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Lincoln MKTModel year report

2012 Lincoln MKT Problems

Compared with other Lincoln MKT years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

3/100 0.3× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
28filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
83,222miles, 22 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Lincoln MKT (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 2012 Lincoln MKT. The part named most often is steering, with 20 complaints (71% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and engine (2). 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 32% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 83,222 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 45 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 3 Lincoln MKT model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 3 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Steering: “Was driving to work and the old sistem shut down with out warning maintenance almost hit two cars begging me just the time to stop mi car turn engine off and on I just feel insecure I use this car to do uber and lift how I can work like this when I take look on internet found this page and lot complain like this to ford company”

NHTSA complaint #11170554, filed 2019-01, 56,890 miles

Electrical system: “Steering column motor grinds and clicks when extending and retracting. This occurs when starting and turning off the car. Steering wheel cannot be adjusted. It won't extend fully, or move up and down.”

NHTSA complaint #11172181, filed 2019-01, 84,445 miles

Engine: “My 2012 Lincoln MKT with the 3.5l twin turbo v6 ecoboost engine is having the same issue with the fuel pump as the 2013-2015 MKT models that were part of recall campaign #16s31. My car was also manufactured at the same oakville assembly and within the dates specified. I was driving when the car stalled and then stopped suddenly stop as I was making a right turn and would not turn back on. There were no alerts or indicators on the dash. When I tried to turn the car back on, the dash lit up but the car would not turn over. …”

NHTSA complaint #11315363, filed 2020-03, 81,000 miles

Other or unknown: “I was driving on the highway no one was on the highway a loud explosion sound like it felt like someone shot my car in a close range and am lucky to be alive I started swerving. Pulled over frantic to see what it was my sunroof glass was shattered all around the edges gone. I couldn't believe that out of nowhere. The temperature was like 67 degrees no hot or cold outside. Am just glad that the highway was empty”

NHTSA complaint #11258443, filed 2019-09, 50 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

32% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 45,000 and 151,566 miles.

14%0–105%10–2514%25–509%50–7523%75–1009%100–15027%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (22 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 83,222 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2014201720198202120242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Lincoln MKT. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
MKT · SUV AWDnot rated———4 · 15.1% risk
MKT · SUV FWDnot rated———4 · 16.4% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Lincoln MKT version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
MKT AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic162218$3,700
MKT FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172420$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Lincoln MKT → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 45 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 45 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lincoln MKT

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201918103,9374—19—Rising
2018791,1002—19—Not enough data
2016958,0003—21—Not enough data
20152438,7846—23—Rising
20145492,0004—2360 · TypicalFalling
20137088,5008—2374 · MoreFalling
20122883,2221—203 · FewerFalling
20111984,0001—19—Falling
20106577,0000—1937 · TypicalFalling

All Lincoln MKT model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Lincoln MKT have?

NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 2012 Lincoln MKT as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Lincoln MKT is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 20 complaints (71% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 2012 Lincoln MKT been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Lincoln MKT get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Lincoln MKT (MKT FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Lincoln MKT reported?

Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 83,222 miles and the middle half falls between 45,000 and 151,566 miles; 32% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.