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2012 Lincoln Mkx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Lincoln Mkx do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 75.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

61 reports with mileage · 23 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Structure complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2023
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR SENSOR SAYS CAR DOOR IS OPEN EVEN WHEN DOOR IS FIRMLY SHUT. CAUSES DOORS NOT TO LOCK, INTERIOR AND PUDDLE LIGHTS REMAIN ON, DRAINS BATTERY, DOORS WON'T LOCK EVEN WITH CAR IN MOTION. Severe Rust problems under carriage Air Bag light remains on

NHTSA ODI #11554554

11,000 miles · Dec 31, 2020
Service BrakesStructure

MY 2012 LINCOLN MKX IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS REQUIRING EXTREME FORCE TO STOP AND GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, FOLLOWED BY A HISSING AIRY SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LINCOLN DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A BRAKES AND CHARGED ME $900. AFTER PI…

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MY 2012 LINCOLN MKX IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS REQUIRING EXTREME FORCE TO STOP AND GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, FOLLOWED BY A HISSING AIRY SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LINCOLN DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A BRAKES AND CHARGED ME $900. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE AND TEST DRIVING IT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. AFTER RE-DIAGNOSING THEY POINTED THE FINGER TO A HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. THIS ISSUE POSES GREAT DANGER AND THE INABILITY TO STOP WITHOUT LITERALLY STANDING AND APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD TO STOP DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT ANY SPEED, THE FORCE NEEDED TO STOP AND A COUPLE CLOSE CALLS WITH RAMMING IN THE BACK OF SOMEONE, THE CAR IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS. ADDITIONALLY, I'VE HAD OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS CAR WHERE THE TRUNK WILL NOT STAY OPEN. IT DOES NOT DETECT A PERSON PUTTING THINGS IN THE TRUNK AND I'VE HAD TO RUN AND PUSH IT UP TO SAVE A KID WHO WAS LOADING SPORTS EQUIPMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11385756

128,000 miles · Jul 29, 2020
StructureInjury

WHEN SHUTTING PASSENGER DOOR LATCH, LATCH WILL NOT MOVE TO GRIP INNER PART OF THE DOOR. THIS WILL CAUSE THE DOOR TO BOUNCE BACK OR NOT CLOSE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHEN EXISTING OR ENTERING CAR. OPEN DOOR WARNING WILL REMAIN ON UNTIL LATCH IS PROPERLY HOOKED.

NHTSA ODI #11342003

40,000 miles · May 1, 2017
StructureCrash

THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH WOULD SAY ITS TILL OPEN WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. HAD TO REPAIR IT TWICE AT THE DEALER. NOW THE RIGHT REAR DOOR HAS THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10981725

54,000 miles · Apr 4, 2017
Structure

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AJAR LITE STAYS ON EVEN WITH THE DOOR CLOSED. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER ON 07/3/2014 NOW IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10970409

68,000 miles · Mar 6, 2017
Structure

DRIVER DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT IS ON. HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN ON, THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT SECURE THE VEHICLE SHOULD IT BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT! APPEARS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH FORDS BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. A RECALL SHOULD MANDIDATED.

NHTSA ODI #10958829

60,120 miles · Oct 11, 2016
Structure

WHEN MY CAR IS TURNED ON AND STATIONARY WITH ALL DOORS CLOSED, THE DASH GIVES ME A WARNING THAT SAYS THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR IS AJAR, WHEN AGAIN, IT IS CLOSED.

NHTSA ODI #10915407

64,258 miles · Feb 2, 2016
Structure

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10823768

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2012
StructureVisibility

REFLECTION FROM THE CHROME AIR VENTS SHOWS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452978

1,100 miles · Nov 14, 2011
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. WERE IT NOT FOR THE PER…

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THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. WERE IT NOT FOR THE PERCEPTION OF MY WIFE WHO SUSPECTED THAT THE DOOR WAS INSECURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH A DOOR THAT WOULD OPEN WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. THIS FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION IS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT FORD HAS PLACED THE SENSOR THAT TESTS FOR THE DOOR BEING CLOSED ON THE LATCH MECHANISM RATHER THAN ON THE VEHICLE BODY. AS OUR CIRCUMSTANCES DEMONSTRATE THE SIMPLE FACT OF THE DOOR LATCH BEING CLOSED DOES NOT INSURE THAT THE DOOR IS ACTUALLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY. WHILE NO INJURIES OCCURRED IN OUR INCIDENT THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS INJURY IS OBVIOUS. HAD THE DOOR ACTUALLY OPENED MY CHILD MAY HAVE EASILY FALLEN OUT OF A MOVING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR MUST KNOW WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT ALL DOORS ARE TRULY SECURED. TESTING THE LATCH FOR BEING CLOSED IS NOT A SUFFICIENT TEST FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435629

Official recalls

1

14V393000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft

Jul 2, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.