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Lincoln MKZModel year report

2012 Lincoln MKZ Problems

Compared with other Lincoln MKZ years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2015

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
146filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
53,750miles, 74 complaints with mileage
Recalls
52 do-not-drive
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 3 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 27 hwy

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

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Lincoln MKZ most often report two kinds of trouble: the electric power steering cutting out with a 'Power Steering Assist Fault' or AdvancTrac message, and the brakes losing assist while several warning lights come on at once. A large share of the sample is also about the Takata airbag inflator recalls, where owners describe long waits for parts rather than a new failure. Door latch and handle problems on the driver side round out the picture.

  1. Body and structure

    Driver door latch or handle won't open or lock

    • 21 complaints (14%)
    • median 50,700 mi at 5.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • filed 2015–2023

    Owners report the driver side door handle or latch failing: the door will not latch shut, will not lock, pops open while driving, or cannot be opened from inside so the owner climbs out the passenger side. Several say the dealer declined coverage, noting the 2013-2014 latch recall does not include their 2012 car. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 80,000 miles.

    What to check: Open and close every door several times and lock and unlock each one, watching whether the handle springs back and whether the door stays latched. Ask whether any latch or handle assembly has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Door latch, driver side, recall starts with the MKZ 2014 and up. I have a 2012 MKZ that needs the recall. Please lower the year to include the 2012 as the symptoms and problems are exactly the same. My vehicle will be receiving the airbag recall on friday. I ask that you approve the latch recall as well. Thank you.”

    NHTSA complaint #11339043, filed 2020-07, 80,000 miles

    “Driver side door handle/lock not operating - very very hard to get door handle/lock to unlock and allow me to exit car thru driver side door. Even fob would not work properly to unlock door to allow exit. This could be a very serious safety factor in the event of a collision especially if it resulted in a fire. This happened for the fist time on 2/17/17 when I arrived at work and has continued since.”

    NHTSA complaint #10957379, filed 2017-02, 29,798 miles
  2. Brakes

    Brake pedal goes to the floor with warning lights

    • 15 complaints (10%)
    • median 60,200 mi at 8.3 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2024

    Complaints describe ABS, brake and AdvancTrac lights coming on together with chimes, then a soft pedal that pushes to the floor and does not stop the car; some owners used the parking brake to stop. In several cases the vehicle was taken to a dealer or shop that found no fault, or the ABS hydraulic unit was replaced. Mostly between about 33,000 and 128,000 miles; several reports at start-up or pulling out of a driveway.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: On the test drive press the pedal firmly and check it holds, and confirm no ABS or brake warning lights stay on after start-up. Ask for service records on the ABS hydraulic unit and master cylinder, and whether the brake warning lamp issue in the SYNC service bulletins was checked.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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 probably would not have avoided going into the street. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11390826, filed 2021-01, 60,200 miles

    “Two weeks ago I got in my car and drove down to the intersection at the end of my street. When I hit the brake pedal, nothing happened other than the sudden appearance of three dashboard warning lights about brake failure. The car would not stop and continued into the intersection. Before calamity struck, I managed to pull up the parking brake and turn the car into the curb, stopping it.”

    NHTSA complaint #11271477, filed 2019-10, 116,200 miles
  3. Steering

    Power steering assist drops out (steering fault)

    • 15 complaints (10%)
    • median 129,149 mi at 8.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2025

    Owners describe a chime or 'Power Steering Assist Fault' / 'Service AdvancTrac' message, after which the wheel becomes very hard to turn and manual effort is needed. Some say restarting the car briefly restores assist; others report it recurs and the dealer could not reproduce or diagnose it, or quoted a steering rack replacement. Several owners note their VIN was not covered by the power steering recall. Scattered from a few thousand miles up past 100,000, often at start-up or low speed.

    Recall 15V3400003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Start the car and watch for a power steering or AdvancTrac warning; drive slowly and turn lock-to-lock to feel for heavy or intermittent assist. Ask whether the EPAS software/steering work described in the service bulletins was done, and whether the VIN is included in recall 15V340000.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Started my car to let it warm up, when I returned and went to leave the driveway it flashed service stabilitrac and service power steering. Tried to drive it and had no power steering. There is a recall on many of this same car for the same reason but none for my VIN #.”

    NHTSA complaint #11306599, filed 2020-02, 180,000 miles

    “I was driving at about 15 MPH all of a sudden power steering froze. Warning light service advancetrac and power steering failure came on. I turned car off and on and steering was back to normal. Two days later the same thing happened right after starting the car. This situation is very dangerous, as the car was almost impossible to control. Car is at dealer now, they say part has a backlog of over 1700 units. Could take months for repair.”

    NHTSA complaint #10472576, filed 2012-08, 4,700 miles
  4. Air bags

    Takata airbag inflator recall, long waits for parts

    • 62 complaints (42%)
    • median 42,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2022

    Many complaints are about the driver or passenger front airbag inflator recalls: owners say they received notices but the dealer had no parts, sometimes for a year or more, and some arranged a loaner in the meantime. A smaller group reports airbags that did not deploy in a crash. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 11,000 to 78,000 miles, mainly in 2017-2018 as notices arrived.

