What 204 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Lincoln Mkz Hev

I have a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid 2012 with 88k miles on it. While I was slowing to a stop as I approached a stoplight at a busy intersection, the 'Check Brake' warning on the dashboard lit up without warning and no prior issues, and my ability to brake became near impossible as the pedal softened. I needed to push it all the way to the floor to get the vehicle to stop. I shifted into park and turned off the vehicle - following turning it back on, the dashboard warning disappeared, I was able to brake again, and the warning has not come back since. My vehicle just passed inspection earlier in the month, and nothing with the brakes came up. This is a critical safety issue! It could have been potentially fatal to myself, my passenger, or other drivers if I could not stop before the intersection, or if this had happened while I was on a main road or highway. I took it into the Ford Lincoln dealership. They cited a faulty HCU/ABS module and recommended replacement, but all parts are after-market at this point and would not come with a warranty. OEM replacements are also extremely difficult to come by. The repairs would take around $3.8k to complete, which is close to the current value of the vehicle. Ford issued Safety Recall 19S54 in December 2019, covering 600,166 model year 2006–2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr, and Lincoln MKZ vehicles for the exact same defect. No recall exists for anything in 2012 despite at least 17 NHTSA complaints have been filed for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ alone for this specific brake failure. The 2012 MKZ and Fusion use the same braking system architecture as the recalled vehicles. The failure mechanism is identical. The safety risk is identical.

NHTSA ODI 11742028

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 and went all the way to the floorboard however, the vehicle failed to immediately stop. The contact stated that after pumping the brake pedal repeatedly the vehicle came to a stop. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with the ABS control module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 11673764

The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed abnormal soft feedback from the brake pedal and that the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard before bringing the vehicle to a complete stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a possible brake fluid leak with the brake master cylinder or hydraulic control module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 138,000.

NHTSA ODI 11566004

My brakes stopped working with no warning while driving. All of the brake related lights came on and the pedal went to the floor and I was unable to stop the car. This is a safety issue for the driver and everyone else because there seems to be no warning that the brakes will stop working. I brought the vehicle into a repair shop and they could not find anything wrong with the brakes, however there are multiple reports on this website of the very same issue that I dealt with. When attempting to report this to the ford/lincoln manufacturing, they stated that their system was down and they had no way of taking a report. This is very dangerous and needs to be addressed.

NHTSA ODI 11566117

I was driving and all of a sudden break light came on service break system came on all at one time I never had a problem with this never got a warning before hand , I couldn’t stop the car, break pedal literally on the floor, almost hit 2 cars trying to stop the vehicle, I have brand new break pads, break fluid was checked, had to get the car towed back home because its no longer drivable

NHTSA ODI 11544020

Breaks suddenly stopped working. Lights on dash including ABS came on. Car would not stop until pedal pressed almost to floor. Almost as quickly it started working again and our mechanic can not reproduce it. There a number (17) of other complaints describing the problem with more drama. (See [XXX] for one) Incident happened three times, twice going forward and once backing up. Please recall this quickly before someone is killed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11534652

There have been several occasions now where I go to brake and there is no brake! My foot goes all the way down to the floor. This can happen at a steady speak of 50 or at 10 miles an hour. It is very scary and very dangerous. I have had to use my emergency brake to stop the car. I have had my brakes changed and "bled" several times. I am concerned this is going to cause a catastrophic accident. In researching this issue, I have seen that this is a common issue with the Lincoln MKZ. In fact prior years have already had a recall. Please, remedy this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11533180

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 MALFUNCTION THAT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A FORD RECALLED OF 600, 000 VEHICLES IN THE FUSION,AND MK'S IN THE YEARS THRU 2010 BUT NOT 2011 AND 2012 WHICH YSE THE SAME BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS A UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11415452

MY WIFE AND SON LEFT THE HOUSE IN OUR MKZ AND 1/2 MILE DOWN THE ROAD THE MKZ SUDDENLY LOST BRAKING CAPABILITY. MY WIFE HAD TO STEER UPHILL IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MULTIPLE LIGHTS ARE NOW DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD INCLUDING "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC", "BRAKE", "ABS", AND "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM". THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING OF AN ISSUE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR 2011-2012 MKZ/FUSIONS. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR 2009 MKZ/FUSIONS FOR THIS ISSUE THAT MIRRORS THIS SCENARIO EXACTLY. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER 2011 AND 2012 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11403440

IN JANUARY 2021, MY VEHICLE HAD REACHED ABOUT 60,000 MILES. AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AS I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE AND STOPPED THE CAR. HAD THE CAR NOT STOPPED, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE AVOIDED GOING INTO THE STREET. I TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK (AFTER YOU START THE CAR, THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND THEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT GOES ON; THE BRAKES ONLY WORK A LITTLE NEAR THE FLOOR). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND BOTH THE ABS MODULE AND HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $3200. I NOTICED A RECALL FOR BASICALLY THE SAME THING BUT THE RECALL ONLY WENT UP TO 2010.

