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2012 Lincoln Mkz Hev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
204 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Airbags problems dominate (42% of complaints).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#147 of 395Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Lincoln Mkz Hev ranks #147, scoring higher than 62% 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.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hev 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%
3 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
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 Mkz Hev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (85) · Steering (38) · Brakes (26) · Electrical system (17)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Airbags
42%85 complaints
“I was notified April 2021, that my vehicle had an airbag safety recall repair. To date, I have not been notified to bring my vehicle in for the repair to be performed.…”
Steering
19%38 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Power steering control module stop working. Ford is aware of this issue and refusing to classify it as a recall. Vehicle inoperable at 83k miles.”
Brakes
13%26 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed …”
Electrical system
8%17 complaints
“THE ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ALL SENSORS LIGHT UP AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. YOU COULD PUSH THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIUON. THIS IS THE SAME ABS MALFU…”
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 204 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 14 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Lincoln before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- 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
Check the VIN for open recalls
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 MKZ HEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Mkz Hev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Lincoln Mkz Hev 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.