2012 Lincoln MKZ: complaints, problems and recalls

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN POWER STEERING FROZE. WARNING LIGHT "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC" AND "POWER STEERING FAILURE CAME ON. I TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AND STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE CAR. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS THE CAR WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. CAR IS AT DEALER NOW, THEY SAY PART HAS A BACKLOG OF OVER 1700 UNITS. COULD TAKE MONTHS FOR REPAIR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472576 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500661 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 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. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536082 at NHTSA ↗

ON TURNING RIGHT POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF AND ONLY HAD MANUAL STEERING CONTROL UNTIL WHEELS WERE STRAIGHTENED AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON TURNING RIGHT. WENT TO DEALER COMPLAINT IS ON FILE , DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG NEW CARS POWER STEERING DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS CARS. THIS IS TERRIBLE AND IF NOT FIXED I AM GOING TO TRADE IN THIS CAR. IT IS THE WORST STEERING AUTO I EVER HAD. I AM 83 AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CARS IN MY LIFETIME FROM DIFFERENT AUTO COMPANIES BUT NONE EVER HAD THIS STEERING PROBLEM.. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20,222 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643495 at NHTSA ↗

I FULLY STOPPED IN A PARKING PLACE WHERE I USE TO GO EVERY MONDAY TO PICK UP KIDS FROM A DANCING SCHOOL. AFTER I FULLY STOPPED AND TRY TO PUT THE CLUTCH ON P THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. I WENT TROUGH A BUILDING AND AS I TRIED TO CONTROL THE CAR I WAS TRYING TO PUT IN P AND I WAS NOT ABLE. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO STABILIZE THE CAR..EVENTUALLY THE CAR ENDED IN A DITCH AND I WAS ABLE TO EXIT IMMEDIATELY. THE AIR BEGS OPENED ONLY AFTER I EXIT THE CAR. I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND I WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL BY THE RESCU…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678750 at NHTSA ↗

ON SPETEMBER 5, 2014, I WAS TRAVELING IN MISSOURI. THE CAR DIDN'T SEEM TO HANDLE AS IT SHOULD. I HAD A STOP SIGN, AND IT SEEMED TO BE OKAY THEN. I DECIDED TO SLOW DOWN IN CASE THERE WAS AN ISSUE. THE FIRST CURVE I CAME TO, THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN RIGHT, AND WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, I WAS NEVER ABLE TO STEER IT RIGHT TOWARDS THE ROAD AGAIN. MY LEFT KNEE WAS INJURED. ALSO, THE CAR NEEDED A NEW PCM. ...UPDATED 01/29/15 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680205 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704018 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE DROVE ONTO A CURB AND FRACTURED THE RIMS AND TIRES. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10730157 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.

Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.

Reported: 2017-01-10 (January 10, 2017)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

Reported: 2018-11-01 (November 1, 2018)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and 2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ vehicles that previously received a replacement passenger air bag under recall 16V-384, 17V-024 or 18V-046. In the event of a crash requiring deployment of the passenger air bag, the bracket that secures the air bag inflator to the module housing may deform, allowing the gas that inflates the air bag to leak out.

Consequence: If the air bag does not inflate as intended, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 21, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S34.

Reported: 2019-01-07 (January 7, 2019)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles and 2011-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Ford is also recalling certain 2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2010-2011 Ford Ranger and Mercury Milan vehicles, 2010-2012 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, and 2010-2014 Ford Mustang vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 19S01.

Reported: 2021-03-10 (March 10, 2021)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.