2012 Lincoln MKZ Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Lincoln MKZ has a Complaint Index of 71 and ranks 5th worst of 15 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 47% of complaints, with 5 recalls including 2 do-not-drive campaigns for airbag inflators.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 71/100
- #5 of 15 MKZ years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 146
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 10
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 9
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17.5 city / 25.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 9 / 0
Top 2012 Lincoln MKZ problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags68 (47%)
- Brakes22 (15%)
- Other22 (15%)
- Steering20 (14%)
- Electrical System12 (8%)
- Structure & Body12 (8%)
- Engine7 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (1%)
- Seat Belts2 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy during moderate-speed rear-end or frontal collisions, leaving occupants without protection.
- Steering suddenly locks up or stops responding, sometimes at low speeds, causing loss of control.
- Power steering assist cuts out briefly with a warning light, then returns to normal before failing again.
- Brakes and traction control lose function together, sometimes tied to electronic steering faults.
- An engine compartment fire was reported at high mileage, preceded by electrical problems and smoke while driving.
2012 Lincoln MKZ recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V158000Mar 10, 2021Airbags2,602,668 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
- NHTSA 19V001000Jan 7, 2019Airbags782,384 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.
- NHTSA 18V775000Nov 1, 2018Airbags215 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16V-384, 17V-024 or 18V-046. In the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing may deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out.
Risk: If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S34.
2012 Lincoln MKZ fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 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 MKZ years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Lincoln MKZ reliable?
- It carries a Complaint Index of 71 and ranks 5th worst out of 15 MKZ model years, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other MKZ years. Airbags are the top complaint area, making up 47% of reported issues.
- Does the 2012 Lincoln MKZ have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this year, 3 of which involve airbags, and 2 of those are do-not-drive recalls for inflators that can rupture or fail to deploy.
- What is the most common problem with the 2012 Lincoln MKZ?
- Airbags are the top problem area, with 68 complaints making up 47% of all reports, including 4 crashes tied to non-deployment.
- At what mileage do 2012 Lincoln MKZ problems usually appear?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 53,750 across all reported failures, though airbag issues had a lower median mileage of 42,000.
- How does the 2012 MKZ compare to other years?
- It is better than the 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 MKZ, which are rated Avoid, but worse than the 2016, 2018, and 2019 MKZ, which earn Good or Best verdicts.