2012 Lincoln Mkt problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (19) · Power Train (2) · Structure:body:hatchback/Liftgate (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lincoln Mkt model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Steering:electric Power Assist System 2015-06-02 · campaign 15V340000 · 393,623 vehicles
Defect: 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 ste
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.
Service bulletins (46)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2024-10-10 · SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
while performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
Structure 2023-04-04 · SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for 2000-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. it is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (vin) from a different vehicle. most modules on these affe
Engine And Engine Cooling 2020-09-25 · SSM 49210 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2009-2020 ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with turbochargers may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, o-rings or 6.7l pedestal gasket. although oil may collect on the turbocharger, it is very rare for a turbocharger to leak oil. to isolate the source of the l
Structure 2020-07-13 · TSB 20-2233 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. some 2000 and newer ford/lincoln/mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. panel replacement is
Visibility:glass, Side/Rear 2019-08-09 · SSM 48130 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. this is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash solutions as a cleaning agent. hydrofluoric acid can attack the glass and cause visual distortion and/or disc
Electrical System 2019-08-07 · SSM 48123 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
for ford and lincoln vehicles that require positive or negative battery terminal replacement, it is not necessary to replace the complete battery cable harness (14300 and 14301) for this concern. positive battery cable clamp bt4z-14450-aa and negative battery cable clamp bt4z-14450-ba are available
Showing the 6 most recent of 46 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Steering“my 33,000 miles 2012 lincoln mkt ecoboost previously received a software-only update for federal safety recall 15s18 (nhtsa campaign 15v340). the power steering assist fault dash light has shown up on a trip out of town making it now completely unable to drive safely on the street. we took it to an independent mechanic who determined various code…”
2025-09-11 · Steering · 200,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 lincoln mkt. the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the message "power steering assist fault" was displayed, the service advancetrac warning light was illuminated, and the steering wheel seized. the vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with steering rack and pinion failure. the co…”
2024-12-05 · Steering · 12,980 mi“the contact owns a 2012 lincoln mkt. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the power steering system failure warning light illuminated. the contact was unable to maneuver the steering wheel as needed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that the power steering needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired…”
2024-10-22 · Steering“the car had a recall, and they worked on it. a few years later the power steering went out while driving and almost had an accident. they did not replace the steering gear they only worked on the steering module. if they had replaced the steering gear, it may have solved the whole problem. they know there was a problem and did not do their best to …”
2024-08-13 · Steering“the recall work was done on 10/27/2015. ford lincoln knows there is a problem with the power steering. they will not redo the work that needs to be done properly because of their faulty power steering module. they did not replace the module; they only made an adjustment to it. i almost had an accident because of the faulty power steering. when it w…”
2022-12-20 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System · 82,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 lincoln mkt. the contact stated that the twin-turbo became inoperable. the contact stated that oil was entering the exhaust and the contact was unable to see other vehicles. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbo needed to be re…”
2022-12-06 · Steering:column · 45,000 mi“the contact's grandmother owned a 2012 lincoln mkt. the contact stated that when his grandmother was starting the vehicle, she experienced a loss of power steering assist. the power steering assist warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. the conta…”
2021-06-01 · Steering · 151,566 mi“the contact owns a 2012 lincoln mkt. the contact stated while making a turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. the contact stated that the power steering assist warning light was illuminated. the contact drove at a slow speed to his residence. the contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle was over 150…”
2020-06-08 · Steering · 300,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2012 lincoln mkt. the contact stated that when the vehicle was turned on after refueling, the power steering assist warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to napleton lincoln located at 1610 waukegan ave, glenview, il 60025, (888)214-2155, where it was stated that the mileage was exceeded for inclusion in nhtsa camp…”
2020-06-07 · Steering · 300,000 mi“i started my 2012 lincoln mkt 3.5l the steering was hard to turn and the dashboard error message reads 'power steering assist fault. i google it and it showed that the 'power steering assit fault error message was on recall on june 2015. i towed the car to lincoln on 1610 waukegan ave glenview il, the service manager said after the diagnosis that t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.