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2012 Lincoln MKZ repairs by problem area

Engine (14%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (11%)

Brakes and Traction Control (2%)

Suspension and Steering (9%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (25%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (18%)

Other (20%)

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Chart based on 44 repairs.

See TSBs and recalls for the 2012 Lincoln MKZ.

2012 Lincoln MKZ repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (3%)

$500 - $999 (8%)

$100 - $499 (29%)

< $100 (61%)

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Chart based on 38 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

See repairs for all Lincoln MKZ model years.

Lincoln MKZ in Kentucky, United States Jan 2015 - Jun 2018
Jul 2015 30000 mi	The undercarriage splash shield had heat resistant felt tearing off. Replaced the UCSS. (V6 MKZ).
Oct 2015 32500 mi US $100	From a standstill 1st gear slipping. Performed ATF flush with 12 quarts Toyota T-IV ATF from CarQuest @$5.40/qt. Since car was doing same at 25k miles, FoMoCo factory ATF is a no-no. Now tranny is a very smo-o-o-oth opera-a-a-t-o-o-or :-)
Sep 2016 42000 mi US $291	Freon leaking from the high pressure hose and also from the low pressure schrader valve. The high pressure hose and the low pressure hose are welded together at a common yoke, so both had to be replaced as one unit.
Jun 2018 62000 mi US $200	This vehicle left the Ford Mexican factory missing some of the brake hardware located at the driver front. Hardware designed to spread the two brake disc pads apart was missing. As a result, one of the four front brake pads had excessive wear to the point that it had to be replaced. Since only all four brake pads can be replaced at once, this job turned into a pre-mature front brake job, including new rotors in the front. (Missed out on maybe another 25,000 miles of brakes on the front.)

Lincoln MKZ in Ohio, United States Jul 2015 - Nov 2018
Jul 2016 36000 mi	Oil leak front cover.

Lincoln MKZ in Florida, United States Oct 2016 - Jan 2022
Jan 2017 70000 mi US $785	An O2 sensor was out. The root cause was a power steering leak in the high pressure PS hose. PS hose and sensor had to be replaced
Jul 2017 87000 mi US $1450	AC condenser developed a leak. Replaced condenser and recharged system.
Aug 2017 88000 mi US $215	Replaced the drivers door handle interior - broken mechanism

Lincoln MKZ in Rhode Island, United States Oct 2012 - Oct 2019
Apr 2013 31000 mi	Rear view mirror fell off and was replaced with new
Jan 2015 57800 mi	Heat/Cool, seats not working ... "connector is melted".
Feb 2018 73000 mi	Replaced cracked front springs and mounts
Mar 2018 73000 mi	Trunk struts were replaced (under extended warranty) as couldn't hold up the trunk lid. They had been replaced before (under extended warranty). Few days after replaced one failed completely causing the trunk lid to fall violently. The strut ended up caught between the frame and rear window, shattering the rear window. All replaced by Dealer at no charge. Wife hit in head by falling trunk lid. Fortunately just an egg on her head.
Jun 2018 75000 mi	Replaced Driver's Front Lower Control Arms, Forward and Rearward Replaced Rear Main Seal (Leaking)

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Lincoln MKZ in Michigan, United States Sep 2014 - Jul 2018
Aug 2014 37200 mi	Sagging headliner, repaired several clips and fasteners
Feb 2015 47900 mi	Broken storage compartment latch Squeaky blower motor
Mar 2015 50000 mi	Leaking rear differential vent
Jan 2017 53000 mi US $57	Air leak in intake, repaired/reattached connecting tube.
Sep 2017 103000 mi US $800	PTU output shaft seal leaking, replaced U joints failed in driveshaft, driveshaft replaced

Lincoln MKZ in Connecticut, United States Feb 2012 - Apr 2015
Sep 2014 31000 mi	Fluke discharged battery, replaced under warranty.

Lincoln MKZ in Michigan, United States Jun 2012 - Aug 2014
Jun 2013 11000 mi	Fluid leak
Dec 2013 15000 mi	Rough Shifting. Updated software and replaced a seal.

