RoadVitals

2012 Lincoln Mkz Hybrid Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest Dec 1, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
32%
of 59 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Lincoln Mkz Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Dec 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist and driving track warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to his place of employment. The contact stated that after work he started the vehicle and, while driving, the steering seized. The contact used both hands to turn and steer the vehicle. The contact phoned the local dealer and made the dealer aware of the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report to failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ID
11557871
Incident
Nov 30, 2023
Mileage
125,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 29, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that while her husband was attempting to reverse, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, and the vehicle displayed a message stating "Electric Power Steering Assist Fault". The EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the power steering control module. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was included but the vehicle was already repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 66,000.

NHTSA ID
11557491
Incident
Nov 15, 2023
Mileage
66,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that while his grandson was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the power steering control module was reprogrammed; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was determined that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

NHTSA ID
11542076
Incident
Mar 23, 2023
Mileage
122,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 31, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated while starting the vehicle the steering wheel was firm. The "power steering assist fault" and "service advance trac" messages were displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the steering operated normally. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the recall for the failure had expired and provided no additional assistance. The failure mileage was 100,288.

NHTSA ID
11535619
Incident
May 31, 2023
Mileage
100,288 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, there was a beeping sound heard and the "Steering Assist" and "Service Track" warning lights illuminated. The contact stated slightly corrected the steering wheel and became aware that the vehicle had lost power steering functionality. The contact was able to pull off the roadway and shifted the vehicle into park(P) and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted however, the power steering functionality was still inoperable. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11533539
Incident
Jul 18, 2023
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 9, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 42 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS THE SERVICE ADVANCED TRACK AND SERVICE POWER STEERING MESSAGES APPEARED ON HIS INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SIMILAR MODEL VEHICLES FOR A POWER STEERING FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

NHTSA ID
11395437
Incident
Jan 16, 2021
Mileage
35,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 20, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE THEN LOSS POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS DISABLED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN MANUAL STEERING MODE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PURCHASE FORD LINCOLN (1352 US-45, MAYFIELD, KY 42066) BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA ID
11365325
Incident
Sep 24, 2020
Mileage
68,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO, 'SERVICE ADVANCETRAC' AND 'SERVICE STEERING ASSIST' WERE DISPLAYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
11271446
Incident
Oct 27, 2019
Mileage
60,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID
11210374
Incident
May 25, 2019
Mileage
86,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 6, 2019

POWER STEERING WENT WITHOUT ANY WARNING HAS RECALL ON OTHER MKZ OF THAT YEAR BUT NOT MINE. I PUT IT REVERSE AND HAD NO POWER STEERING LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN IT WENT OUT.

NHTSA ID
11194283
Incident
Mar 29, 2019
Mileage
76,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 29, 2019

STATIONARY, STARTED,NO POWER STEERING.STATED POER STEERING ASSIST FAULT.

NHTSA ID
11192491
Incident
Mar 29, 2019
Steering
Filed Aug 24, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE MESSAGES "POWER STEERING FAILURE" AND "ADVANCE TRACKING FAILURE" DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MAGIC CITY FORD, 809 WILLIAMSON RD. NE, ROANOKE, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11122130
Incident
Mar 1, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 8, 2018

I CURRENTLY HAVE A RENTAL CAR BECAUSE OF THE "TAKATA RECALL", BUT THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTION. THE ADJUSTMENTS MADE WHEN TRACTION CONTROL IS ON, DURING PERIODS OF RAIN HAVE ALMOST CAUSE 3 COLLISIONS I THINK OF. ITS NOT LIKE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BUT AN OVERCOMPENSATION. IT FEELS READY TO HYDROPLANE WHEN EVER THERE IS HEAVY RAIN. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALL FOUR WHEELS AND IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.

NHTSA ID
11118447
Incident
Oct 3, 2017
Mileage
12 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Aug 24, 2017

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE STEERING MOTOR SENSOR. THIS REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO COST $2100. OTHER 2012 LINCOLN MKZ HYBRIDS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME FAULT, NHTSA ID 15V340000, BUT MY CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO BE COVERED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHATEVER CORRECTION OR RUNNING CHANGE THEY MADE TO THE PRODUCTION LINE DID NOT ADEQUATELY FIX THE ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN A WARNING LIGHT (YELLOW WRENCH) CAME ON. I STOPPED THE CAR, CHECKED THE MANUAL AND COULD FIND NO REFERENCE TO THIS WARNING LIGHT. IT DID NOT REAPPEAR WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR AND NEVER CAME BACK ON.

