2012 Lincoln MKZ HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 59 complaints (32.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 20 | 33.9% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 13.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 19 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
Steering: 19; Air Bags: 17; Electrical System: 8; Engine: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 13; 2018: 14; 2019: 8; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 6; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10543874 · 2013-09-16 (September 16, 2013)
POWER STEERING QUIT WITH NO WARNING AND SERVICE ADVANCETRAC MESSAGE CAME ON. FORD SAYS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, NO CONFIDENCE IN THE QUALITY AND SAFETY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10543877 · 2013-09-16 (September 16, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING NEAR MY HOME THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING AND THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC MESSAGE CAME ON. I HAVE THE CAR EXACTLY 2 YEARS AND HAVE ONLY A LITTLE OVER 11,000 MILES ON IT! THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T ON A HIGHWAY AND I WAS ONLY BLOCKS FROM MY HOME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10588368 · 2014-05-14 (May 14, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 23,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10597391 · 2014-06-10 (June 10, 2014)
5 JUNE 14: ENGINE DIED WHILE STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. RESTARTED IN PARK ON THIRD TRY. BRAKE AND CROSS TRAFFIC FAULT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. 7 JUNE 14: ENGINE DIED SECOND TIME AFTER ENTERING ENTRANCE STREET TO PARKING LOT AT 10 MPH. RESTARTED AFTER STOPPING AND PUTTING TRANSMISSION IN TO PARK. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,924 miles reported. Look up ODI 10597391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958653 · 2017-03-05 (March 5, 2017)
CAR WAS PARKED. STARTED CAR AND PUT TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. WARNING ON DASH "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE". ONLY 37,777 MILES ON CAR. PREVIOUS SERVICE RECORDS ON CAR STATED FIELD SERVICE ACTION 15N01 BUT IGNORED BY DEALER AT LEAST TWICE DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,777 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927058 · 2016-11-19 (November 19, 2016)
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. POWER CUT OUT AND CAR SLOWED DOWN RAPIDLY. THROTTLE PEDAL WAS INOPERATIVE WITH TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WHILE DODGING SEMI-TRUCKS. SHUT CAR OFF AND POWER RESET. WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DESTINATION. THE CAR LOST POWER PREVIOUSLY, 09/13/16, WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, BUT AT THE LOWER SPEED IT WAS NOT LIFE THREATENING. THE ENGINE RESET AFTER RESTARTING THAT TIME ALSO. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THAT INCIDENCE BUT NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11118447 · 2018-08-08 (August 8, 2018)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726257 · 2015-06-19 (June 19, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY, RED TRIANGLE WITH "!" IN THE MIDDLE WITH TEXT "STOP SAFELY NOW" APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE SHUT OFF (ALONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO). THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY TO STOP, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN THE KEY TO RESTART AND THEN DRIVE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 45 MINUTES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LINCOLN DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG OTHER THAN RECOMMENDING I PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. I WAS SKEPTICAL, BUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,115 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10730728 · 2015-06-27 (June 27, 2015)
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 WHI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10730728 at NHTSA ↗