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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.

About this comparison →

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
127,843 miles · Jul 29, 2020
Service Brakes

WHEN USING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND STOPS SLOWLY. THIS IS DONE WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS WHAT SPEED. THE BRAKES WOULD RETURN AND GO BACK OUT RANDOMLY. I HAVE THE BRAKES GO OUT ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET AS WELL AS IN PARK OR IN GEAR. BRAKE BOOSTER RECALL WAS DONE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. RETURNED T…

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WHEN USING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND STOPS SLOWLY. THIS IS DONE WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS WHAT SPEED. THE BRAKES WOULD RETURN AND GO BACK OUT RANDOMLY. I HAVE THE BRAKES GO OUT ON HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET AS WELL AS IN PARK OR IN GEAR. BRAKE BOOSTER RECALL WAS DONE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. RETURNED TO LINCOLN AND DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE STATING NEEDING TO REPLACE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND HYDRONIC CONTROL. THE HYDRONIC CONTROL NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THE PRICE CAN GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI #11341998

65,000 miles · Jul 23, 2020
Power TrainWheels

I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ON SINGLE LANE ROAD. ALL WHEEL DRIVE OFF CAME ON AND CAR STOPPED. LUCKILY NOBODY REARENDED ME. SAME THING HAPPENED TO OUR FRIEND'S 2014 MKX. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND DROVE TO DEALER. THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ERROR SO THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS IT WOULD PROBABLY KILL ME.

NHTSA ODI #11341146

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2020
Electrical System

SINCE 2017, TOUCH SCREEN WENT TO BLACK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ON A CITY STREET, AND WOULD NOT TURN ON WITHIN 24 HOURS. GOT MORE SERIOUS IN 2019, THE SCREEN DIDN'T TURN ON AFTER 3 DAYS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE APIM AND UPDATED TO LATEST LEVEL FOR PMI ON OCT 1, 2019, MIL…

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SINCE 2017, TOUCH SCREEN WENT TO BLACK SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ON A CITY STREET, AND WOULD NOT TURN ON WITHIN 24 HOURS. GOT MORE SERIOUS IN 2019, THE SCREEN DIDN'T TURN ON AFTER 3 DAYS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED DEFECTIVE APIM AND UPDATED TO LATEST LEVEL FOR PMI ON OCT 1, 2019, MILEAGE: 60759. PAID FOR $965.64.

NHTSA ODI #11306461

85,000 miles · Jan 24, 2020
Service Brakes

IN OCTOBER 2019, THE BRAKES IN MY 2012 LINCOLN MKX WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. I HAD NO BREAK PEDAL PRESSURE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP, USING MY EMERGENCY BREAK TO SLOW DOWN FULLY, AND FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO OUR LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE BREAK BOOSTER AND I…

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IN OCTOBER 2019, THE BRAKES IN MY 2012 LINCOLN MKX WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. I HAD NO BREAK PEDAL PRESSURE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP, USING MY EMERGENCY BREAK TO SLOW DOWN FULLY, AND FORTUNATELY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND NO ONE WAS HURT. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO OUR LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE BREAK BOOSTER AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST AND THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. ON NOVEMBER 21ST, I HAD ISSUES WITH MY BREAKS AGAIN. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BY PRESSING THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, I ONCE AGAIN HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BREAK TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS A VALVE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS RESULTED IN A $2001 REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR. I AM VERY SURPRISED AND CONCERNED THIS HAPPENED AT ONLY 85,000 MILES. ON DECEMBER 6TH, IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME. THE BREAK FLUID, WHICH HAD BEEN FILLED AT THE TIME MY ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED HAD COMPLETELY EMPTIED, RESULTING IN MY INABILITY TO PROPERLY USE MY BREAKS. AGAIN, I HAD NO PEDAL PRESSURE. I REFILLED THE BREAK FLUID IN ORDER TO 'SAFELY' GET MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FOUND OUT THAT ONE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM UNIT HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS THE VALVE WAS AGAIN MALFUNCTIONING. I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN PLACE FOR THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SOME VEHICLES DUE TO VALVE ISSUES - THE SAME ISSUE I HAVE HAD TWICE. MY CAR IS NOT CURRENTLY PART OF THE RECALL. THIS IS THREE TIMES IN TWO MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD BREAK ISSUE WITH MY CAR. EACH TIME MY FIVE YEAR OLD WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT THESE THREE INCIDENCES HAVE NOT RESULTED IN ACCIDENT OR INJURY, BUT EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

NHTSA ODI #11301553

144,000 miles · Dec 16, 2019
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HIT POTHOLE OR DEPRESSION IN ROAD, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. VERY MUSHY. HARD TO BRAKE. SOMETIMES IT COMES BACK AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. TOO IN FOR REPAIR TO FORD AND LINCOLN DEALER, 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FIX SINCE ISSUE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. LAST EVENT ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR, HA D TO TUR…

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HIT POTHOLE OR DEPRESSION IN ROAD, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. VERY MUSHY. HARD TO BRAKE. SOMETIMES IT COMES BACK AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. TOO IN FOR REPAIR TO FORD AND LINCOLN DEALER, 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FIX SINCE ISSUE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. LAST EVENT ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR, HA D TO TURN OUT OF THE WAY. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, WASHBOARD SURFACE. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES THE PAST 6 MONTHS. LATEST 12/15/2019.

