YearToAvoid

2012 Lincoln MKZ Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 22 brake complaints for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ, 15% of its 146 total complaints, with 3 crashes and no fires or injuries. Median mileage at failure was 70,007 miles, and there is no related brake recall on file.

Brakes complaints
22
15% of 146
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
70,007 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Brake pedal sinks toward the floor with longer stopping distance, sometimes with no ABS engagement noise.
  • Sudden complete loss of braking with dashboard warning lights for ABS, traction control, and brake malfunction appearing at the same time.
  • Owners describe pumping the brake pedal with no effect, requiring use of the parking or emergency brake to stop the car.
  • ABS module failure reported shortly after a dealer service visit, with no prior warning light.
  • Brake light LED assembly failures where two of three rows stop functioning, which owners say was covered under extended warranty on 2010 and 2011 models but not on the 2012.

When 2012 Lincoln MKZ brake complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 27, 2013, latest Jan 17, 2024.

2012 Lincoln MKZ brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2013Oct 2019Feb 2020Aug 2020Mar 2021Sep 2023
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2013 to Jan 2024; peak Nov 2016 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by MKZ model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201039 (23%)
  2. 201122 (15%)
  3. 201222 (15%)
  4. 201310 (9%)
  5. 201410 (10%)
  6. 201516 (20%)
  7. 201614 (22%)
  8. 201716 (12%)
  9. 20181 (3%)
  10. 20190 (0%)
  11. 20200 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2012 Lincoln MKZ have?
NHTSA lists 22 brake complaints for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ, which is 15% of the 146 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ?
No. NHTSA's data shows no related recall filed for the brake complaints on the 2012 MKZ.
At what mileage do 2012 Lincoln MKZ brake problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure for brake complaints on this model year is 70,007 miles.
Did the brake issues cause any crashes?
NHTSA records 3 crashes tied to brake complaints on the 2012 MKZ, with no fires or injuries reported.
Is the 2012 MKZ worse for brake complaints than other years?
The 2012 MKZ's 15% brake complaint share is lower than the 2010 model year's 23%, but similar to 2011's 15% and higher than 2013's 9%.

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.