NHTSA ODI 11390826

WHILE DRIVING, ALARMS DINGED AND LIGHTS POPPED UP IN MY INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WERE: BRAKE SYSTEM & PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM (OR BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING?), CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, ABS, ADVANCETRAC, ADVANCETRAC OFF, THROTTLE CONTROL/POWERTRAIN, CHECK ENGINE, AND PRESS RESET TO TURN OFF REAR PARKING ASSIST. PRESSING MY BRAKES REVEALED THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NOT ALL BARK AND NO BITE; THERE WAS IN FACT SOMETHING GOING ON. THE PEDAL WAS SOFT, TOO EASY TO DEPRESS AT FIRST. THEN IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND INEFFECTIVE. NOT STOPPING AT ALL UNTIL ALL THE WAY DOWN. THIS PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED ON 9/6/2020, BUT RESOLVED AFTER 2 DAYS. THIS CURRENT INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 10/2/2020 AND REMAINS ACTIVE 5 DAYS LATER. THE SERVICE STATION FOUND NO CAUSE PREVIOUSLY. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER LEAVING MY HOME. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH ON A RAINY DAY. THE ALARMS SOUNDED AND LIGHTS CAME ON, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR A STOP SIGN IS WHEN I DISCOVERED THE BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT IS CONTINUING BEGAN A BIT DIFFERENTLY. THE LIGHTS POPPED UP AND ALARM SOUNDED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A SUNNY, DRY DAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND POWERTRAIN LIGHT BOTH CAME ON ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER. THEY CAME ON WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11363305

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE SERVICE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHUMACHER LINCOLN OF DELRAY (2102 S FEDERAL HWY, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33483 561-454-1800) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,449.

NHTSA ODI 11343736

THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTION, ABS MALFUNCTION AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION SIMULTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH WARNING CHIMES, AND THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WITH BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION (PEDAL WAS SOFT, FAR TOO EASY TO DEPRESS, BUT INEFFECTIVE). CAR WAS STEERED INTO A RESIDENTIAL LAWN AND EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE APPLIED TO AVOID A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325071

THE BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC MESSAGE ACROSS THE DASHBOARD AND THE BRAKES DON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY AT THIS TIME PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11298654

DRIVING ON A LOCAL MAJOR ROAD THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, BRAKES WENT LOW AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. PUMPING DID NOT HELP. WENT THROUGH 2 LIGHTS. NO ACCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO SERVICE STATION, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CAR WORKS FINE NOW BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11296619

THE ABS MODULE IN MY CAR FAILED ON 11/20/19. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 53,500 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALER FIVE DAYS PRIOR ON 11/15/19 INCLUDING A MULTI POINT SYSTEM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE RECALLED AIR BAGS . NO "WARNING" OR INDICATOR OF A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM WAS IDENTIFIED. WHEN THE ABS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON I HAD JUST TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND SO PROCEEDED VERY SLOWLY DOWN MY STREET (WHICH HAS A DOWNGRADE) ONLY TO REALIZE I HAD LOST BRAKING POWER AND HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO FIRMLY / COMPLETELY STOP. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING IN AN ABS MODULE FAILURE AND SO COULD NOT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FIVE DAYS PRIOR. THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE SERVICE BAY WHEN PULLING IT FORWARD AT A LOW SPEED ON A FLAT SERVICE. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED OR IN TRAFFIC I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY.

NHTSA ODI 11281836

BRAKE LIGHT LED ASSEMBLY HAS 2 OF 3 ROWS NOT FUNCTIONING; FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 2010 & '11 MODEL YEAR, BUT NOT 2012 FOR THIS FAILURE. SEEMS A DEFECT FAILURE FORD HAS ADMITTED ON EARLIER MODEL YEARS, BUT DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT IT ALSO HAPPENS ON THIS MODEL YEAR. GUESS THEY ARE USING LEFT OVER PARTS'. LOTS OF PICTURES OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB / INTERNET. PASSENGER / RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI 11277653

TWO WEEKS AGO I GOT IN MY CAR AND DROVE DOWN TO THE INTERSECTION AT THE END OF MY STREET. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED OTHER THAN THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF THREE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND CONTINUED INTO THE INTERSECTION. BEFORE CALAMITY STRUCK, I MANAGED TO PULL UP THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURN THE CAR INTO THE CURB, STOPPING IT.

NHTSA ODI 11271477

STARTED VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT. BRAKE LIGHT, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ALL ON. BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPOT. THOUGHT I COULD GET IT HOME. PULLED OUT ONTO CITY STREET. TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE; PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN. DID NOT REMEMBER TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP, BUT PUT INTO PARK TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP. MANAGED TO PULL INTO ANOTHER PARKING LOT, CONTINUING TO PUT INTO PARK TO STOP. CALLED AAA AND HAD TOWED. DEALER INVOICE STATES, "VERIFIED CUST CONCERN. EXPERIENCED NO POWER BRAKE ASSIST ON VEHICLE. R&I THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FOR INTERNAL FAULT...."

