What 204 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Lincoln Mkz Hev

I became the owner of a 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid in 2016. At first there was no issues. Roughly a couple of months later, there was a power steering issue- so the car was driven to Ford with great difficulty where they reset the sensor or something and the power steering was working again. Now a couple of years later, the problem occurred again. The power steering chime came on, the car read “service advancetrac” in yellow and “power steering assist fault” in read, accompanied by the wheel stiffening. I pulled over turned the car off and back on, and the problem went away. It occurred several more times and turning the car off and back on remedied the problem. It would only occur every couple of months, but more recently it started happening every couple of weeks and now- the last ten days it has happened every time I drive. Each of those times, with the exception of the most recent occurrence, turning the car off and letting it sit for a couple of minutes, followed by turning it back on, solved the problem. The most recent time, I was traveling on the highway going 60 mph when the messages appeared and my wheel stiffened. It terrified me as I was moving fast on a Southern California highway where there are hundreds of cars. I was on my way to take a final exam, that I could not miss, so I kept driving. Steering was near impossible at low speeds. I went in to take my final and three hours later, when I turned the car back on, the power steering still was not working. After hours of research and years of dealing with this problem, I have found that there was a recall regarding the PSCM in the 2012 Lincoln MKZ. I am unsure if this problem extends to the hybrid model, and if so whether it was remedied by a past owner, but a detailed vehicle history report indicates that it was not. I have never received any notice as to this recall. I do know that my car was manufactured in the applicable time period (2011), and that it is experiencing exactly what the recall describes.

NHTSA ODI 11586690

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

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

PORTION OF LED TAIL-LIGHTS ARE OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN COVERED ON 2010'S AND 2011'S HOWEVER MY 2012 IS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE IDENTICAL VEHICLES WITH IDENTICAL PART NUMBERS

NHTSA ODI 11277515

I WAS AT THE GAS STATION PUTTING GAS TO MY CAR WHEN I NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE THEN I TOLD THE PEOPLE AROUND THE STAFF OD THE GAS STATION SHUT OFF ALL THE GAS PUMPS AND HELP ME TO TRYIED TO USE EXTINGUISHERS TOEND THE FIRE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTNEN PEOPLE CAME. I DO NOT REALY KNOW WHAT HAPOENED BUT IWAS HAVING SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND WAS SMOKING WHEN WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR. WE THOUGHT NEED ANTIFREEZE LIQUID AND PUT IT BUT STILL RUNNING WEIRD.

NHTSA ODI 11254457

SEAT HEATING AND COOLING CONTROL SHUTS OFF AFTER AFTER BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. UPON TROUBLE SHOOTING IT WAS FOUND THAT SOMETHING SHORTED A PIN ON THE CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE FEMALE PIN CONNECTOR WAS COMPLETELY MELTED.

NHTSA ODI 11219762

THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY KEEPS GOING OUT

NHTSA ODI 11205341

I AM CURRENTLY IN A RENTAL AND HAVE BEEN FOR MONTHS. CALIFORNIA CODE REQUIRES THAT, IF A MANUFACTURER OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE IS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE MOTOR VEHICLE TO CONFORM TO THE VEHICLES APPLICABLE EXPRESS WARRANTY AFTER A REASONABLE NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS. ITS BEEN TWO YEARS, MAYBE LONGER. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN NONCONFORMITY FOR OVER 60 DAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11144081

I CURRENTLY HAVE A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE OF THE "TAKATA RECALL", BUT THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTION. THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE WHEN TRACTION CONTROL IS ON, DURING PERIODS OF RAIN HAVE ALMOST CAUSE 3 COLLISIONS I THINK OF. ITS NOT LIKE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BUT AN OVERCOMPENSATION. IT FEELS READY TO HYDROPLANE WHEN EVER THERE IS HEAVY RAIN. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALL FOUR WHEELS AND IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11118447

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LARGE POP SOUND AND THEN EXTREME STATIC / "WHITE NOISE" THAT COMES THROUGH THE SPEAKER SYSTEM EVEN IF THE AUDIO IS TURNED OFF. IT WILL PERIODICALLY DO THIS OFF AND ON AND IS EXTREMELY LOUD AND DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. ALSO BECAUSE IT IS SO SPORADIC AND THE POP AND STATIC NOISE IS NEVER KNOWN WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IT HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS FROM BEING SCARED WHEN IT COMES ON SUDDENLY. IT DOES THIS WHILE CITY DRIVING OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. I CAN NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF A SOUND BUT I DO HAVE VIDEO AND YOU CAN ALSO YOUTUBE OTHER PEOPLES COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT BEGAN FOR ME ON JULY 24, 2018 AND HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS SINCE THEN.

