
2012 Lincoln MKT
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Lincoln MKT has 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (58% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 lincoln mkt the contact was traveling between 60-75 mph when the driver's seat and steering wheel started to shake abnormally. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 33 and the current .
33
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
19 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 60-75 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33 AND THE CURRENT
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 60-75 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33 AND THE CURRENT ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
4 complaints- • MY 2013 LINCOLN MKT ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF WHILE IN DRIVE BY SIMPLY PUSHING THE " PUSH START BUTTON". THAT'S RIGHT THE CAR TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN IN DRIVE IF ONE MISTAKENLY TOUCHES THE 'PUSH START BUTTON' USED TO START THE CAR! TO RESTART THE CAR ONE MUST PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND APPLY THE BRAKE.
- • 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 STA
- • The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that the twin-turbo became inoperable. The contact stated that oil was entering the exhaust and the contact was unable to see other vehicles. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagn
“MY 2013 LINCOLN MKT ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF WHILE IN DRIVE BY SIMPLY PUSHING THE " PUSH START BUTTON". THAT'S RIGHT THE CAR TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN IN DRIVE IF ONE MISTAKENLY TOUCHES THE 'PUSH START BUTTON' USED TO START THE CAR! TO RESTART THE CAR ONE MUST PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND APPLY THE BRAKE. ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
2 complaints- • POWER LIFTGATE OPENED WITHOUT COMMAND WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT COMMAND AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO INTERIOR CONTROL OR KEYFOB TO CLOSE AND HAD TO CLOSE MANUALLY. LIFTGATE OPENED ON THREE ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS WITHIN 45 MINS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN THE LIFTG
- • 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.
“POWER LIFTGATE OPENED WITHOUT COMMAND WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT COMMAND AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO INTERIOR CONTROL OR KEYFOB TO CLOSE AND HAD TO CLOSE MANUALLY. LIFTGATE OPENED ON THREE ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS WITHIN 45 MINS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN THE LIFTG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
2 complaints- • POWER LIFTGATE OPENED WITHOUT COMMAND WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT COMMAND AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO INTERIOR CONTROL OR KEYFOB TO CLOSE AND HAD TO CLOSE MANUALLY. LIFTGATE OPENED ON THREE ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS WITHIN 45 MINS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN THE LIFTG
- • WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, THE FRONT PORTION OF THE GLASS PANORAMIC ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY IMPACT. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD "POP" AND WHEN I PULLED OVER I DISCOVERED THE GLASS WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. NOTHING TO MY KNOWLEDGE IMPACTED THE ROOF.
“POWER LIFTGATE OPENED WITHOUT COMMAND WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT COMMAND AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO INTERIOR CONTROL OR KEYFOB TO CLOSE AND HAD TO CLOSE MANUALLY. LIFTGATE OPENED ON THREE ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS WITHIN 45 MINS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN THE LIFTG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
2 complaints- • MY 2013 LINCOLN MKT ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF WHILE IN DRIVE BY SIMPLY PUSHING THE " PUSH START BUTTON". THAT'S RIGHT THE CAR TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN IN DRIVE IF ONE MISTAKENLY TOUCHES THE 'PUSH START BUTTON' USED TO START THE CAR! TO RESTART THE CAR ONE MUST PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND APPLY THE BRAKE.
- • WAS DRIVING HEARD ODD NOISES AND BURNT FLUID TRANSFER CASE WAS DEFECTIVE BOTH OF MY FORD AWD DID ECACT SAME THING.
“MY 2013 LINCOLN MKT ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF WHILE IN DRIVE BY SIMPLY PUSHING THE " PUSH START BUTTON". THAT'S RIGHT THE CAR TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN IN DRIVE IF ONE MISTAKENLY TOUCHES THE 'PUSH START BUTTON' USED TO START THE CAR! TO RESTART THE CAR ONE MUST PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND APPLY THE BRAKE. ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 33 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 60-75 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33 AND THE CURRENT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: MY 2013 LINCOLN MKT ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF WHILE IN DRIVE BY SIMPLY PUSHING THE " PUSH START BUTTON". THAT'S RIGHT THE CAR TURNS ITSELF OFF WHEN IN DRIVE IF ONE MISTAKENLY TOUCHES THE 'PUSH START BUTTON' USED TO START THE CAR! TO RESTART THE CAR ONE MUST PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND APPLY THE BRAKE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: POWER LIFTGATE OPENED WITHOUT COMMAND WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT COMMAND AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO INTERIOR CONTROL OR KEYFOB TO CLOSE AND HAD TO CLOSE MANUALLY. LIFTGATE OPENED ON THREE ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS WITHIN 45 MINS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN THE LIFTG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BODY/STRUCTURE: POWER LIFTGATE OPENED WITHOUT COMMAND WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT COMMAND AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO INTERIOR CONTROL OR KEYFOB TO CLOSE AND HAD TO CLOSE MANUALLY. LIFTGATE OPENED ON THREE ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS WITHIN 45 MINS OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN THE LIFTG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Lincoln MKT — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 33
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Lincoln MKT