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ProblemsByVin Index / 2012-LINCOLN-MKZ / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2012 Lincoln MKZ owner complaints

146 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 1 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

airbags 13 complaints shown

68 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/28/2018 ODI #11163838.0

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln mkz. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v024000 (air bags). The contact called brinson Ford at 903-874-8880 (located at 1951 martin luther king jr. Blvd, corsicana, tx 75110) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

12/27/2017 ODI #11056796.0

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln mkz. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v024000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (ed howard Lincoln, 7110 s tamiami trail, sarasota, fl 34231 (941) 921-4402) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact received a letter from tk holdings, alerting her that takata filed for bankruptcy. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. *ttc received notice 3/2017 airbag failure 1/27/18 still not fixed updated 8/28/18*jb

12/20/2021 ODI #11444492.0

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.

12/18/2017 ODI #11055302.0

Takata recall I keep getting the run around from the dealership and cutomer service. I also wasn't able to sell my car as a trade in because they said "we can't sell that, it's a liablitity, so we have to send to auction", then offered me a low low price, so I kept it, and there it sits. I am looking at just disabliing it, I have 6 grandskids~3 can ride in the front seat.

12/12/2017 ODI #11054109.0

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln mkz. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v024000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Jarrett Ford (38300 dick jarrett way, dade city, fl) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. *bf consumer stated Ford company says it is still looking for a airbag replacement company to produce the recalled. Updated 8/27/18*jb

12/11/2018 11,000 mi ODI #11160690.0

My front passenger air bag light comes on saying it isn't functioning - has happened since I bought the car in 2014, but I never noticed until warranty was over (only happens if someone sits in seat, which is not often). I do not see any recall -and wonder if thisis something I have to have fixed at my own cost as dealer said "too bad". No problems as of yet, but worried a passenger can be hurt badly.

12/03/2018 ODI #11155779.0

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln mkz. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v024000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called cloninger Ford (1001 jamestown rd, morganton, nc 28655, (877) 244-0497) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

11/29/2016 42,000 mi Crash ODI #10928553.0

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. Airbags did not deploy. I am still confused by what happened - I had time to stop the vehicle but it did not respond. I am 60 years old and a long time city commuter along with having traveled this route regularly since 1979. I cannot help but conclude there was some type of brake malfunction with my 2012 Lincoln mkz. *tr

11/28/2017 ODI #11050908.0

I was notified in january of 2017 of a defective airbag. Specifically the passenger frontal airbag inflator could rupture if the vehicle is involved in a crash were the supplemental frontal airbags are designed to deploy. I was told via mailing that once a remedy is set in place instructions on where it is now almost 11 months later and yet the manufactures are still saying no remedy is yet available.

11/22/2017 ODI #11048062.0

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln mkz. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v024000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called courtesy Ford morgan city at (985) 380-2277 (1107 brashear ave, morgan city, la 70380) where it was confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available/parts distribution disconnect.

11/16/2018 ODI #11151905.0

Takata recall, received letter from Lincoln in may 2018 stating my front passenger airbag inflator was under recall. Letter stated I would be notified for repair second or third quarters of 2018. No letter from Lincoln yet stating when I can repair by bag. It is now the fourth quarter of 2018 and no letter from them for my repair. Class action suit underway. When I called the dealership assigned to repair they said they are not doing that. Help!

11/15/2018 ODI #11151783.0

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln mkz. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v024000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Lynn layton Ford (3300 us-31, decatur, al 35603, (256) 350-2120) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

11/13/2017 ODI #11045623.0

Takata recall we have received multiple notices of the recall but no notice to take the vehicle in for the needed repair or replacement.

other 1 complaint shown

11/29/2021 ODI #11442007.0

While traveling at approximately 22 mph I entered a roundabout when the steering wheel pulled out of my hand and the car was no longer turning, but going straight towards another car that was waiting to enter the roundabout. The car no longer had power steering but I was able to steer past the waiting vehicle and into a curb where I stopped the vehicle off the road. There was no warning prior to the incident, with the traction control warning light coming on at the same time the power steering stopped working. The vehicle has been diagnosed by a reputable independent shop with a faulty steering gear at a cost of approximately $2,200 to repair. This is the same problem that has been addressed by recall 15S18 for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, but Ford/Lincoln has refused responsibility for th

wheels 1 complaint shown

11/27/2016 23,000 mi ODI #10928139.0

Purchased the vehicle in january 2015 with 23,000 miles on it. Have had consistent issues with the low tire pressure light coming on. Apparently the chrome rims flake and cause and air leakage to occur. I have had several tire places "fix" the issue to no avail. The first company found a hairline crack on the interior of the rim so I thought that was the issue and replaced rim. The issue continued and not always on the same tire. I have found quite a few others online with a similar issue so I am reporting it in the hopes that Lincoln will rectify this issue with their chrome rims. I am constantly worried that my tire is going to blowout while I am driving. I am current,y looking at replacing the tires and rims altogether as I will need new tires soon. *tr

lighting 1 complaint shown

3 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $250 · see lighting cluster analysis →
11/23/2020 84,000 mi ODI #11375996.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Lincoln mkz. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear driver's side brake light failed to operate correctly while the brake pedal was depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000. *bf the consumer referenced recall 14m03.

brakes 1 complaint shown

16 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $450 · see brakes cluster analysis →
11/22/2019 53,500 mi ODI #11281836.0

The ABS module in my car failed on 11/20/19. The car had approximately 53,500 miles at the time of failure. The car had been serviced at the dealer five days prior on 11/15/19 including a multi point system inspection and replacement of the recalled air bags . No "warning" or indicator of a problem with the ABS system was identified. When the ABS malfunction indicator lights came on I had just turned the vehicle on and was pulling out of my driveway and so proceeded very slowly down my street (which has a downgrade) only to realize I had lost braking power and had to use my emergency brake to firmly / completely stop. I was towed to the dealer who indicated that there would be no warning in an ABS module failure and so could not have been identified five days prior. The dealer servic

steering 1 complaint shown

20 total in this category · severe · avg repair $700 · see steering cluster analysis →
11/16/2022 ODI #11493738.0

After getting an oil change and battery software update, I headed home. Before arriving home the warning light to service Power steering and traction control came on. Returned to dealer, they said the power steering needed to be calibrated. Left and before making it home power steering stopped working and warning lights returned. Dealer has stated the power steering gear needs to be replaced but because the milage is 224,000 and the car is over 10 years old Ford will not extend the warranty and it will cost $2,500 to repair.

Showing 300 of 146 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Lincoln/MKZ#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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