Lincoln MKS vs KIA Spectra

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure	Lincoln MKS	KIA Spectra
Complaints on file	492	1,211
Model years covered	2009–2016	2000–2009
Worst model year	2013	2007
Best model year	2012	2000
Crashes reported	29	259
Fires reported	10	23
Injuries reported	19	160
Deaths reported	14	7
Most complained-about part	Steering	Airbags
Share of complaints involving harm	14.6%	37.1%

Lincoln MKS by year

70 64 57 26 182 60 28 5

09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Steering 121 24.6%

Electrical System 55 11.2%

Engine & Cooling 52 10.6%

Fuel & Propulsion 38 7.7%

Brakes 34 6.9%

Other & Unspecified 27 5.5%

Transmission & Drivetrain 24 4.9%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 24 4.9%

KIA Spectra by year

30 56 121 132 92 130 129 206 163 152

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Airbags 366 30.2%

Electrical System 91 7.5%

Brakes 88 7.3%

Engine & Cooling 86 7.1%

Transmission & Drivetrain 84 6.9%

Fuel & Propulsion 75 6.2%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 72 5.9%

Seat Belts 54 4.5%