RoadVitals

2012 Lincoln Mkz Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
20
Latest Jan 17, 2024
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.
14%
of 146 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.
2
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Lincoln Mkz submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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 brake

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

BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 17, 2024

My brakes stopped working with no warning while driving. All of the brake related lights came on and the pedal went to the floor and I was unable to stop the car. This is a safety issue for the driver and everyone else because there seems to be no warning that the brakes will stop working. I brought the vehicle into a repair shop and they could not find anything wrong with the brakes, however there are multiple reports on this website of the very same issue that I dealt with. When attempting to report this to the ford/lincoln manufacturing, they stated that their system was down and they had no way of taking a report. This is very dangerous and needs to be addressed.

NHTSA ID
11566117
Incident
Jan 16, 2024
Brakes
Filed Jan 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed abnormal soft feedback from the brake pedal and that the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard before bringing the vehicle to a complete stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a possible brake fluid leak with the brake master cylinder or hydraulic control module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V904000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 138,000.

NHTSA ID
11566004
Incident
Oct 1, 2023
Mileage
138,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 12, 2023

I was driving and all of a sudden break light came on service break system came on all at one time I never had a problem with this never got a warning before hand , I couldn’t stop the car, break pedal literally on the floor, almost hit 2 cars trying to stop the vehicle, I have brand new break pads, break fluid was checked, had to get the car towed back home because its no longer drivable

NHTSA ID
11544020
Incident
Sep 11, 2023
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 26, 2023

Breaks suddenly stopped working. Lights on dash including ABS came on. Car would not stop until pedal pressed almost to floor. Almost as quickly it started working again and our mechanic can not reproduce it. There a number (17) of other complaints describing the problem with more drama. (See [XXX] for one) Incident happened three times, twice going forward and once backing up. Please recall this quickly before someone is killed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11534652
Incident
Jul 3, 2023
Brakes
Filed Jul 19, 2023

There have been several occasions now where I go to brake and there is no brake! My foot goes all the way down to the floor. This can happen at a steady speak of 50 or at 10 miles an hour. It is very scary and very dangerous. I have had to use my emergency brake to stop the car. I have had my brakes changed and "bled" several times. I am concerned this is going to cause a catastrophic accident. In researching this issue, I have seen that this is a common issue with the Lincoln MKZ. In fact prior years have already had a recall. Please, remedy this issue.

NHTSA ID
11533180
Incident
May 1, 2023
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 6, 2021

THE ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ALL SENSORS LIGHT UP AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. YOU COULD PUSH THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIUON. THIS IS THE SAME ABS MALFUNCTION THAT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A FORD RECALLED OF 600, 000 VEHICLES IN THE FUSION,AND MK'S IN THE YEARS THRU 2010 BUT NOT 2011 AND 2012 WHICH YSE THE SAME BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS A UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
11415452
Incident
Apr 28, 2021
Mileage
104,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2021

MY WIFE AND SON LEFT THE HOUSE IN OUR MKZ AND 1/2 MILE DOWN THE ROAD THE MKZ SUDDENLY LOST BRAKING CAPABILITY. MY WIFE HAD TO STEER UPHILL IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. MULTIPLE LIGHTS ARE NOW DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD INCLUDING "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC", "BRAKE", "ABS", AND "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM". THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING OF AN ISSUE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR 2011-2012 MKZ/FUSIONS. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR 2009 MKZ/FUSIONS FOR THIS ISSUE THAT MIRRORS THIS SCENARIO EXACTLY. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER 2011 AND 2012 MODELS.

NHTSA ID
11403440
Incident
Mar 16, 2021
Mileage
128,200 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jan 30, 2021

IN JANUARY 2021, MY VEHICLE HAD REACHED ABOUT 60,000 MILES. AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AS I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE AND STOPPED THE CAR. HAD THE CAR NOT STOPPED, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE AVOIDED GOING INTO THE STREET. I TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK (AFTER YOU START THE CAR, THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND THEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT GOES ON; THE BRAKES ONLY WORK A LITTLE NEAR THE FLOOR). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND BOTH THE ABS MODULE AND HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $3200. I NOTICED A RECALL FOR BASICALLY THE SAME THING BUT THE RECALL ONLY WENT UP TO 2010.

NHTSA ID
11390826
Incident
Jan 7, 2021
Mileage
60,200 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 7, 2020

WHILE DRIVING, ALARMS DINGED AND LIGHTS POPPED UP IN MY INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WERE: BRAKE SYSTEM & PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM (OR BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING?), CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, ABS, ADVANCETRAC, ADVANCETRAC OFF, THROTTLE CONTROL/POWERTRAIN, CHECK ENGINE, AND PRESS RESET TO TURN OFF REAR PARKING ASSIST. PRESSING MY BRAKES REVEALED THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NOT ALL BARK AND NO BITE; THERE WAS IN FACT SOMETHING GOING ON. THE PEDAL WAS SOFT, TOO EASY TO DEPRESS AT FIRST. THEN IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND INEFFECTIVE. NOT STOPPING AT ALL UNTIL ALL THE WAY DOWN. THIS PREVIOUSLY HAPPENED ON 9/6/2020, BUT RESOLVED AFTER 2 DAYS. THIS CURRENT INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 10/2/2020 AND REMAINS ACTIVE 5 DAYS LATER. THE SERVICE STATION FOUND NO CAUSE PREVIOUSLY. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER LEAVING MY HOME. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH ON A RAINY DAY. THE ALARMS SOUNDED AND LIGHTS CAME ON, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR A STOP SIGN IS WHEN I DISCOVERED THE BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT IS CONTINUING BEGAN A BIT DIFFERENTLY. THE LIGHTS POPPED UP AND ALARM SOUNDED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A SUNNY, DRY DAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND POWERTRAIN LIGHT BOTH CAME ON ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER. THEY CAME ON WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11363305
Incident
Oct 2, 2020
Mileage
110,980 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE SERVICE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHUMACHER LINCOLN OF DELRAY (2102 S FEDERAL HWY, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33483 561-454-1800) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,449.