NHTSA ID
11019443
Incident
May 11, 2017
Mileage
45,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 5, 2017

CAR WAS PARKED. STARTED CAR AND PUT TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND NOTICED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. WARNING ON DASH "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE". ONLY 37,777 MILES ON CAR. PREVIOUS SERVICE RECORDS ON CAR STATED FIELD SERVICE ACTION 15N01 BUT IGNORED BY DEALER AT LEAST TWICE DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
10958653
Incident
Mar 2, 2017
Mileage
37,777 mi
Steering
Filed May 18, 2015

THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE BEFORE IN APRIL OF 2015, DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE. HOWEVER ALSO ON FRIDAY MAY 15TH, 2015, I WAS BACKING MY LINCOLN MKZ 2012 HYBRID OUT OF THE CHURCH PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. I DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT SAID POWER STEERING NOT FUNCTIONING OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. IT HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE IN APRIL, AND AT THAT TIME, I WAS ALSO PARKED, STARTED UP THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T STEER. I STOPPED THE CAR, STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND THAT TIME IT CORRECTED ITSELF. I READ A REPORT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT 508 CASES BEING REPORTED AND UNDER INVESTIGATION SO I THOUGHT I WOULD ALSO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. LUCKY FOR ME ON FRIDAY MAY 15TH, 2015 I WAS ACROSS THE STREET FROM A LOCAL INDEPENDENT CAR REPAIR SERVICE STATION. THEY CALLED HUDSON FORD IN HUDSON, WISCONSIN AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THERE SAID IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND TO BRING IT UP TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I CALLED AT THE END OF THE DAY AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE COULDN'T FIX IT. THE INDEPENDENT SERVICE STATION WHERE IT FIRST ENDED UP, DID A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC ON IT AND SAID IT WAS THE STEERING BOARD, OR CHIP. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THE EVENT THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN I AM DRIVING. IT COULD CAUSE A HORRIBLE CRASH!! I SENT THE ARTICLE I FOUND ON THIS ISSUE TO THE HUDSON FORD DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER'S EMAIL, AND THEN TALKED TO HER ABOUT THE ARTICLE. SHE SAID SHE'D READ IT. AT THIS POINT THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR. I PRAY THEY FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10717194
Incident
May 15, 2015
Mileage
32,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Jul 6, 2014

WHILE DRIVING ON TWO LANE ROAD APPROX. 50 MPH, ENGINE STOPPED, ADVANCE TRACK LIGHT CAME ON , LOST STEERING AND BREAKING, COASTED TO STOP. RESTARTED AND DROVE HOME. CARRIED TO DEALER , WHO REPLACED. *JS STEERING GEAR. COMPUTER SHOULD SHOW YOU WARNING BUT NOT SHUT VEHICLE DOWN LOOSING BREAKING AND STEERING. IF THERE HAD BEEN TRAFFIC OR HAD BEEN ON BUSY ROAD TRAVELING INT. SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE TAKING FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON SAME ROAD.

NHTSA ID
10608420
Incident
Jun 28, 2013
Mileage
37,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 16, 2013

WHILE DRIVING NEAR MY HOME THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH NO WARNING AND THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC MESSAGE CAME ON. I HAVE THE CAR EXACTLY 2 YEARS AND HAVE ONLY A LITTLE OVER 11,000 MILES ON IT! THANK GOODNESS I WASN'T ON A HIGHWAY AND I WAS ONLY BLOCKS FROM MY HOME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543877
Incident
Sep 14, 2013
Mileage
11,200 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 16, 2013

POWER STEERING QUIT WITH NO WARNING AND SERVICE ADVANCETRAC MESSAGE CAME ON. FORD SAYS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, NO CONFIDENCE IN THE QUALITY AND SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543874
Incident
Sep 14, 2013
Mileage
11,200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .