sedan segment. The value score of 6.1/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 13 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2013 Lincoln MKS sits in the middle of the field. Until its reliability and performance and value scores improve, stronger options exist at this price. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2013 Lincoln MKS ranks #1169 of 1310 sedans in the Carivo database — better than 11% of the segment. Its 6.8/10 overall score is 0.7 points below the segment average of 7.5/10. Its $30,820 starting price is about 11% above the segment's median of $27,664.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full Sedan ranking → · Best Sedans under $35k →
Across the MKS model years we've scored, the 2013 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 6.8/10 | $32,199 | Read review → |
| 2013 (this review) | 6.8/10 | $30,820 | |
| 2012 | 6.7/10 | $29,440 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Structure / Body / Door 28/01/2015 · 15V040000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the… |
|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasoline / Delivery / Fuel pump 25/08/2016 · 16V621000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel… |
| Fuel system, gasoline 02/12/2015 · 15V812000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel… |
| Steering / Electric power assist system 02/06/2015 · 15V340000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles… |
| Power train / Axle assembly / Axle shaft 02/07/2014 · 14V393000 | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013;… |
Showing 5 of 7 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
We rate the 2013 Lincoln MKS's reliability 6.5/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
7 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 6.8/10 overall, ranking #1169 of 1310 sedans in our database (better than 11% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2013 Lincoln MKS starts at $30,820 and ranges up to $39,640 across trims (MSRP when new). At 10 MPG, expect roughly $5,250/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Other sedans at a similar price point, ranked by Carivo score.
Explore the full lineup of Lincoln models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.