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Lincoln MKZ in Minnesota, United States Aug 2012 - Nov 2013
Oct 2012 1200 mi	Sirius Radio malfunctioned. It had to have a few new parts as the signal was not being picked up.

Lincoln MKZ in North Carolina, United States Apr 2012 - Nov 2016
Jul 2015 39700 mi	The blower for the AC was working inconsistently. Sometimes it would blow cold air at the maximum fan speed, sometimes not. The vehicle's problem was repaired under warranty.

Lincoln MKZ in California, United States Sep 2011 - Jun 2018
Feb 2014 18000 mi	light behind one of the keys the keypad on drivers side door stopped working. not a major problem but I did want to report it.
May 2014 22000 mi	Replaced exterior keypad: light was out on 1 button.
Feb 2016 32000 mi US $500	speaker for back up system broke. dx fee+ part+ labor $500. had part ready next day.
Jan 2018 43000 mi US $478	Drivers side interior door handle mechanism broke: hard to lock door even manually. This is a known problem with this car.

Lincoln MKZ in Virginia, United States Apr 2012 - Jun 2013
Feb 2013 11000 mi	Imperfection on dashboard. Ford refused to repair it under warranty. Dealer said they would attempt it via a detailer that works on interiors. he looked at it and stated he would only make it worse. Problem NOT RESOLVED

Lincoln MKZ in Delaware, United States Sep 2012 - Dec 2013
Nov 2013 23000 mi	Leather shift handle deteriorated Hybrid exterior badges falling apart Driver's side door pull coming apart

Lincoln MKZ in Arizona, United States Sep 2011 - Jul 2018
Oct 2017 35000 mi US $50	Left Door Handle Gear broke

Lincoln MKZ in Georgia, United States Feb 2015 - Jul 2022
Nov 2016 36200 mi US $100	The driver side door power lock stopped functioning properly. Repair shop ordered parts from Lincoln. There is a 3 week wait for those parts. The car will go back to the repair shop once parts are available.
Dec 2016 38000 mi US $120	Driver side lock handle broke in such a way that power lock would not function. The door had to be manually locked. Part arrived 3 weeks after order was placed. CARMAX insurance did not cover the repair as it was under the deductible limit.
May 2022 75000 mi	Power steering was repaired under CarMax warranty.

Lincoln MKZ in Florida, United States Sep 2015 - Jun 2022
Feb 2022 159000 mi US $50	The computer advances the hybrid battery age automatically. When it reaches 9 years, the car is programmed to no longer operate as a hybrid. Drivability and fuel mileage suffered greatly as a result. I loaded Forscan software on my laptop and bought a USB to OBD2 plug and used it to tell the car that the hybrid battery was 1 year old rather than 9. Restored the hybrid operation. There is a TSB on this issue and plenty of articles and videos online.

Lincoln MKZ in California, United States Apr 2014 - Aug 2018
May 2015 56000 mi US $140	Inside door handle broke
Aug 2018 101000 mi US $150	warning light came on, oxygen intake replaced Driver side door handle - would not open from inside. Had to replace internal door handle. $57 for part, $80 to fix

Lincoln MKZ in Michigan, United States Sep 2014 - Dec 2016
Dec 2016 79000 mi US $100	fuel door passenger seat rail

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Lincoln MKZ in North Carolina, United States Jun 2019 - Jul 2022
Aug 2019 120343 mi US $138	SRS LAMP FAULT CORRECTED. REPLACED SAFETY RESTRAINT WIRING HARNESS AS LIGHT WAS ON FLASHING.
Jul 2021 135938 mi US $300	Car wasn't starting. Charging system ok. PCM RELAY defective and replaced.

Lincoln MKZ in Georgia, United States Dec 2013 - Dec 2014
Dec 2014 45000 mi	Replaced weak battery. Covered by warranty.