    Recall 21V158000Recall 19V001000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 18V775000Recall 17V024000 · DO NOT DRIVE2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the seller for proof that the driver and passenger inflator recalls (17V024000, 18V775000, 21V158000) were completed, and check the VIN with a dealer for any open campaigns.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My front passenger air bag light comes on saying it isn't functioning - has happened since I bought the car in 2014, but I never noticed until warranty was over (only happens if someone sits in seat, which is not often). I do not see any recall -and wonder if thisis something I have to have fixed at my own cost as dealer said too bad . No problems as of yet, but worried a passenger can be hurt badly.”

    NHTSA complaint #11160690, filed 2018-12, 11,000 miles

    “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 !!!”

    NHTSA complaint #11040041, filed 2017-10, 42,000 miles
  5. Air bags

    Airbag warning light on with passenger seated

    • 8 complaints (5%)
    • median 42,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2020

    A few owners report the front passenger airbag light indicating the bag is off when someone sits in the seat, and say the dealer declined to cover it after warranty. Airbag non-deployment in a crash was also mentioned in a few complaints. Reported from very low mileage (about 11,000) upward; not tied to a single range.

    Recall 17V024000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 21V1580001 related service bulletin

    What to check: With a passenger in the front seat, watch the passenger airbag status indicator at start-up; have any persistent warning checked and ask about the airbag module inspection in the service bulletins.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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 am still confused by what happened - I had time to stop the vehicle but it did not respond. I am 60 years old and a long time city commuter along with having traveled this route regularly since 1979. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10928553, filed 2016-11, 42,000 miles

    “The contact owned a 2012 Lincoln MKZ. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.”

    NHTSA complaint #11075962, filed 2018-03, 54,000 miles

Buying note. Check the power steering and brake warning lights carefully on a test drive, since those are the two most common complaints, and confirm which airbag recalls have already been completed for the VIN before buying. Door latch operation and service records for ABS or steering repairs are worth reviewing too.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 146 consumer complaints for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ. 74 of the complaints include a mileage, and 43% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 53,750 miles. Of all complaints, 10 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 38 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Lincoln MKZ model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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.

Also reported: Electronic stability control (2), Forward collision avoidance (2), Seat belts (2), Wheels (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seats (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “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 brake and tried to stabilize the car..eventually the car ended in a ditch and I was able to exit immediately. The air begs opened only after I exit the car. I was in complete shock and I was taken to a local hospital by the rescue squad. …”

NHTSA complaint #10678750, filed 2015-01, 14,000 miles

Other or unknown: “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 problem and I've talked to other MKZ owners who say they fixed the car and paid for it.”

NHTSA complaint #11385975, filed 2021-01, 54,000 miles

Brakes: “I was on a city street making a left turn when I was hit by a barreling car after he hit me once then he backed up and hit me again to push me out of the way he took off then my car accelerated going up curbs the steering an brakes did not work it took two of us to avoid a brick wall after pulling the emergency brake twice it finally stopped with a bang”

NHTSA complaint #10925131, filed 2016-11, 21,000 miles

Steering: “The electronic steering stopped working and the traction control system light came on at the same time. I was traveling at less than 5 miles per hour and ran into my garage damaging the right front of my car. Local dealer without seeing the car said cost would be around $1800 to fix steering and stabilitrak. This was a 2012 Lincoln MKZ hybrid.”

NHTSA complaint #11337748, filed 2020-07, 79,814 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

43% of the 74 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 34,000 and 84,000 miles.

7%0–1011%10–2526%25–5023%50–7511%75–10019%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (74 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 53,750 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.

’13’15’1742’19’21’23’25
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 MKZ. 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
MKZ · sedan AWD★★★★☆4 / 3445 · 9.2% risk
MKZ · sedan FWD★★★★☆4 / 3444 · 10.5% risk
MKZ HEV · sedan FWD★★★★☆3 / 4444 · 10.5% risk

Neighbouring years: 2011: same overall rating; 2013: 5 stars overall. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Lincoln MKZ 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
MKZ AWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic172419$3,550
MKZ FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic182721$3,200

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 MKZ → · 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. 38 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 38 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lincoln MKZ

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20192158,1381524—Rising
20183633,00025240 · FewerRising
201714174,000452446 · TypicalRising
20166456,500652639 · TypicalRising
20158459,0001052643 · TypicalStable
20149760,5001352651 · TypicalStable
201310944,5001252660 · TypicalStable
201214653,750542150 · TypicalFalling
201114568,500542153 · TypicalFalling
201017072,6167—2175 · MoreFalling
200911468,0006—2153 · TypicalFalling
200828180,4004—2250 · TypicalFalling
200725977,4564—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

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

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Lincoln MKZ?

Owners of the 2012 Lincoln MKZ most often report two kinds of trouble: the electric power steering cutting out with a 'Power Steering Assist Fault' or AdvancTrac message, and the brakes losing assist while several warning lights come on at once. The issues reported most often: Driver door latch or handle won't open or lock; Brake pedal goes to the floor with warning lights; Power steering assist drops out (steering fault).

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Lincoln MKZ have?

NHTSA recorded 146 consumer complaints for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Air bags is named most often, in 68 complaints (47% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 22.

Has the 2012 Lincoln MKZ been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2012 Lincoln MKZ do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2012 Lincoln MKZ 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 3 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Lincoln MKZ get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Lincoln MKZ (MKZ FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

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

Among the 74 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 53,750 miles and the middle half falls between 34,000 and 84,000 miles; 43% 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.