2012 Lincoln MKX

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Lincoln MKX has 108 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: i drive a lincoln 2012 mkx. as i was driving down the road coming up to a major intersection my brakes failed. after vigorously pumping the brakes, i was finally able to come to a safe stop without an accident. as it turned out, the brakes had a defected power booster and i had to have this replaced.

2 crash reports 3 injuries

108

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

33 complaints

31%

• I DRIVE A LINCOLN 2012 MKX. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING UP TO A MAJOR INTERSECTION MY BRAKES FAILED. AFTER VIGOROUSLY PUMPING THE BRAKES, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE BRAKES HAD A DEFECTED POWER BOOSTER AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED
• BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE RESULTED IN "NEAR MISS." THE BRAKES WERE HISSING, INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO PRESS, AND WENT SOFT EVENTUALLY AFTER STANDING ON THEM TO ENGAGE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THE FORD EDGE / LINCOLN MKX WITH AN ASSOCIATED "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" (READ RECALL AVOIDANCE) # 13N
• SAME AS PREVIOUS COMPLAINT I PASTED BELOW. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BRAKE AND MY BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING THE PEDAL WAS LOCKED THEN WENT SOFT RESULTING IN A VERY CLOSE CALL AS I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE. AIR HISSING WHEN I PRESSED BREAK PEDAL, I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I DRIVE A LINCOLN 2012 MKX. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING UP TO A MAJOR INTERSECTION MY BRAKES FAILED. AFTER VIGOROUSLY PUMPING THE BRAKES, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE BRAKES HAD A DEFECTED POWER BOOSTER AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

16%

• THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE
• VEHICLE POWER & COMPUTER FAILED (SHUT OFF) WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN CLEAR WEATHER. *TR
• AFTER CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR THE CAR DETECTS AND SAYS THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF CLOSING THE DOOR...SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF. NOW, THE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ON THE LINCOLN MKX AND THE FORD EDGE (SAME TYPE VEHICLE) AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THIS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

11 complaints

10%

• GOING DOWN THE STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR GIVE A BIG HICCUP, THEN JUST A FEW FEET MORE, ANOTHER BIG HICCUP, THEN HAD NO POWER, COULD PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING, LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE STREET, OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, HAD WE BEEN GOING FASTER, AND BEEN ON A
• WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CAR STARTED JERKING WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS, THEN CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, AND POWER SHUT DOWN. SO LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND AVOID A ACCIDENT. SAT FOR AWHILE THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE OFF. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ON TO A FREEWAY ,WHIL
• STOPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A SLIGHT GRADE. CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY W/LOSS OF STEERING & BRAKES. DRIFTED BACKWARD UNTIL I PUSHED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. LOCAL DEALER RAN DIANOSTICS, NOTHING FOUND LINCOLN PROVIDED ZERO HELP IN RESOULVING THE PROBLEM.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“GOING DOWN THE STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR GIVE A BIG HICCUP, THEN JUST A FEW FEET MORE, ANOTHER BIG HICCUP, THEN HAD NO POWER, COULD PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING, LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE STREET, OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, HAD WE BEEN GOING FASTER, AND BEEN ON A ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

10 complaints

• THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE
• REFLECTION FROM THE CHROME AIR VENTS SHOWS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
• DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM HAS FAILED. THE DOOR OPEN WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO GO OUT HAVE FAILED. THE CAR DINGS THE ENTIRE TIME WHILE DRIVING IT. AT NIGHT THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS STAY ON AND INTERFERS WITH VISIBILITY. WHEN CAR IS PARKED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• 2012 LINCOLN MKX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE WAS PROVIDED WITH A DISC WITH AN UPDATED PROGRAM TO SIMPLIFY THE USE OF THE SYSTEM AND MAKE IT MORE USER FRIENDLY. THE SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALE
• LOOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING WRENCH LIGHT COMES UP SAYING LOCKED. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. TWICE 2 YEARS AGO AND ONCE ON AUGUST 23, 2016. DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE CODE. VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING 60 MILES ON HIGHWAY. LINCOLN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG?
• BLIND SPOT SENSOR FAILURE - IN HEAVY RAIN DRIVING I GET A DASH DISPLAY INFORMING ME THE BLIND SPOT FEATURE IS NOT WORKING. REF. TO MANUAL. BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRROR YELLOW LITES STAY ON. OF ALL TIMES I WANT MY BLIND SPOT OPTION NOT WORKING. MUMS THE WORD DEALER RESPONSE. SAY THIS IS DANGEROUS. THIS NEED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2012 LINCOLN MKX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE WAS PROVIDED WITH A DISC WITH AN UPDATED PROGRAM TO SIMPLIFY THE USE OF THE SYSTEM AND MAKE IT MORE USER FRIENDLY. THE SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED BY THE DEALE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 108 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: I DRIVE A LINCOLN 2012 MKX. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING UP TO A MAJOR INTERSECTION MY BRAKES FAILED. AFTER VIGOROUSLY PUMPING THE BRAKES, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE BRAKES HAD A DEFECTED POWER BOOSTER AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: GOING DOWN THE STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR GIVE A BIG HICCUP, THEN JUST A FEW FEET MORE, ANOTHER BIG HICCUP, THEN HAD NO POWER, COULD PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING, LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE STREET, OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, HAD WE BEEN GOING FASTER, AND BEEN ON A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)