SOME 2010-2016 EPAS EQUIPPED VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT STEERING RELATED NOISES. THE WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED IN SECTION 211-02. WHEN DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING EPAS STEERING NOISES USE THE UPDATED PROCEDURES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Lincoln MKT steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Lincoln MKT have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 142,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 MKT | 28 |
| 2011 MKT | 11 |
| 2012 MKT (this page) | 19 |
| 2013 MKT | 31 |
| 2014 MKT | 8 |
When does it fail?
Of the 19 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Lincoln MKT, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 10 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2012 Lincoln MKT by each odometer reading. Median failure: 151,566 mi.
10% have failed by45,000 mi
Half the fleet by151,566 mi
90% have failed by300,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Lincoln MKT in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Reported failure mileage clusters in the 150,000+ mi band — 5 of 10 complaints with an odometer reading on file land there.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe sudden power steering assist loss or severe difficulty turning the steering wheel, typically accompanied by a dashboard warning message or illuminated warning light. The failures occur both at startup and while driving—at highway speeds, during parking, and mid-turn—and span a wide mileage range from 12,980 to 300,000 miles, though most cluster between 150,000 and 200,000 miles.
Dealers consistently diagnosed steering rack and pinion failure or steering gear replacement as the fix. Ford issued recall campaign 15V340000 in June 2015, but capped eligibility at 150,000 miles. Many owners found themselves just over that threshold or exceeded it by the time they attempted the recall, forcing out-of-pocket repairs costing $2,806 to $4,000. One owner reported being charged $2,806 at a Lincoln dealer despite presenting the recall notice, leading to a dispute about whether the recall should have been free.
At least one owner reported the recall work was performed (module adjustment) but the problem reoccurred years later, suggesting the fix may have been incomplete. Some owners claim they never received recall notification. Two owners faced indefinite delays because recall parts were unavailable. When vehicles exceeded the mileage window, dealers declined responsibility, citing recall expiration.
Same Lincoln MKT steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Module / Steering Gear Failure
Complete loss or severe degradation of power steering assist, making the steering wheel very difficult or impossible to turn. Owners report the power steering assist warning light illuminates when the failure occurs. Some dealers diagnosed steering rack and pinion failure; others identified steering gear replacement as necessary. The root cause appears contested between module adjustment (recall approach) versus complete steering gear replacement.
When: At vehicle startup or while driving; mileage range 12,980 to 300,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes very difficult or impossible to turn; Power steering assist warning light or 'Power Steering Assist Fault' message on dashboard; Warning light illuminates when starting vehicle after refueling or after parking; Loss of power steering while entering highway or making turns
Codes mentioned: Power Steering Assist Fault, Service Advancetrac warning light illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quoted $2,806–$4,000+ for steering gear replacement. Recall campaign 15V340000 covered repairs at no cost for vehicles under 150,000 miles; one owner reported being charged $2,806.21 at Lincoln dealership despite recall notice. At least one owner reported repair completed after initial denial.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 15V340000 (Steering) issued June 2015. Recall limited to vehicles under 150,000 miles and expired after a set period. Manufacturer advised some owners the recall letter was sent to previous owner. When vehicles exceeded mileage threshold or recall window, repairs became owner responsibility. Some dealers declined repair when recall expired. Manufacturer stated vehicles 3,000+ miles over mileage requirement ineligible. One update noted vehicle was repaired.
Steering Column Motor / Adjustment Mechanism Failure
Steering column tilt/telescope motor grinds and clicks during extension and retraction, occurring at vehicle startup and shutdown. Steering wheel adjustment becomes stuck, unable to extend fully or move up and down.
When: At startup and shutdown; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding and clicking noise when steering column extends or retracts; Steering wheel adjustment stuck, won't extend fully; Steering wheel won't move up and down
Steering System Vibration
Driver's seat and steering wheel experienced abnormal shaking, reported at very low mileage shortly after purchase. Vehicle was taken to dealer but not repaired.
When: At 33 miles; current mileage 3,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Driver's seat shakes abnormally; Steering wheel shakes abnormally
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was contacted but vehicle was not repaired.
Recall Coverage Gaps and Mileage Threshold Issues
Multiple owners with steering failures fell outside the 150,000-mile eligibility window for recall campaign 15V340000, even though their vehicles exhibited the same failures as recalled units. Some owners claim they were never notified of the recall. Others reported recall parts were unavailable, delaying repairs indefinitely.
When: At failure mileage 150,000+ miles; also affects vehicles with available parts but no prior notification
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist warning light illumination; Difficult or impossible steering
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 15V340000 (Steering) – mileage cap exceeded
Repairs/costs cited: Owners forced to pay out-of-pocket when mileage exceeded 150,000 miles. Costs reported $2,806–$4,000+. One owner stated never received recall notification. Two owners reported waiting indefinitely for recall parts to become available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V340000 limited eligibility to 150,000 miles. Manufacturer stated recall had expired and repairs were at dealer discretion. Recall parts were unavailable for extended periods, preventing timely repairs. Manufacturer advised some owners to file NHTSA complaints but offered no assistance outside recall window.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 15 most recent
Loss of power steering while entering a highway. Became very hard to turn.
The contact's grandmother owned a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that when his grandmother was starting the vehicle, she experienced a loss of power steering assist. The power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number:…
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the power steering system failure warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to maneuver the steering wheel as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA…
The car had a recall, and they worked on it. A few years later the power steering went out while driving and almost had an accident. They did not replace the steering gear they only worked on the steering module. If they had replaced the steering gear, it may have solved the whole problem. They know there was a problem and did not do their best to solve it. There may be thousands of vehicles…
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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed, the Service Advancetrac warning light was illuminated, and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with steering rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion…
Twice I have received the message 'power steering fault' when starting my car. When this happens the steering wheel will not move or is hard to move. Luckily I haven't been driving down the highway when this has happened. I have seen recalls for other vehicles regarding this issue.
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 mileage was 3,500.
The recall work was done on 10/27/2015. Ford Lincoln knows there is a problem with the power steering. They will not redo the work that needs to be done properly because of their faulty power steering module. They did not replace the module; they only made an adjustment to it. I almost had an accident because of the faulty power steering. When it went out it is almost impossible to turn the…
Had steering trouble with your 2012 Lincoln MKT?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2012 Lincoln MKT?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 69,950 and 181,000 miles, with the median around 142,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 69,950; a quarter make it past 181,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Lincoln/MKT.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.