vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Lincoln MKZ HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 59 complaints (32.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior2033.9%
Braking behavior813.6%
Transmission and shifting35.1%
Engine operation35.1%
Electrical and battery issues23.4%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering19
Air Bags17
Electrical System8
Engine6
Unknown Or Other6
Service Brakes4
Structure:Body4
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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,99913
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above1

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20132
20144
20154
20162
201713
201814
20198
20201
20211
20221
20236
20252
20261

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.

Examples from the source records

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 10608420 · 2014-07-06 (July 6, 2014)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608420 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10640217 · 2014-09-30 (September 30, 2014)

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 EX…

Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10640217 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10717194 · 2015-05-18 (May 18, 2015)

THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE BEFORE IN APRIL OF 2015, DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE. HOWEVER ALSO ON FRIDAY MAY 15TH, 2015, I WAS BACKING MY LINCOLN MKZ 2012 HYBRID OUT OF THE CHURCH PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. I DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT SAID POWER STEERING NOT FUNCTIONING OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. IT HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE IN APRIL, AND AT THAT TIME, I WAS ALSO PARKED, STARTED UP THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T STEER. I STOPPED THE CAR, STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND THAT TIME IT CORRECTED ITSELF. I READ A REPORT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT 508 CASES BEING…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717194 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 ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.