MYRModel Year Report

2012 Lincoln MKZ

● Typical for this model
2012 Lincoln MKZ
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:54:25.334Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
146
Recalls
6

Campaigns on file for 2012

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

47% of complaints

Complaints per year

2007: 259 complaints 2007 2008: 281 complaints 2009: 114 complaints 2009 2010: 169 complaints 2011: 145 complaints 2012: 146 complaints 2012 146 2013: 109 complaints 2014: 97 complaints 2015: 80 complaints 2015 2016: 65 complaints 2017: 139 complaints 2017 2018: 36 complaints 2019: 21 complaints 2019 2020: 2 complaints
2007: 259 complaints 2007 2008: 281 complaints 2008 2009: 114 complaints 2009 2010: 169 complaints 2010 2011: 145 complaints 2011 2012: 146 complaints 2012 146 2013: 109 complaints 2013 2014: 97 complaints 2014 2015: 80 complaints 2015 2016: 65 complaints 2016 2017: 139 complaints 2017 2018: 36 complaints 2018 2019: 21 complaints 2019 2020: 2 complaints 2020
2007: 259 complaints 2007 2008: 281 complaints 2008 2009: 114 complaints 2009 2010: 169 complaints 2010 2011: 145 complaints 2011 2012: 146 complaints 2012 146 2013: 109 complaints 2013 2014: 97 complaints 2014 2015: 80 complaints 2015 2016: 65 complaints 2016 2017: 139 complaints 2017 2018: 36 complaints 2018 2019: 21 complaints 2019 2020: 2 complaints 2020

2012: 146 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
20060
2007259
2008281
2009114
2010169
2011145
2012146
2013109
201497
201580
201665
2017139
201836
201921
20202

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

47% · 68 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* 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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-03-02

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-01-25

Also filed under Engine and vehicle speed control

Steering

14% · 20 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Aug 2, my husband & I were approaching a 4-way light near our neighborhood. We were slowing down to turn right at the intersection. As we began the turn, the tires locked & our car slide left across lanes that resulted in a crash.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-08-08

Also filed under Seat belts

Service brakes

14% · 20 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

I was driving and all of a sudden break light came on service break system came on all at one time I never had a problem with this never got a warning before hand , I couldn’t stop the car, break pedal literally on the floor, almost hit 2 cars...

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-09-12

Structure

7% · 10 reports

Most commonly citing body and door.

FIRE

Electrical system

6% · 9 reports
FIRE

Safety timeline

6 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. I
    2014-10-02Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-09-10 Electric power steering failure
  2. R
    2015-07-21Steering15V340000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT...

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2018-02-14Air bags17V024000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas,...

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2018-11-21Air bags18V775000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16V-384, 17V-024 or 18V-046.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S34.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2019-02-13Air bags19V001000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the...

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2021-03-17Air bags21E013000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair.

    Remedy: Ford will notify dealers that purchased the affected parts, and dealers will provide replacement parts to purchasers, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2021-04-09Air bags21V158000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2012 Lincoln MKZ — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 68 reports on file for this year.
  • Steering: 20 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 20 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 15V340000 · Steering
  • Recall 17V024000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V775000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V001000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21E013000 · Air bags
  • Recall 21V158000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2012 Lincoln MKZ reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2012 Lincoln MKZ is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Lincoln MKZ?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 47% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2012 Lincoln MKZ have?
6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.