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Lincoln MKZ in Michigan, United States Dec 2014 - Jun 2022
Mar 2016 55000 mi US $228	car would not start, battery failed load test-was original Motorcraft battery. Replaced with Interstate battery.
Apr 2017 75000 mi US $290	Water was collecting in a well behind the rear wheel on the driver side. Not obvious from where it was leaking.
Jul 2017 80375 mi US $1212	replaced low control arms for noise. replaced outer tie rods and aligned,
Aug 2017 80485 mi US $588	replaced front brake pads. Replaced right front caliper which was seized. Replaced right front steering knuckle, and aligned.
Jun 2018 88368 mi US $1282	caliper slides were rusted and sticking. replaced all calipers, brackets, hoses, pads.

Lincoln MKZ in Ohio, United States Jun 2016 - Dec 2016
Jul 2016 73500 mi US $100	Driver door handle broken and replaced under certified program. $100.00 deductable charged for work performed.

Lincoln MKZ in Ohio, United States Feb 2016 - Jun 2018
Apr 2018 82000 mi US $350	Broken spring.
Jun 2018 84000 mi US $69	Had my tires remounted - they kept loosing air. Also had an alignment.

Lincoln MKZ in Florida, United States Aug 2015 - Jan 2022
Apr 2018 35000 mi US $190	Replaced defective driver side interior door handle.

Lincoln MKZ in Alabama, United States Jan 2017 - Jul 2019
Jan 2017 28000 mi US $430	Tail light issue. BUT MAKE SURE to Reference TSB No. 14M03. Ford extended warranty on tail light failure for 10 years or 150k miles. So no cost, this is my second trip (one for each side).

Lincoln MKZ in Florida, United States Aug 2013 - Jun 2018
Apr 2015 39200 mi	I received letter re brake lights. Left rear was only lit on one line.

Lincoln MKZ in Kentucky, United States Dec 2011 - Feb 2013
Aug 2012 18700 mi	Sync system needed a master reboot.

Lincoln MKZ in Ohio, United States Jun 2012 - Dec 2015
Oct 2014 19300 mi	fuel access door

Lincoln MKZ in Georgia, United States Feb 2011 - Jun 2018
Jun 2014 18000 mi	left rear stop light on continuously, right rear lamp blinking. submitted photos to Lincoln of problem for warranty approval. solution required replacement of both rear light assemblies. A common problem with 2010-11-12 MKZ

Lincoln MKZ in North Carolina, United States Nov 2012 - Feb 2015
Dec 2012 10000 mi	Left LED taillight board burned out. Right LED taillight had incorrect LED pattern. Both light assemblies replaced under warranty.

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Lincoln MKZ in Connecticut, United States Nov 2017 - Jun 2022
Mar 2018 94000 mi US $1500	A/C compressor was noisy and needed replacement trunk gas struts were weak and were replaced driver door panel holding window controls was broken by mechanic while replacing a window motor. Part was replaced. (The window motor was replaced in a December 2017 trip, before I purchased the car.)

Lincoln MKZ in Washington, United States May 2011 - Dec 2014
Nov 2011 8000 mi	Engine control module had corrupt software. Engine light turned on.
Sep 2012 22000 mi	Replaced ECM and related software. Dome lights stopped working.

Lincoln MKZ in Massachusetts, United States Jan 2015 - Jun 2018
Mar 2016 70000 mi	PTU defective and replaced under warranty
May 2018 98000 mi US $1300	Replace compressor/recharge

Lincoln MKZ in New York, United States Jan 2014 - Oct 2020
Dec 2014 68000 mi US $250	Interior door handle was fixed.
Jul 2015 82000 mi US $2000	Shift differential seized up and had to be replaced and had to change the drive shaft.
Oct 2016 101300 mi US $2500	Water pump failed causing coolant to flow into engine causing engine to overheat. Had to buy a used engine.
Aug 2018 138000 mi US $900	The driver side control arm was broke Driver side axle was repaired. and transmission fluid was leaking.

