YearToAvoid

2012 Lincoln MKX Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2012 Lincoln MKX has a complaint index of 46, ranking 8th among 14 model years, and carries a Good verdict relative to other MKX years. Brakes account for 40% of its 84 complaints, with one recall tied to transmission halfshaft retention.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
46/100
#8 of 14 MKX years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
84
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20
18 city / 24.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2012 Lincoln MKX problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes34 (40%)
  2. Electrical System17 (20%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain11 (13%)
  4. Structure & Body10 (12%)
  5. Engine8 (10%)
  6. Other8 (10%)
  7. Airbags4 (5%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (5%)
  9. Fuel System4 (5%)
  10. Lane Departure2 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Brake pedal loses power assist and becomes hard to press, with a hissing sound from the brake booster before pedals go soft.
  • Brakes fail to hold in traffic, requiring drivers to press hard or repeatedly pump the pedal to stop.
  • Rear or driver door latches close without fully securing, causing a false 'door ajar' reading while the door remains unlatched.
  • Gear shifter has moved into reverse unexpectedly while exiting the vehicle, leading to a crash into stationary objects.
  • Vehicle has lost power and shut off unexpectedly while driving at highway speed.
  • Fuel tank sometimes cannot be filled to capacity during refueling despite no signs of a leak.
2012 Lincoln MKX complaints: complaints filed per quarter62011 Q42014 Q32016 Q32018 Q12019 Q42021 Q42023 Q4
84 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2025 Q3; peak 2020 Q4 (6).

2012 Lincoln MKX recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V393000Jul 2, 2014Transmission & Powertrain83,250 vehicles

    Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft

    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.

    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.

    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.

2012 Lincoln MKX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other MKX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid851116 !19.5
2011Caution69149320
2012Good4684120
2013Caution62163120
2014Best2335120

All Lincoln MKX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Lincoln MKX reliable?
Compared to other MKX model years, the 2012 rates Good, with a complaint index of 46 and rank 8th out of 14 years tracked by NHTSA data.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Lincoln MKX?
Brakes are the top complaint area, making up 40% of the 84 complaints, including reports of brake booster failure and loss of pedal assist near a median mileage of 67,400.
Does the 2012 Lincoln MKX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2012 MKX, covering transmission halfshaft retention (campaign 14V393000), with no do-not-drive restriction.
How does the 2012 MKX compare to the 2007 and 2008 MKX?
The 2012 model has a much lower complaint index (46) than the 2007 (100) and 2008 (92), which are both rated Avoid.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Lincoln MKX?
EPA rates the 2012 MKX at 20 mpg combined (18 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.