2012 Lincoln MKS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MKS years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 7th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Lincoln MKS. That ranks 7th out of 8 MKS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (8 complaints, 47%), typically at around 104,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 17owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Lincoln MKS problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 8 | 47% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 24% | 41,050 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 24% | 72,313 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 12% | 76,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 12% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 12% | 43,363 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 6% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 6% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 6% | 102,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Lincoln MKS recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: 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 affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
Structure:body:door
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over the right side of the road and exited the vehicle and became aware of a leak underneath the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated…
This is additional information related to my prior complaint 1167880 regarding the 2012 Lincoln MKS steering issue.
Iâve owned my 2012 Lincoln MKS for 3 years. A warning recently appeared saying âPower Steering Assist Fault,â and now the steering is very hard to turn, especially at low speeds. Iâve already paid around $1,800 in the past to fix this issue once, but now Iâm experiencing the same or…
After starting the vehicle on Thursday 6/26/2025, the Power Steering Assist Fault message appeared in the message center. The owner's manual was consulted and as recommended, the engine was turned off for over 10 seconds, turned back on, and the message returned. The Power Steering Assist Fault…
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated while attempting to drive out of a parking space, the message "Power Assist Failure" was displayed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the Power…
Other Lincoln MKS years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 MKS | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 MKS | 18 | 3 |
| 2014 MKS | 44 | 2 |
| 2013 MKS | 142 | 7 |
| 2012 | 17 | 3 |
| 2011 MKS | 43 | 3 |
| 2010 MKS | 51 | 0 |
| 2009 MKS | 56 | 1 |
See all Lincoln MKS problems by year, every Lincoln model, or the Lincoln VIN decoder.
Similar Lincoln models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Lincoln MKS?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Lincoln MKS?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Lincoln MKS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MKS model years, the 2012 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.