NHTSA ODI 11115266

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 65 MPH, A MESSAGE APPEARED TO PULL OVER. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. THE GAS PETAL NO LONGER WORKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE CAR HAS RIGHT AT 60K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11066828

SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AFFECTING MANY LINCOLN MODELS. COULDN'T OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND HAD TO CRAWL OUT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THE EVENT OF A CAR CRASH. SO MANY VIDEOS ON THE WEB OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS MODEL YEAR SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE DOOR LOCK RECALL. HUGE INCONVENIENCE CRAWLING IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, BUT AT LEAST I'M SMALL. I SURE WOULD FEEL SORRY FOR A BIGGER PERSON. MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO ASSEMBLED AT THE SAME PLANT DURING THE YEAR THE OTHER CARS WERE AFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI 11045717

UNABLE TO SECURE VEHICLE. FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK BY USING ANY ELECTRIC METHOD OR BY USING KEY MECHANICALLY IN EXTERIOR DOOR LOCK.

NHTSA ODI 11023382

THE METAL PART ON THE CABLE CONNECTING BATTERY TO OTHER PARTS OF VEHICLE CRACKED. HAD STOPPED TO GET BATTERY CHECKED AND SERVICE PERSONNEL FOUND THE CRACK IN THE METAL PART ON CABLE THAT CONTAINS 2 FUSES. CAR HAD BEEN HESITANT ON STARTING TWICE IN THE WEEK. SAFETY PROBLEM IF PART HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY INTO WHILE ON INTERSTATE OR IN AN AREA NOT HEAVILY POPULATED. COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11000279

APPROXIMATELY MARCH OF 2013. I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON MOULTON BLVD, SUDDENLY THE CAR LOST SPEED AND A RED TRIANGLE SHAPED CAME ON AND STATED "DRIVE TO SIDE OF ROAD SAFELY AND SHUT OFF THE CAR ENGINE" I TOOK IT TO LINCOLN GARAGE AND THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR A WEEK, WAITING FOR DIRECTIONS OF PROCEDURE FROM DETROIT, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD REPLACED THE HYBRID BATTERY. THE CAR RAN GREAT AGAIN. JUNE 15, 2015 IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN, LIKE BEFORE, I TOOK IT TO THE LINCOLN DEALER, THEY SAID THERE WERE NOT ANY CODES, BUT TOLD ME IT WAS A BAD THROTTLE BODY, OF WHICH THEY CHANGED. JUNE 24,2015, THE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN, THE RED TRIANGLE SHAPE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT INTO LINCOLN DEALER THE SAME DAY, THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER SAID THE CAR SHUT DOWN, BUT NO COMPUTER CODES. THIS MAKES ME THINK THAT A NEW THROTTLE BODY WAS NOT NECESSARY. A LINCOLN TECHNICIAN HAS BEEN DRIVING MY AUTOMOBILE FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WILL DO SO OVER THIS WEEK-END. HE HAS A COMPUTER ATTACHED TO THE AUTO ENGINE, LOOKING FOR THE CAUSE. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS DOWN, PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR GETS NO RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI 10730728

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 - WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR, THE "STOP CAR SAFETY NOW" WARNING CAME. I HAVE ABOUT 91,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MAPLECREST FORD LINCOLN. THEY HAVE CHECKED THE VEHICLE, DRIVEN IT, CHECK FOR CODES AND HAVE FOUND NOTHING IN THREE DAYS OF CHECKING. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CONTACTED LINCOLN'S TECH TEAM FOR ASSISTANCE. THE TECH TEAM CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE TWO OPTIONS THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN ARE 1. DO NOTHING AND SEE IF THE PROBLEM RECURS OR 2. CHANGE THE EXHAUST PURGE VALUE REFLESH & POWER CONTROL MODULE. BUT THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS CORRECT ANY PROBLEM. LINCOLN IS NOT GUARANTEEING THAT CHANGING THIS MODULE WILL FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THE "STOP CAR SAFELY NOW" WARNING. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN AUGUST OF 2013. I FILED A COMPLAINT THEN, WHICH WAS AS FOLLOWS: AUGUST 19, 2013 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STOP CAR SAFELY NOW WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT FAILURE AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. HOWEVER, I DID HAVE THE CAR "REPAIRED". LICCARDI FORD REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AIR INTAKE .. ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 20, 2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10640217

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. TYHE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IDLES ROUGH AT STAND STILL. IT SURGES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM AN ALMOST BRAKING STOP WHILE DRIVING. THE GARAGE DOOR HOME LING FAILS AT TIMES. BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN RELEASED. HEADLINES SAGS IN THE FRONT OF REAR WINDOW. UPDATED 06/17/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10500661