2012 Lincoln MKZ

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Lincoln MKZ has 176 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: 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 k. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 14 crash reports 11 injuries

176

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

68 complaints

39%

• 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 K
• 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. AIRB
• TAKATA RECALL. I GOT A RECALL NOTICE FROM LINCOLN, BUT YOUR SITE SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“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 K”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

23 complaints

13%

• I GOT TO WORK AND I COULDN'T OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO EXIT THE CAR. I TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, USING THE KEY FAB TO LOCK AND UNLOCK AND EVENTUALLY I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT AND EXIT VIA THE PASSENGER DOOR.
• FAULTY DOOR NOT OPENING FROM THE INSIDE, THERE IS A RECALL ON A LOT OF THE DOORS ON THE FORD VEHICLES BUT IT DIDN'T OPEN FOR MY VEHICLE
• THE LATCH ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, UNLESS YOU ADJUST IT MANUALLY. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER THE DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“I GOT TO WORK AND I COULDN'T OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO EXIT THE CAR. I TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, USING THE KEY FAB TO LOCK AND UNLOCK AND EVENTUALLY I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT AND EXIT VIA THE PASSENGER DOOR.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

20 complaints

11%

• 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 DANGEROU
• ON TURNING RIGHT POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF AND ONLY HAD MANUAL STEERING CONTROL UNTIL WHEELS WERE STRAIGHTENED AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON TURNING RIGHT. WENT TO DEALER COMPLAINT IS ON FILE , DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG NEW CARS POWER STEERING DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS CARS. THI
• ON SPETEMBER 5, 2014, I WAS TRAVELING IN MISSOURI. THE CAR DIDN'T SEEM TO HANDLE AS IT SHOULD. I HAD A STOP SIGN, AND IT SEEMED TO BE OKAY THEN. I DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN IN CASE THERE WAS AN ISSUE. THE FIRST CURVE I CAME TO, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN RIGHT, AND WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. ACCORDING TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“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 DANGEROU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

20 complaints

11%

• TL* 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 TH
• 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
• 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. AIRB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* 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 TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

10 complaints

• DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH, UNTIL I PULLED UP ON THE DOOR HANDLE AND STUCK A SCREWDRIVER IN LATCH AREA TO PULL LATCH TO OPEN POSITION
• DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH IS FAILED, IDENTICAL TO THE ACTIVE 2013-2014 MODEL YEARS FAILURE. DOOR WILL NOT SHUT PROPERLY, CANNOT BE LOCKED, AND OCCASIONALLY REQUIRES OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE TO OPEN THE DOOR. DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT RETRACT FULLY, AND LOCKING MECHANISM IS FAILED. OPENING THE DOOR WHILE LOCK
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH, UNTIL I PULLED UP ON THE DOOR HANDLE AND STUCK A SCREWDRIVER IN LATCH AREA TO PULL LATCH TO OPEN POSITION”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 176 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
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 K
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I GOT TO WORK AND I COULDN'T OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO EXIT THE CAR. I TRIED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, USING THE KEY FAB TO LOCK AND UNLOCK AND EVENTUALLY I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT AND EXIT VIA THE PASSENGER DOOR.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: 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 DANGEROU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* 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 TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)