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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

What owners actually said

84 reports
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 · Sep 17, 2015
Air Bags

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 PASSENG…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10681241

28,000 miles · May 30, 2015
Power Train

GOING DOWN THE STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR GIVE A BIG HICCUP, THEN JUST A FEW FEET MORE, ANOTHER BIG HICCUP, THEN HAD NO POWER, COULD PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING, LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE STREET, OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, HAD WE BEEN GOING FASTER, AND BEEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, COULD HAD BEEN F…

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GOING DOWN THE STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR GIVE A BIG HICCUP, THEN JUST A FEW FEET MORE, ANOTHER BIG HICCUP, THEN HAD NO POWER, COULD PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING, LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE STREET, OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, HAD WE BEEN GOING FASTER, AND BEEN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, COULD HAD BEEN FATALLY INJURED BY A CAR TRAVELING BEHIND US AT A GREATER SPEED. THE OPEN WRENCH SIGN CAME UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING POWERTRAIN PROBLEM. LUCK FOR US, A DEPUTY CAME ALONG, AND ASK TO HELP, HE SAID TRY TO RESTART IT, WE HAD SIT FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, THE OPEN WRENCH LIGHT WAS GONE, AND THE CAR WE COULD DRIVE ON HOME, TOOK TO THE PLAZA LINCOLN DEALER THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY RAN THE COMPUTER TEST AND THE PINPOINT TEST AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, BUT I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM! I GUESS WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE KILLED BEFORE ANYONE WILL DO A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, SAD MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN PEOPLE'S LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10722414

32,000 miles · May 6, 2015
Service Brakes

SAME AS ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WENT TO STOP AT A 4 WAY STOP AND MY BRAKES WERE HARD THAN HISSED AND WENT WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND I THANK GOD NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND ASSURED THAT THEY WERE OK THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. …

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SAME AS ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WENT TO STOP AT A 4 WAY STOP AND MY BRAKES WERE HARD THAN HISSED AND WENT WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND I THANK GOD NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES INSPECTED AND ASSURED THAT THEY WERE OK THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. NOW MY CAR IS GOING TO SIT UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM! BRAKES ARE A NECESSITY AND DEATH OR INJURIES NEED TO BE AVOIDED NOW! PLEASE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10715032

38,500 miles · May 4, 2015
Electrical System

AFTER CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR THE CAR DETECTS AND SAYS THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF CLOSING THE DOOR...SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF. NOW, THE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ON THE LINCOLN MKX AND THE FORD EDGE (SAME TYPE VEHICLE) AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS T…

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AFTER CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR THE CAR DETECTS AND SAYS THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF CLOSING THE DOOR...SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF. NOW, THE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ON THE LINCOLN MKX AND THE FORD EDGE (SAME TYPE VEHICLE) AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS WITH A RECALL FOR FORD AND LINCOLN WHICH IS CHARGING CUSTOMERS UP TO $500.00 IN SOME CASES TO REPAIR THESE FAULTY SWITCHES/SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10714547

46,700 miles · Nov 7, 2014
EngineService Brakes

I NOTICED A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC MY BRAKES DIDN'T WANT TO HOLD. I PRESSED REALLY HARD AND ONLY THEN DID MY CAR STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID MY BRAKES LOOKED GREAT. TWO DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAV…

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I NOTICED A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC MY BRAKES DIDN'T WANT TO HOLD. I PRESSED REALLY HARD AND ONLY THEN DID MY CAR STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID MY BRAKES LOOKED GREAT. TWO DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY VALUE AND THAT MY BRAKES WERE FINE. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE DEALER MY CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND MY BRAKES FAILED I WAS THANKFUL THAT THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANAGER CAME AND CHECKED IT OUT AND HE SAID THE BOOSTER PART OF THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTED AND MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP. I NOTICED WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. MY FEAR WAS HAVING AN ACCIDENT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653408

20,900 miles · Oct 11, 2014
Service Brakes

SAME AS PREVIOUS COMPLAINT I PASTED BELOW. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BRAKE AND MY BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING THE PEDAL WAS LOCKED THEN WENT SOFT RESULTING IN A VERY CLOSE CALL AS I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE. AIR HISSING WHEN I PRESSED BREAK PEDAL, I AM TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE D…

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SAME AS PREVIOUS COMPLAINT I PASTED BELOW. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BRAKE AND MY BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING THE PEDAL WAS LOCKED THEN WENT SOFT RESULTING IN A VERY CLOSE CALL AS I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE. AIR HISSING WHEN I PRESSED BREAK PEDAL, I AM TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT IN BRAKES, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL AS IT COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION AND INJURY. DATE COMPLAINT FILED:08/16/2014 COMPONENT(S):SERVICE BRAKES DATE OF INCIDENT:08/15/2014 NHTSA ID NUMBER:10625747 ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPLAINTDETAILS0 ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS CRASH:NOFIRE:NONUMBER OF INJURIES:0NUMBER OF DEATHS:0 MANUFACTURER:FORD MOTOR COMPANY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN):NOT AVAILABLE SUMMARY: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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643987

28,000 miles · Aug 16, 2014
Service Brakes

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 R…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10625747

27,600 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Service Brakes

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 LI…

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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 TRANSMISSON ISSUE AND NOT GOING INTO PARK, BACK HATCH ISSUES, SOFTWARE ISSUES, RADIO ISSUES, AND THE MOST RECENTLY A POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK, THEN THIS ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. AFTER THE LAST ISSUE I LOST ANY COMORT LEVEL IN THE RELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572756

15,200 miles · Aug 13, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE POWER & COMPUTER FAILED (SHUT OFF) WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN CLEAR WEATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535100

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.