Is transfer case failure with fluid leakage a known issue with the 2012 Lincoln Mkt?

2 NHTSA complaints have been filed about transfer case failure with fluid leakage on the 2012 Lincoln Mkt (2018-11 → 2019-07). Reported component: POWER TRAIN. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11228589): "WAS DRIVING HEARD ODD NOISES AND BURNT FLUID TRANSFER CASE WAS DEFECTIVE BOTH OF MY FORD AWD DID ECACT SAME THING" Source: NHTSA.

2012 Lincoln Mkt Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

Q: Is twin-turbo ecoboost engine and turbo failure a known issue with the 2012 Lincoln Mkt?

2 NHTSA complaints have been filed about twin-turbo ecoboost engine and turbo failure on the 2012 Lincoln Mkt (2020-03 → 2022-12). Reported component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11498231): "The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that the twin-turbo became inoperable. The contact stated that oil was entering the exhaust and the contact was unable to see other vehicles. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local" Source: NHTSA.

Q: Is panoramic roof glass shattering while driving a known issue with the 2012 Lincoln Mkt?

2 NHTSA complaints have been filed about panoramic roof glass shattering while driving on the 2012 Lincoln Mkt (2019-04 → 2019-09). Reported component: STRUCTURE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11258443): "I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NO ONE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND LIKE IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE SHOT MY CAR IN A CLOSE RANGE AND AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE I STARTED SWERVING. PULLED OVER FRANTIC TO SEE WHAT IT WAS MY SUNROOF GLASS WAS SHATTERED ALL AROUND THE EDGES GONE. I" Source: NHTSA.

Q: Is power steering assist fault and steering lockup a known issue with the 2012 Lincoln Mkt?

17 NHTSA complaints have been filed about power steering assist fault and steering lockup on the 2012 Lincoln Mkt (2015-09 → 2025-09). Reported component: STEERING. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11629042): "The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the power steering system failure warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to maneuver the steering wheel as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that" Source: NHTSA.

The 2012 Lincoln Mkt carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering electric power assist system. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Twin-turbo EcoBoost engine and turbo failure.” Lincoln uses Ford's Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor: it tracks how the vehicle is actually driven and calls for oil service when needed — up to 10,000 miles or 12 months on normal duty, much sooner with towing or repeated short trips. EcoBoost-powered Aviators and Nautilus models are turbocharged: heat is their maintenance story, so oil quality and cooling-system health matter more than on the old naturally aspirated V8s. Traditional V8 Navigators and Town Cars are long-interval machines — 100,000-mile plugs — that mostly reward fluid discipline.

1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Campaign #15V340000 · Feb 6, 2015

Issue: Ford 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 engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.

Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2012 Lincoln Mkt.

Reported to NHTSA

Twin-turbo EcoBoost engine and turbo failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2 NHTSA complaints · 2020-03 → 2022-12

“The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that the twin-turbo became inoperable. The contact stated that oil was entering the exhaust and the contact was unable to see other vehicles. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11498231

“MY 2012 LINCOLN MKT WITH THE 3.5L TWIN TURBO V6 ECOBOOST ENGINE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE FUEL PUMP AS THE 2013-2015 MKT MODELS THAT WERE PART OF RECALL CAMPAIGN #16S31. MY CAR WAS ALSO MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME OAKVILLE ASSEMBLY AND WITHIN THE DATES SPECIFIED. I WAS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11315363

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transfer case failure with fluid leakage

POWER TRAIN

2 NHTSA complaints · 2018-11 → 2019-07

“WAS DRIVING HEARD ODD NOISES AND BURNT FLUID TRANSFER CASE WAS DEFECTIVE BOTH OF MY FORD AWD DID ECACT SAME THING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11228589

“1) THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THE TIRES MOUNTED ON THE REAR OF YOUR VEHICLE ARE NOT THE MANUFACTURE'S RECOMMEND TIRE SIZE. THE INSPECTOR VERIFIED THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED INTERNALLY AND SNAPPED OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE FRONT U-JOINT OF THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT IS BENT AND LEAKING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11154854

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Panoramic roof glass shattering while driving

STRUCTURE

2 NHTSA complaints · 2019-04 → 2019-09

“I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY NO ONE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND LIKE IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE SHOT MY CAR IN A CLOSE RANGE AND AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE I STARTED SWERVING. PULLED OVER FRANTIC TO SEE WHAT IT WAS MY SUNROOF GLASS WAS SHATTERED ALL AROUND THE EDGES GONE. I”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11258443

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, THE FRONT PORTION OF THE GLASS PANORAMIC ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT RECEIVING ANY IMPACT. THERE WAS A VERY LOUD "POP" AND WHEN I PULLED OVER I DISCOVERED THE GLASS WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. NOTHING TO MY KNOWLEDGE IMPACTED THE ROOF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11194086

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering assist fault and steering lockup

STEERING

17 NHTSA complaints · 2015-09 → 2025-09

“The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the power steering system failure warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to maneuver the steering wheel as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11629042

“I STARTED MY 2012 LINCOLN MKT 3.5L THE STEERING WAS HARD TO TURN AND THE DASHBOARD ERROR MESSAGE READS 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. I GOOGLE IT AND IT SHOWED THAT THE 'POWER STEERING ASSIT FAULT ERROR MESSAGE WAS ON RECALL ON JUNE 2015. I TOWED THE CAR TO LINCOLN ON 1610”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11327594

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VETERAN'S FORD (3724 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD, METAIRIE, LOUISIANA 70002) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10993144

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped. (2004-era Town Cars predate cabin filters; modern Lincolns locate it behind the glovebox.)

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement

Every 100,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (OAT) on modern models: first change around 10 years / 200,000 miles per Ford, though shops commonly refresh by 100,000. Older green-coolant V8s: every 5 years. Never mix chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Feature-heavy Lincolns (air suspension compressors, power everything) expose weak batteries as electrical gremlins first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

6 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

complaints mentioning a crash

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2012 Lincoln Mkt reflects Lincoln's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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