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Lincoln MKZ in Ontario, Canada Jun 2015 - Sep 2018
Mar 2016 66960 mi C $50	Driver side door interior handle failed (known issue since 2006). Purchased a handle and replaced it myself with the help of factory shop manual to locate trim clips and fasteners.
Jul 2016 70040 mi C $105	All 3 "Hybrid" badges were peeling off ever since I bought my car. Outside of warranty pressured Ford to pay $150 towards new badges and I payed remaining $105. Took me 2 hrs to remove old badges.
Mar 2017 76880 mi	Bottom of the door jamb lighted "Lincoln" logo on the passenger side never worked since I acquired my vehicle (used). Upon start up of the vehicle I've heard a noise and a few seconds later smoke started filling the car. I immediately shut off the car. After the visual inspection I've noticed that "LINCOLN" logo has a burn damage. Restarted a car, no further issues. Since car is out of warranty, decided not to repair.
Aug 2018 89900 mi C $421	Engine losing power, can drive only on hybrid system. Big yellow wrench comes up. Back to normal after restart. Finally Check Engine come up. Scanned P2112 - Throttle Stuck Closed. Ford had extended warranty on throttle body for Ford and Mercury 2010-2012, but Hybrid and Lincoln were excluded, although symptoms were the same. Had to pay out of pocket for repair. A/C system didn't work. Dealer said it was a minor leak, but couldn't find it. Recharged system and added dye. A/C worked as supposed. Due to cooler weather I didn't use A/C enough to go back for a verdict on where leak was from.

Lincoln MKZ in Oklahoma, United States Apr 2016 - Dec 2017
Oct 2017 126000 mi US $400	Worn out right front wheel bearing

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Lincoln MKZ in Texas, United States Sep 2011 - Oct 2012
Jun 2011 28000 mi	a/c clutch went out
Mar 2012 35500 mi	a/c compressor clutch went out.
Oct 2012 44000 mi	Car was in dealer service department for the 3rd time with AC problems. This time instead of just replacing the clutch they replace the complete compressor.

Lincoln MKZ in Missouri, United States Sep 2012 - Feb 2014
Oct 2013 62300 mi US $100	Leds in right deck light went out 290.00 dealer part non repairable. Bought used deck lid light on e bay.

Lincoln MKZ in Michigan, United States Jul 2010 - Oct 2012
Oct 2012 19000 mi	It started sounding like it didn't want to start. 36 hrs later it was dead in my garage. Had it towed to dealer and they charged the battery ran diagnostic and said they are stumped. Tried to accuse me of leaving a light on or charger plugd The second time it was dead in my garage I took it in and told them to keep it. My lease was up in 9 days so I went and leased a GM.

Lincoln MKZ in Missouri, United States Sep 2013 - Jul 2018
Mar 2015 42000 mi US $100	Repair was for a small paint flake off behind rear tire that Lincoln determined was a defect. They paid for everything but 100.00 deductible.

Lincoln MKZ in Quebec, Canada Dec 2011 - Jun 2022
Dec 2013 33480 mi	Replaced rear disc and lining less than a year ago, same problem, lining wearing off twice as fast on the right side. Replaced parking brake cables too short on right side, kept pressure on the pads. Outside door handles would not close completely on the driver side. replaced mechanism on both handles. Battery down after doors left open for only 30-40 minutes, have to be recharged. Cel in the battery was bad, replaced with new battery. Ceiling coming down in the middle near the rear window Part back order, could take months to get the part. When reinstalling center console that was removed for the brake cable repair, tecnician scratched chromed trimming and trimmings would not fit anymore. Parts ordered other visit required. Update: dealer now asking if can provide other compensation. Ceiling replaced,took another 2.5 days. Center console not reinstalled properly,clips ordered for mirror's inside trimming loose(drive side),damaged when replaced door mechanism.Another visit required.They really know how to keep a customer unhappy.
Mar 2014 34100 mi	rear end of ceiling coming down again, was repaired in december. New parts ordered including clips and velcro. Took another 2 days, hope the problem is permenantly fixed.
Sep 2014 35340 mi	Radio would switch from CD to Radio,aux to radio and would even not operate sometimes.Problem not fixed under warranty,part replaced they said it was a pin for $650.First dealership said there was no problem,rotten dealership,terrebonne ford
Jul 2016 49380 mi	transmissions cooling lines corroded where joined with the metal clips, replaced with rubber hoses. Parts and labor $180.
Jan 2017 45820 mi C $65	Both link rods worn out,can be moved with just one finger.
Nov 2020 78120 mi C $300	Upper engine mounts replaced, to stop shimmy of the engine while on a red light
Nov 2021 83080 mi C $60	replaced left hand side worn out tie rod end
Jun 2022 86800 mi C $180	coil spring broke down on passenger side. First I had to do such a job, took me between 3 to 4 hours to dismantle and reassemble.