NHTSA ODI #11289243

137,000 miles · Dec 3, 2019
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 13N02 WAS ISSUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000. *DT *DL

NHTSA ODI #11286580

67,400 miles · Nov 29, 2019
Service Brakes

THE BRAKES ON OUR 2012 LINCOLN MKX HAVE WITHOUT WARNING FAILED PLACING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AT GREAT RISK. THE SEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE WAS A VERY STIFF BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SOFT PEDAL THAT WHEN DEPRESSED GOES FULLY TO THE FLOOR (ENDPOINT OF THE BRAKES). IN SPITE OF BEING FULLY DEPRESSED BRAKING IS EXTREMELY MINI…

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THE BRAKES ON OUR 2012 LINCOLN MKX HAVE WITHOUT WARNING FAILED PLACING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AT GREAT RISK. THE SEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE WAS A VERY STIFF BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SOFT PEDAL THAT WHEN DEPRESSED GOES FULLY TO THE FLOOR (ENDPOINT OF THE BRAKES). IN SPITE OF BEING FULLY DEPRESSED BRAKING IS EXTREMELY MINIMAL. THERE IS NO CABIN WARNING OF A SYSTEM FAILURE AND THE ONLY METHOD OF KNOWING OF THIS LIFE CRITICAL SYSTEM'S FAILURE IS NEEDING TO USE THE BRAKES. THIS OBVIOUSLY PLACES THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR AND THOSE INNOCENTLY IN THE CAR'S PATH AT A HEIGHTENED RISK OF DEATH DUE TO TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT ISOLATED TO OUR FORD PRODUCT BUT EXTREMELY PREVALENT TO FORD EDGE AND LINCOLN MKX VEHICLES. WHILE FORD IS SUPPORTING THE ISSUE THROUGH A WARRANTY EXTENSION GIVEN THE EXTREME DANGER PRESENTED BY CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE SUCH AS THIS IT SEEMS PRUDENT THAT THE NHTSA DEMAND A RECALL OF ALL VEHICLES THAT MAY BE SUBJECT TO THIS ISSUE. OUR VEHICLE HAS ONLY 67,400 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGE KEPT. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT TRAGEDY!

NHTSA ODI #11282855

89,000 miles · Sep 27, 2019
Power Train

I WOULD BE DRIVING AND A MESSAGE WOULD COME UP WITH A WRENCH ON IT AND I WOULD LOSE POWER AND EVENTUALLY STOAL....NOT GOOD ON HIGHWAY!!!!

NHTSA ODI #11258476

49,000 miles · Sep 6, 2019
Service Brakes

HAD BRAKES FIXED DURING INITIAL RECALL 4/17/2018. WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL UNTIL BRAKES WENT OUT. BRAKES FAILED AGAIN ON 9/3/19. PRESTIGE FORD CONTACTED TWICE WITH NO RETURN CALL. IS THIS GOING TO BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE DUE TO MANUFACTURE FAILURE? ONLY 3,300 MILES PUT ON CAR SINCE BRAKES WERE FIXED THE FIRST TIME. VEHICAL WAS …

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HAD BRAKES FIXED DURING INITIAL RECALL 4/17/2018. WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL UNTIL BRAKES WENT OUT. BRAKES FAILED AGAIN ON 9/3/19. PRESTIGE FORD CONTACTED TWICE WITH NO RETURN CALL. IS THIS GOING TO BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE DUE TO MANUFACTURE FAILURE? ONLY 3,300 MILES PUT ON CAR SINCE BRAKES WERE FIXED THE FIRST TIME. VEHICAL WAS MOVING AND ON HIGHWAY BRAKING TO MAKE TURN. BRAKE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAR DID NOT STOP. UNABLE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ODI #11253755

28,500 miles · Aug 27, 2019
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THE VEHICLE TREMBLED AND SHOOK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED LINCOLN OF CINCINNATI (9620 MONTGOMERY RD, CINCINNATI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THE VEHICLE TREMBLED AND SHOOK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED LINCOLN OF CINCINNATI (9620 MONTGOMERY RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45242, (513) 683-3800). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS24103299 ALONG WITH WARRANTY INFORMATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,500.

NHTSA ODI #11246726

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.