2012 Lincoln MKX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 84 complaints (31.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 40.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 11.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 26 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 9 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
Service Brakes: 26; Electrical System: 17; Power Train: 11; Structure:Body: 9; Engine: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7; Air Bags: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 23 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 7; 2017: 13; 2018: 7; 2019: 10; 2020: 11; 2021: 8; 2022: 4; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10572756 · 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)
I DRIVE A LINCOLN 2012 MKX. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING UP TO A MAJOR INTERSECTION MY BRAKES FAILED. AFTER VIGOROUSLY PUMPING THE BRAKES, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE BRAKES HAD A DEFECTED POWER BOOSTER AND I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH LINCOLN AND BESIDES OFFERING ME AN EXTRA WARRANTY THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH GETTING ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASEDNEW. THE STICK SHIFT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TRANSM…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10625747 · 2014-08-16 (August 16, 2014)
BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE RESULTED IN "NEAR MISS." THE BRAKES WERE HISSING, INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO PRESS, AND WENT SOFT EVENTUALLY AFTER STANDING ON THEM TO ENGAGE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THE FORD EDGE / LINCOLN MKX WITH AN ASSOCIATED "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" (READ RECALL AVOIDANCE) # 13N02. THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES A RECALL, BECAUSE THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS UNSAFE WHEN THIS PART FAILS. PERIOD. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM REQUIRE INVESTIGATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10625747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10681241 · 2015-09-17 (September 17, 2015)
2012 LINCOLN MKX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE ON A SHORT LOCAL TRIP, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS CHAFFING NEAR THE SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10681241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823768 · 2016-02-02 (February 2, 2016)
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM HAS FAILED. THE DOOR OPEN WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYS ON. ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO GO OUT HAVE FAILED. THE CAR DINGS THE ENTIRE TIME WHILE DRIVING IT. AT NIGHT THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS STAY ON AND INTERFERS WITH VISIBILITY. WHEN CAR IS PARKED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON, DRAINING THE BATTERY DUE TO THE DOOR OPEN WARNING ON THE DASH.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,258 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034082 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)
DRIVER SIDE DOOR AJAR SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSES WARNING LIGHT ON DASH TO LIGHT, SHIFT INTO PARK LIGHT TO COME ON AND INTERIOR LIGHTS TO STAY ON. I COULD LIVE WITH THE ANNOYANCE OF THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND SHIFT TO PARK LIGHT TO COME ON BUT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN AND COULD STRAND MY WIFE AND I ON THE ROAD. THE FORD DEALER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ONGOING DEFECT IN NEARLY ALL THEIR SUVS. RATHER THAN FIXING THE PROBLEM (WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AT THE FORD COMPANY) THEY CHARGE $600.00 TO $1200.00 TO REPLACE THE SENSOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11045669 · 2017-11-13 (November 13, 2017)
WHEN SHIFTING INTO "PARK" THERE IS A WARNING THAT APPEARS ON THE DASH AS "SHIFT TO PARK". THE "P" INDICATOR LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE AND DOES NOT ENGAGE SAFETY FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH PLACING THE VEHICLE IN "PARK". THIS ALSO CAUSES THE DISPLAY TO STAY ON AND DRAINS THE BATTERY IF NOT CORRECTED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ADDRESSED ON TSB 15-0047 BUT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AS IT COULD LEAD TO A STRANDED MOTORIST.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11045669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862070 · 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11073209 · 2018-02-16 (February 16, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO REGAIN NORMAL FUNCTION, BUT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAYAGUEZ FORD CALLED MARGINAL MAYAGUEZ, PUERTO RICO, 00681; PHONE [phone removed]. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE PURGE VALVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE PURGE VALVE AND THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10995286 · 2017-06-15 (June 15, 2017)
STOPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A SLIGHT GRADE. CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY W/LOSS OF STEERING & BRAKES. DRIFTED BACKWARD UNTIL I PUSHED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. LOCAL DEALER RAN DIANOSTICS, NOTHING FOUND LINCOLN PROVIDED ZERO HELP IN RESOULVING THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10995286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459248 · 2012-05-22 (May 22, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL TANK COULD NOT BE FILLED TO CAPACITY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A FUEL LEAK OR ANY ISSUES WITH THE FUEL LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ISSUE WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459248 at NHTSA ↗