Lincoln MKZ in Georgia, United States May 2015 - Jun 2018
May 2017 78050 mi US $1300	The AC compressor and condenser units had began to fail and make noise due to overheating from a lack of refrigerant (less than 15%) in the system for apparently more than 12 months. There was an unidentifiable slow leak in the system and the refrigerant levels were never checked by anyone over the 4+ years I have owned the car. A key piece of evidence that the refrigerant was at lowered levels for at least 12 months is that when the original unit was recharged it cooled the cabin more effectively than it had in years. In testing however the Tech at Ford could reproduce the whining sound that triggered this repair trip but only after the refrigerant and components had heated up to operating temperature. Needless to say the damage was already done because without enough refrigerant to act as a heat sink for AC unit itself the internal components had worn down. I was presented with two options for replacing the AC compressor and condenser which were an OEM and Aftermarket package. I decided to go with the Aftermarket units which for this vehicle costs about $900 less than the OEM mostly because most of the components come in one package and not as separate billable items from Ford/Motorcraft. The moral of the story here is to get your refrigerant levels checked every single spring because running low WILL DAMAGE the AC compressor/condenser over time. It may be a simple thing to have checked at a dealer's "multi-point inspection" but it is like the one thing they do not check unless requested.

Lincoln MKZ in Missouri, United States Feb 2015 - Jun 2022
Jun 2022 92673 mi US $1025	Air conditioner putting out warm air. Evacuate and recharge R134A, system performance test, leak test. Check controls, heating and cooling. Include up to 3 lbs R134A freon frigi quiet oil & dye charge. Condenser replaced.

Lincoln MKZ in Quebec, Canada Feb 2010 - Dec 2011
Sep 2010 5580 mi	vinyl trim was damaged upon reception, repaired by dealership but glue held for 1½ month. Maintenance had to be done, mentioned problem, dealer said had to be fixed by professional at a later time. Now fixed. Wheel cap damaged by mechanic when rotating tires. Part ordered and I had to pick it up a week later. Service rep told me later damage not done by his mechanic. What an asshole. Oil and dirt on the steering wheel & driver door trimming done by the mechanic doing the maintenance at the dealership. Spent ½ h cleaning steering wheel & door trimming,cleaned myself.No apology Work performed by FordLincoln440 inLaval

Lincoln MKZ in Virginia, United States Dec 2020 - Jan 2022
Jul 2021 102000 mi US $700	Transmission shifting very hard. Found Broken and leaking transmission fluid lines. Replaced fluid and lines. Works great.

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Lincoln MKZ in Washington, United States Mar 2011 - Sep 2013
Jan 2012 30200 mi	Replaced a few out taillight bulbs on one side of vehicle.
Sep 2013 36000 mi	battery died in car for no reason; just didn't start one day

Lincoln MKZ in North Dakota, United States Dec 2010 - Sep 2014
Aug 2014 14300 mi	Driver's side heated seat quit working. The heating element was replaced under warranty.

Lincoln MKZ in Michigan, United States Jun 2010 - Jul 2012
Jul 2010 1000 mi	CEL, computer module reprogrammed.