NHTSA ODI 11228689

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR LIGHTS, TRAFFIC, STOP SIGNS. STOPPING DISTANCE IS LONGER THAN EXPECTED UNTIL BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGE. ON HIGHWAY (50+ MPH), PEDAL SINKS FOR NORMAL STOPS, AND FOR EMERGENCY STOPS, IF YOU STOMP THE BRAKES THE PEDAL SINKS AND IT SEEMS THAT THE ABS DOES NOT ENGAGE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO NOISE OR VIBRATION.

NHTSA ODI 11150159

TRAVELING SOUTH ON CT15 IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND STOPPED SUDDENLY. I APPLIED PRESUURE TO BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. IT APPEARED THAT MINIMUAL REGENERATIVE BRAKING WAS ENGAGED BUT NO ADDITIONAL FRICTION BRAKING. CAR HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE IN WHICH TO STOP [ MORE THAN 140 FEET]. CAR SLOWED FOR A TIME BUT WHEN SPEED WAS REDUCED TO ABOUT 10 MPH, THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING DISENGAGED AND CAR SURGED FORWARD AND REAR ENDED TRUCK CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL BODY DAMAGE. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LITE ON DASH. DEALERS HAD INSPECTED BRAKE BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER CRASH AND REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. SIMULATED BRAKE ASSIST DID NOT PROVIDE ANY RESISTANCE TO PRESSURE ON PEDAL. BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR DID NOT GENERATE BRAKE REQUEST OR ABS AND ECM DID NOT RECONGNIZE REQUEST FOR EXTRA BRAKING. EXTREME PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT ACTIVATE FAIL/SAFE MANUAL FRICTION BRAKING. CAR SHOULD STOP IN 140 FEET FROM 60 MPH. QUESTIONS - WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SBA NOT ACTIVATING? WHY DID THE ABS AND ECM IGNORE OR NOT PROPERLY RESPOND TO THE BRAKING REQUEST? WHY THE FAIL/SAFE FRICTION BRAKING MODE FAIL TO ACTIVATE? WHAT PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE MODE? THERE ARE NUMEROUS PRIOR REPORTS OF SIMILAR SYMPTOMS CAUSING ACCIDENTS IN 2011/2012 LINCOLN/FORD HYBRIDS. WHAT IS THE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60 MPH IN FAIL/SAFE MODE. FORD LITERATURE ON THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE OR GIVE ANY WARNING TO CUSTOMERS. HOW IS THE FAIL/SAFE FRICTION BRAKING SYSTEM TESTED TO INSURE PROPER OPERATION IN AN EMERGENCY? WHY DOES THE BRAKE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN DRIVER IS ATTEMPTING A PANIC STOP?

NHTSA ODI 10983343

TRAVELING N ON 95 JUST BEYOND RICHMOND VA ON 11/26/16 TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP AND I WAS ATTENTIVE AND RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO BRAKE QUICKLY. THE CAR INITIALLY SLOWED BUT DID NOT RESPOND FURTHER TO APPLYING BRAKES. I REAR ENDED A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR - MINIMAL TO THE JEEP. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM STILL CONFUSED BY WHAT HAPPENED - I HAD TIME TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. I AM 60 YEARS OLD AND A LONG TIME CITY COMMUTER ALONG WITH HAVING TRAVELED THIS ROUTE REGULARLY SINCE 1979. I CANNOT HELP BUT CONCLUDE THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF BRAKE MALFUNCTION WITH MY 2012 LINCOLN MKZ. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928553

I WAS ON A CITY STREET MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN I WAS HIT BY A BARRELING CAR AFTER HE HIT ME ONCE THEN HE BACKED UP AND HIT ME AGAIN TO PUSH ME OUT OF THE WAY HE TOOK OFF THEN MY CAR ACCELERATED GOING UP CURBS THE STEERING AN BRAKES DID NOT WORK IT TOOK TWO OF US TO AVOID A BRICK WALL AFTER PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TWICE IT FINALLY STOPPED WITH A BANG

NHTSA ODI 10925131

WHILE DRIVING ON TWO LANE ROAD APPROX. 50 MPH, ENGINE STOPPED, ADVANCE TRACK LIGHT CAME ON , LOST STEERING AND BREAKING, COASTED TO STOP. RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME. CARRIED TO DEALER , WHO REPLACED. *JS STEERING GEAR. COMPUTER SHOULD SHOW YOU WARNING BUT NOT SHUT VEHICLE DOWN LOOSING BREAKING AND STEERING. IF THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC OR HAD BEEN ON BUSY ROAD TRAVELING INT. SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE TAKING FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON SAME ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 10608420

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, HIS FOOT WAS CAUGHT ON SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD WHILE HE WAS MOVING IT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,300. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,348. UPDATED 7/25/14*CN UPDATED 8/28/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10588368