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2012 Lincoln Mks
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
16 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 27, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Buy-rated alternatives from this era
Other 2010–2014 cars in the same rough price bracket with a clean, matured Buy verdict, worth cross-shopping before you commit to the 2012 Lincoln Mks.
Why caution?
3 recall campaigns (3 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.
Complaints are still coming in strong late in this car's life, the pattern of a chronic problem that never got fixed.
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#317 of 529Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Lincoln Mks ranks #317, scoring higher than 9% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Lincoln Mks, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Steering (8)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Steering
50%8 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“This is additional information related to my prior complaint 1167880 regarding the 2012 Lincoln MKS steering issue.”
Electrical system
25%4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“This is additional information related to my prior complaint 1167880 regarding the 2012 Lincoln MKS steering issue.”
Transmission & drivetrain
13%2 complaints
“THE CAR STUTTERS ON SOFT ACCELERATION WHILE PULLING OUT OR INCREASE IN VELOCITY WHEN GOING UP HILL OR ON UPGRADES. PREMATURE VALVE COVER LEAKING INTO SPARK PLUGS AND S…”
Body & structure
13%2 complaints
“OUTSIDE TEMP 27 F. OPENED FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT STAY SHUT. HAD TO USE ROPE TO TIE PASSENGER DOOR TO REAR DOOR BEHIND DRIVER TO KEEP IT SHUT SO I COULD …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 16 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 1 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (3)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Steering · 15V340000
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 · 15V040000
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 · 13V109000
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.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Lincoln before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Lincoln Mks. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report steering problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any steering symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Lincoln MKS beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Mks model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Lincoln Mks against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.