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Lincoln · NHTSA safety record

2012 Lincoln MKX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 84 safety complaints about the 2012 Lincoln MKX with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the power train.

The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 26 complaints, 31% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 65,000 miles, the median across the 61 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2011 to September 2025 · How this is counted

What is on file

84 complaints on file

84

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

3

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
SERVICE BRAKES 26 · 31%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17 · 20%
POWER TRAIN 11 · 13%
STRUCTURE 10 · 12%
ENGINE 8 · 10%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7 · 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7 · 8%
AIR BAGS 4 · 5%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 3 · 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 · 2%
LANE DEPARTURE 2 · 2%
0 12 23

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 84.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 13.

16 12 8 4
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2011 to 2025.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2012 Lincoln MKX, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 14.0% 15.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

1 on file

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

14V393000 · July 2, 2014

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
The risk
If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.

Ford Motor Company · up to 83,250 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 injured · 128,000 miles

WHEN SHUTTING PASSENGER DOOR LATCH, LATCH WILL NOT MOVE TO GRIP INNER PART OF THE DOOR. THIS WILL CAUSE THE DOOR TO BOUNCE BACK OR NOT CLOSE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHEN EXISTING OR ENTERING CAR. OPEN DOOR WARNING WILL REMAIN ON UNTIL LATCH IS PROPERLY HOOKED.

NHTSA complaint 11342003. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · 43,000 miles

MY 2012 LINCOLN MKX HAS A VERY LOW BREAK PEDAL AND IS A RESULT OF THE (HCU) HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. AS MY CAR'S BREAK PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND IT MAKES STOPPING THE CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AT ANY SPEED.THIS IS VERY PROBLEMATIC FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL.I AM ASSUMING FORD WILL WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED BEFORE THEY RECALL THE PROBLEM.BUYER BEWARE STAY AWAY FROM THIS MODEL AND THE MAJORITY OF FORD PRODUCTS. STILL VERY CONFUSED AS TO HOW AND WHY FORD CAN GET AWAY WITH SUCH A SERIOUS BREAKING PROBLEM WITH NO RECALL SINCE 2012.

NHTSA complaint 11372274. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

crash · 40,000 miles

THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH WOULD SAY ITS TILL OPEN WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. HAD TO REPAIR IT TWICE AT THE DEALER. NOW THE RIGHT REAR DOOR HAS THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint 10981725. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

crash · 68,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S GARAGE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE FENDER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER (TOM ROUSH LINCOLN, MAZDA, & MITSUBISHI, 525 DAVID BROWN DR., WESTFIELD, IN 46074, (317)-896-5561) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA complaint 11114556. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Recalled master cylinder brake booster was repaired at the dealership under the recall approx 4 or 5 years ago. The same issue has began again. Out of nowhere while braking, the pedal will become soft and press to the floor. During this time, the car will not slow down. This is resembling a defective part.

NHTSA complaint 11684240. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The camera change from vertical to horizontal, the camera shutdown while in motion.

NHTSA complaint 11683970. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

185,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera was reversed. The contact stated that the image was upside down and the camera was flickering. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact believed that the failure was weather-related. The contact called an unknown local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 185,000.

NHTSA complaint 11668525. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Backup camera faulty won’t connect just black screen

NHTSA complaint 11635348. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
brake booster

NHTSA complaint 11630580. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
What system Failed: Hydraulic Control Unit within the braking system. Brake Pedal and Master cylinder in good working order. Safety Concern: Vehicle failed to stop. Peddle completely to the floor. Accident avoided. Problem Reproduced or confirmed by Service Center: Yes, at a cost of $1,699.00 Inspected: Yes. Vehicle has low miles. Odometer: 114,591 Warnings: No lights or warnings, attempted to stop and brake pedal to the floor. Stopped driving until repairs made. Unsafe! Vehicle failed to stop in normal traffic without warning, speed was approximately 45 mph. Personal Information: Site stated do not list personal information. Therefore, repair invoice available upon request. No upload given

NHTSA complaint 11591518, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lincoln MKX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 31 5 —
2017 52 5 —
2016 156 7 —
2015 19 0 —
2014 35 1 —
2013 163 1 1
2011 149 3 —
2010 111 6 —

Other 2012 Lincoln models

MKZ 146 MKZ Hybrid 59 MKT 27 MKS 17 Navigator 12

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Lincoln on this site — 85 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst