2012 Lincoln MKZ problems and recalls

47% of owner complaints on the 2012 Lincoln MKZ related to the Air Bags (68 of 146).

146
Complaints
6
Recalls
10
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
9
Injuries
75.2
Severity index

Severity index 75.2 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 75.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 42 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 68% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Air BagsAir Bags: 68 complaints (46.6%)68 47%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 22 complaints (15.1%)22 15%SteeringSteering: 20 complaints (13.7%)20 14%Service BrakesService Brakes: 20 complaints (13.7%)20 14%StructureStructure: 10 complaints (6.8%)10 7%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 9 complaints (6.2%)9 6%EngineEngine: 5 complaints (3.4%)5 3%Power TrainPower Train: 4 complaints (2.7%)4 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
AIR BAGS6846.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2215.1%
STEERING2013.7%
SERVICE BRAKES2013.7%
STRUCTURE106.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM96.2%
ENGINE53.4%
POWER TRAIN42.7%

Complaints filed per year

021422012: 12013: 22014: 12015: 52016: 82017: 422018: 282019: 152020: 132021: 152022: 42023: 52024: 52025: 2121314151617421819202122232425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20121
20132
20141
20155
20168
201742
201828
201915
202013
202115
20224
20235
20245
20252
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (12 against 32).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V00100007/01/2019AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEFord 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 (Saip
18V77500001/11/2018AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEFord 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
17V02400010/01/2017AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEFord 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,
15V34000002/06/2015STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMFord 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
21V15800010/03/2021AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEFord 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 lo
21E01300016/02/2021AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain air bag inflator and/or module replacement service parts that may have been used as part of a collision repair. The parts include certain driver-side air bag inflators and/or modules, designed to fit 2005-2014 Ford Mustang and Musta

Other Lincoln MKZ model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.