KnownCarProblems2012 Lincoln Mkz Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Lincoln Mkz, most often about the air bags (47% of complaints, typically around 42,000 miles). It is 4th of 14 Mkz model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2012 Lincoln Mkz problems
Air bags
68 complaints · 47%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles.
Traveling n on 95 just beyond richmond va on 11/26/16 traffic came to a stop and I was attentive and recognized the need to brake quickly. The car initially slowed but did not respond further to applying brakes. I rear ended a jeep grand cherokee. Major damage to my car - minimal to the jeep. Airbags did not deploy. I…
Takata recall. The first recall notice was in march 2017, no parts available for replacing the airbag, a second notice came to me in oct. 26, 2017. The dealers still do not have replacement parts. I have not had a problem with the airbag but I'd feel safer if the airbag was replaced !!!
Other or unspecified
22 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles.
Several months ago driver side door handle quit working on both of our cars less than a month apart(Lincoln mkx 2012 ) - had to open door from outside, both have been fixed. On male's car - now passenger side front door handle will not return to proper position and door will not lock. Even with other doors locked…
Drivers side door handle became inoperative for no apparent reason. Cannot get out of car through drivers door without using outside handle by reaching out of window. This problem has been a recall on other years and similar makes with ford but not my vehicle. No way to know if door is properly latched and cannot get…
Steering
20 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln Mkz. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering assist fault message intermittently appeared on the instrument panel. The contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle resume normal operation. Recently, the contact stated that the traction control and the…
Aug 2, my husband & I were approaching a 4-way light near our neighborhood. We were slowing down to turn right at the intersection. As we began the turn, the tires locked & our car slide left across lanes that resulted in a crash. Both airbags deployed. I was thrown into the windshield, despite my seat-belt, busting…
Brakes
20 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: pedals and linkages.
Brake light LED assembly has 2 of 3 rows not functioning; ford extended warranty on 2010 & '11 model year, but not 2012 for this failure. Seems a defect failure ford has admitted on earlier model years, but does not want to admit it also happens on this model year. Guess they are using left over parts'. Lots of…
In january 2021, my vehicle had reached about 60,000 miles. As I was backing out of my driveway, I noticed multiple warning lights on the instrument panel and as I tried to stop the car discovered that the brakes were not working. I pulled the emergency brake handle and stopped the car. Had the car not stopped, I…
Body and structure
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Door latch will not keep door locked. Door sometimes will not close unless a person plays with the latch to manipulate the hooks to get door to close. Has only happen, so far, with the car stopped.
The driver door pops open when the car is in motion and has been doing this since I bought it 3 years ago in may. But apparently it isn't a recall. I'm actually scared to drive it the car had 54,000 miles and 59,000 5 thousand miles in three years. Can max said it would be repaired free of charge they lied. This is a…
Electrical
9 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
In january 2021, my vehicle had reached about 60,000 miles. As I was backing out of my driveway, I noticed multiple warning lights on the instrument panel and as I tried to stop the car discovered that the brakes were not working. I pulled the emergency brake handle and stopped the car. Had the car not stopped, I…
Unable to secure vehicle. Front driver side door will not lock/unlock by using any electric method or by using key mechanically in exterior door lock.
Engine
5 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles.
I fully stopped in a parking place where I use to go every monday to pick up kids from a dancing school. After I fully stopped and try to put the clutch on p the car accelerated by itself. I went trough a building and as I tried to control the car I was trying to put in p and I was not able. I kept my foot on the…
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln Mkz. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle shook and went into limp mode. The contact also stated that while making a turn at an unknown speed, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they could not duplicate…
Transmission
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln Mkz. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle shook and went into limp mode. The contact also stated that while making a turn at an unknown speed, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they could not duplicate…
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln Mkz hybrid. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the stop car safely now warning message illuminated as the vehicle independently decelerated. The contact shut the engine off and was able to drive without failure after restarting the vehicle. The manufacturer was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Lincoln Mkz recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on april 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and november 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s12.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 ranger, 2006-2012 fusion, lincoln zephyr, lincoln mkz, 2006-2011 mercury milan, 2007-2010 ford edge, and lincoln mkx vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began february 13, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2014 ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, ford is recalling certain 2011 ford ranger and mercury milan vehicles, 2011-2012 ford fusion and lincoln zephyr/mkz vehicles and 2011-2014 ford mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia or "zone b." ford is also recalling certain 2010 ford edge and lincoln mkx vehicles, 2010-2011 ford ranger and mercury mi
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began november 21, 2018. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18s34.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2010 ford fusion, mercury milan and 2010-2012 lincoln mkz vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16v-384, 17v-024 or 18v-046. In the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing may deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing march 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s01.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2012 ford fusion and mustang and lincoln zephyr and mkz vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, ford is recalling certain 2009 ford ranger, edge, fusion and mustang, lincoln mkx, mkz and zephyr and mercury milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia and west virginia, or "zone b." additionally, unless included in "zone a" or "zone b" above, ford is recalli
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the power steering control module (pscm) for diagnostic trouble codes (dtc). If dealers find any loss of steering assist dtcs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the pscm inspection, the pscm software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2015. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15s18.
Full defect summary
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 equipped with a 3.5l gtdi engine and 2013 ford taurus, ford flex, lincoln mks, and lincoln mkt vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Electric power steering failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate complaints of the loss of power steering while driving. The subject vehicles are equipped with a rack mounted electric power assisted steering (epas) unit.some of the complaints alleged that the steering assist failed and resulted in increased steering efforts that contributed to a loss of control and in some cases a crash.the epas system was manufactured by trw automotive for ford and was designated as generation I.these units were first produced and put into vehicle production in july 2008 beginning with the model year (my) 2010 ford fusion and mercury milan.the system is comprised of a mechanical stee
Questions about the 2012 Lincoln Mkz
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Lincoln Mkz?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (68 complaints, typically around 42,000 miles); other or unspecified (22 complaints, typically around 48,000 miles); steering (20 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Lincoln Mkz have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 10, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Lincoln Mkz?
- It is 4th of 14 Mkz model years by number of complaints, with 146 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.