The Used Car Index

2012 Lincoln MKS problems

NHTSA lists 17 complaints for the 2012 Lincoln MKS, 1 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as LINCOLN MKS.

At a glance

Complaints
17
With crash
1
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
393,623
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
34

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
STEERING847.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM423.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER423.5%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE211.8%
POWER TRAIN211.8%
STRUCTURE211.8%
ENGINE15.9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING15.9%
SERVICE BRAKES15.9%
VISIBILITY/WIPER15.9%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY2
STEERINGELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags

These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.

Failure modes
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
loss of control225.0%0.87
mechanical failure225.0%0.70
fluid or fuel leak112.5%0.32
noise or comfort112.5%0.53
unclear112.5%0.75
visibility or lighting112.5%0.99
Severities
LabelCountShare of taggedMean confidence
moderate450.0%0.85
low337.5%0.81
high112.5%0.99

Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 8 tagged complaints of 17 complaints (47.1%).

Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.

Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

3 recalls.

15V340000

Date: 2015-06-02. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: 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 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The a (excerpt)

Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. (excerpt)

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. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford custome (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

15V040000

Date: 2015-01-28. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.

Consequence: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

13V109000

Date: 2013-03-27. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles manufactured July 19, 2011, through March 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a result, the fuel tanks may not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact. The tanks may also leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S03. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

34 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
ENGINE5
POWER TRAIN4
VISIBILITY4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SEAT BELTS1
SEATS1

11008948

Date: 2024-10-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

10235153

Date: 2023-04-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affe

10180428

Date: 2020-09-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

Some 2009-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbochargers may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket. Although oil may collect on the turbocharger, it is very rare for a turbocharger to leak oil. To isolate the source of the l

10164508

Date: 2019-08-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.

Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. This is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash solutions as a cleaning agent. Hydrofluoric acid can attack the glass and cause visual distortion and/or disc

10164497

Date: 2019-08-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

For Ford and Lincoln vehicles that require positive or negative battery terminal replacement, it is not necessary to replace the complete battery cable harness (14300 and 14301) for this concern. Positive battery cable clamp BT4Z-14450-AA and negative battery cable clamp BT4Z-14450-BA are available

10160931

Date: 2019-05-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A even if grease was not applied from the factory. Also verify that the engine/transmission alignment dowel pins are present as well as the eng

10159494

Date: 2019-04-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

SSM 47948 - 2010-2019 Various Vehicles - Turbocharged Engines - Oil Supply Filter Replacement When Replacing The Turbocharger Or The Turbocharger Oil Supply Tube For 2010-2019 vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines, when diagnosing and/or replacing turbo related concerns, all steps within the

10153969

Date: 2019-01-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Some 2012-2019 Vehicles may require repairs to the Smartlink system. Smartlink is a Ford Licensed Accessory which has a warranty provided by the accessory manufacturer. Warranty replacement parts for Smartlink that are ordered through Ford are not reimbursable through the Ford Motor Company warranty

10152473

Date: 2018-11-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

For 2010-2019 vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines, when diagnosing and/or replacing turbo related concerns, all steps within the Workshop Manual (WSM) procedure must be followed including replacement of all mandatory discarded parts. For all turbocharged engine applications, the turbocharger

10137131

Date: 2018-04-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT.

Some 2007-2016 Edge/MKX/Flex/MKT/MKZ/MKS/Taurus/Police Interceptor Sedan/Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with AWD and built on or before 30-Jun-2016 may exhibit a propane or natural gas odor during idle or low speed driving. This may be due to break down of the power transfer u

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
MKS17

Same model, other years

All model years | All Lincoln models

Other Lincoln models, 2012

Sources

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