Most common 2012 Lincoln MKS problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lincoln MKS complaints by model year
Best MKS years: 2012, 2015, 2011. Years to avoid: 2013, 2009. Compare all years →
2012 Lincoln MKS recalls (3)
Steering › Electric power assist system
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…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC).
Structure › Body › Door
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.
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
What 2012 Lincoln MKS owners say
Steering
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 Steering Control Module (PSCM) needed to be reprogrammed, and the steering rack needed to be replaced. The mechanic related the failure to Ford Campaign Number: 15N01. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made. The dealer ordered the part for the repair; however, the manufacturer's warranty department denied the claim for the repair after several attempts. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle jerked and lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after several minutes the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the lower control arms and bushing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic stated that the lower control arms and bushing did not need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) and referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 104,000.
Electrical system
I've owned my 2012 Lincoln MKS for 3 years. A warning recently appeared saying "Power Steering Assist Fault," and now the steering is very hard to turn, especially at low speeds. I've already paid around $1,800 in the past to fix this issue once, but now I'm experiencing the same or similar problems again. I haven't had it officially diagnosed this time because both Ford and the dealer told me it wouldn't be covered, since the recall (15S18) is now expired. This is a serious safety issue. The car is difficult to control and unsafe to drive. I'm a full-time worker and a father of two toddlers, and I'm still making payments on this car that I now can't safely use - or only for short trips while constantly worrying about steering failure. I just found out about this old recall, and the dealership never told me anything about it when I bought the car used. …
I stopped the car in my garage and pushed the keyless ignition button, but did not put the car in park. I exited the car and it slowly coasted down the driveway and into a deep gully.. The damage to the car from the accident and the wreckers getting it out of the gully was $14,400. I have since learned most well-engineered cars, excluding Ford/Lincoln, lock the breaks or put the car into park if the keyless ignition button is pushed before the car is put into park. (examples of well engineered cars include BMW and Toyota prius with respect to this issue.) this is a major engineering safety issue. A driver can park a Ford product on a hill, push the ignition button to turn off the engine, but not put the car in park, and exit the car and the car will coast down the hill hitting anything or anybody in its path. …
2012 Lincoln MKS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Lincoln MKS a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 MKS rates better than average: 74% fewer complaints than a typical year of the MKS at the same age. It is one of the best MKS years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Lincoln MKS?
The steering — 8 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about electric power assist system. Next are the electrical system (4) and body & structure (2).
How many recalls does the 2012 Lincoln MKS have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Lincoln MKS, the most recent from June 2, 2015 (electric power assist system). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lincoln MKS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2015 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013 and 2009. See the full Lincoln MKS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Lincoln MKS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.