2012 Lincoln MKT reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2012 Lincoln MKT has 27 complaints with NHTSA after 15 years, or 1 per year. That is about even with the other MKT years here. Their median is 1 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Electric power steering.

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Steering (19 of 27), then Electrical system (2) and Engine (2).

Next to 2013

The 2013 MKT has 69 complaints, 4 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Lincoln MKT. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (1)

Recall Electric power steering 2015-06-02 · NHTSA campaign 15V340000

Summary 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.

Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (27 total)

Steering

Electrical system

Engine

Powertrain

Structure

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Engine and engine cooling

Fuel and propulsion system

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"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 · filed 2025-09-11
"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.…"
Steering · filed 2024-12-05
"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…"
Steering · filed 2024-10-22
"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…"
Steering · filed 2024-08-13
"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…"
Engine and engine cooling · filed 2022-12-20

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Lincoln MKT SUV AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	4 stars
2012 Lincoln MKT SUV FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
MKT all-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	16	22	18 MPG	$3600
MKT front-wheel drive	3.5L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	17	24	20 MPG	$3250

Specs and fitment

1st generation, 2012–2019

Body styles SUV

Oil 5W-30 , 5.7 qt capacity

Tire size 235/55R19, 235/60R18, 255/55R18, 255/45R20 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 16V-621 covers certain 2013-2015 Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI EcoBoost engines, and also certain Ford Taurus, Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles: dealers inspect the fuel pump electronic module part number and replace the fuel PEM as necessary. Recall 15V-172 covers certain 2013-2015 MKT vehicles with a limousine or hearse preparation package: dealers replace the vacuum pump relay with a new electro-mechanical relay.

Compare

Next year 2013 Lincoln MKT See every Lincoln MKT model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Lincoln MKT reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Lincoln MKT?

The complaints owners file most often name Steering (19 of 27), then Electrical system (2) and Engine (2).

Is the 2012 Lincoln MKT more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 MKT has 69 complaints, 4 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Lincoln MKT been recalled?

The 2012 Lincoln MKT has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Lincoln MKT?

Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 2012 Lincoln MKT with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Lincoln MKT get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Lincoln MKT is 19 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Lincoln MKT take?

5W-30; capacity is about 5.7 quarts with filter.

What does recall 16V-621 cover on the MKT?

Certain 2013-2015 MKT vehicles with 3.5L GTDI EcoBoost engines (and certain other Ford/Lincoln models)—see the NHTSA campaign for the defect and remedy.

What tire sizes did the MKT use?

235/55R19, 235/60R18, 255/55R18, or 255/45R20 depending on trim.