Lincoln MKZ in Wisconsin, United States Aug 2012 - Sep 2018
Jun 2013 27000 mi	car didn't start twice, had to charge battery before using. I took to the dealer; diagnosis was; bad cell in battery. They replaced the battery; no charge.
Sep 2014 39000 mi	BATTERY CABLE CORRODED IN EXCESS, ASKED DEALER TO REPLACE BUT ONLY REMOVED AND CLEANED OUT CORROSION.
Dec 2014 41000 mi US $50	vacuum line slipped off the mass flow sensor causing incorrect fuel mixture. Shop found the line and reconnected it problem solved.
Aug 2015 48000 mi	tail light LED blubs flicker on and off
Sep 2015 48000 mi US $100	Dealer replaced wrong tail light. The light we had to replace was not covered under warranty. Ford paid 1/3, dealer paid 1/3 and we paid the remaining 1/3 to replace the light.
Nov 2016 59000 mi US $25	Passenger side front seat heater not working. Dealer estimated repair at $600. Owner chose not to do the repair.
Nov 2017 67000 mi US $450	Battery failed load test, corrosion into cells of battery Positive and negative battery cable harness was replaced due to positive terminal corroded through and broke into two pieces.
Aug 2018 72000 mi US $10	small area of rust developed on drivers side rear wheel well. Removed rust, sanded, bought touch up paint to cover it up.

Lincoln MKZ in Minnesota, United States Dec 2012 - Dec 2017
Sep 2016 103000 mi US $771	Transmission coolant lines rusted through and leaking. Lines replaced and transmission flushed.
Nov 2017 120000 mi US $1000	Rear driveshaft replaced on AWD

Lincoln MKZ in Pennsylvania, United States Apr 2016 - Jun 2018
Oct 2016 59200 mi	Replace the rear right brake light assembly under the extended warranty. Before the replacemen, one of the lights did not come on.
Jun 2017 79000 mi US $90	The check engine light came on. Car was still very much drivable. Drove it to the dealer. It was diagnosed as a signal from the computer module that it sensed a bad signal from the engine and transmission. Dealer was not very specific and said that the potential solution is to download a new program for the computer module. If that does not work, I will need to replace the computer module. ( They download a program and so far the car is running OK. I put about 300 miles on it since the repair. ) I like this car a lot; it has given me about 30,000 trouble-free miles till this check- engine light issue.
Dec 2017 92000 mi US $260	Tail light bulb failed. They had to replace the entire assembly because it was LED.
Apr 2018 96000 mi US $1000	car was making a squeaking noise when it hits bumps.

Lincoln MKZ in Maryland, United States Sep 2013 - Jun 2015
Jun 2015 66000 mi	the ventilation system was producing a "gas smell. Dealer replaced a "PTU line and it "part" from the engine to the gas tank to resolve the issue.

Lincoln MKZ in Pennsylvania, United States Nov 2012 - Jun 2013
Jan 2013 50000 mi US $150	Inside door handle would not work. Had to roll down the window and open from outside.

Lincoln MKZ in Ontario, Canada Aug 2016 - Jun 2018
Oct 2016 88040 mi	Dealer failed to notice, which is a nice way of putting it, that the right control arm/ball joint and bushings needed to be replaced.

Lincoln MKZ in North Carolina, United States Oct 2012 - Jun 2022
Jun 2017 51000 mi US $2300	Replaced PTU to fix the noise problem. They had initially replaced some part of axle but that did not fix the problem

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Lincoln MKZ in Florida, United States Mar 2013 - Jun 2018
May 2017 86300 mi US $75	Brake pads all the way around(4 wheel disc)

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2012 Lincoln MKZ repairs by problem area

2012 Lincoln MKZ repair cost distribution

2012 Lincoln MKZ 4dr Sedan

2012 Lincoln MKZ 4dr Sedan

2012 Lincoln MKZ 4dr Sedan

2011 Lincoln MKZ

2011 Lincoln MKZ 4dr Sedan

2011 Lincoln MKZ 4dr Sedan

2011 Lincoln MKZ 4dr Sedan

2010 Lincoln MKZ 4dr Sedan

2010 Lincoln MKZ 4dr Sedan

2010 Lincoln MKZ 4-door

2012 Lincoln MKZ Repair Histories