NHTSA ID
11343736
Incident
Jul 30, 2020
Mileage
113,449 mi
Brakes
Filed May 18, 2020

THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTION, ABS MALFUNCTION AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION SIMULTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH WARNING CHIMES, AND THE BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WITH BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION (PEDAL WAS SOFT, FAR TOO EASY TO DEPRESS, BUT INEFFECTIVE). CAR WAS STEERED INTO A RESIDENTIAL LAWN AND EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE APPLIED TO AVOID A COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325071
Incident
May 14, 2020
Mileage
33,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 12, 2020

THE BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC MESSAGE ACROSS THE DASHBOARD AND THE BRAKES DON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY AT THIS TIME PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11298654
Incident
Jan 10, 2020
Mileage
105,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 2, 2020

DRIVING ON A LOCAL MAJOR ROAD THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, BRAKES WENT LOW AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. PUMPING DID NOT HELP. WENT THROUGH 2 LIGHTS. NO ACCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO SERVICE STATION, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CAR WORKS FINE NOW BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
11296619
Incident
Dec 20, 2019
Mileage
40,450 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 22, 2019

THE ABS MODULE IN MY CAR FAILED ON 11/20/19. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 53,500 MILES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALER FIVE DAYS PRIOR ON 11/15/19 INCLUDING A MULTI POINT SYSTEM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE RECALLED AIR BAGS . NO "WARNING" OR INDICATOR OF A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM WAS IDENTIFIED. WHEN THE ABS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON I HAD JUST TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND SO PROCEEDED VERY SLOWLY DOWN MY STREET (WHICH HAS A DOWNGRADE) ONLY TO REALIZE I HAD LOST BRAKING POWER AND HAD TO USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO FIRMLY / COMPLETELY STOP. I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING IN AN ABS MODULE FAILURE AND SO COULD NOT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FIVE DAYS PRIOR. THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE SERVICE BAY WHEN PULLING IT FORWARD AT A LOW SPEED ON A FLAT SERVICE. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED OR IN TRAFFIC I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITY.

NHTSA ID
11281836
Incident
Nov 20, 2019
Mileage
53,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 2, 2019

BRAKE LIGHT LED ASSEMBLY HAS 2 OF 3 ROWS NOT FUNCTIONING; FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 2010 & '11 MODEL YEAR, BUT NOT 2012 FOR THIS FAILURE. SEEMS A DEFECT FAILURE FORD HAS ADMITTED ON EARLIER MODEL YEARS, BUT DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT IT ALSO HAPPENS ON THIS MODEL YEAR. GUESS THEY ARE USING LEFT OVER PARTS'. LOTS OF PICTURES OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB / INTERNET. PASSENGER / RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID
11277653
Incident
Aug 15, 2019
Mileage
58,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 28, 2019

TWO WEEKS AGO I GOT IN MY CAR AND DROVE DOWN TO THE INTERSECTION AT THE END OF MY STREET. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED OTHER THAN THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF THREE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND CONTINUED INTO THE INTERSECTION. BEFORE CALAMITY STRUCK, I MANAGED TO PULL UP THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURN THE CAR INTO THE CURB, STOPPING IT.

NHTSA ID
11271477
Incident
Oct 12, 2019
Mileage
116,200 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 2018

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, BRAKE PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR LIGHTS, TRAFFIC, STOP SIGNS. STOPPING DISTANCE IS LONGER THAN EXPECTED UNTIL BRAKES FINALLY ENGAGE. ON HIGHWAY (50+ MPH), PEDAL SINKS FOR NORMAL STOPS, AND FOR EMERGENCY STOPS, IF YOU STOMP THE BRAKES THE PEDAL SINKS AND IT SEEMS THAT THE ABS DOES NOT ENGAGE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO NOISE OR VIBRATION.

NHTSA ID
11150159
Incident
Oct 25, 2018
Mileage
40,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Nov 29, 2016
Crash reported

TRAVELING N ON 95 JUST BEYOND RICHMOND VA ON 11/26/16 TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP AND I WAS ATTENTIVE AND RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO BRAKE QUICKLY. THE CAR INITIALLY SLOWED BUT DID NOT RESPOND FURTHER TO APPLYING BRAKES. I REAR ENDED A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR - MINIMAL TO THE JEEP. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM STILL CONFUSED BY WHAT HAPPENED - I HAD TIME TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. I AM 60 YEARS OLD AND A LONG TIME CITY COMMUTER ALONG WITH HAVING TRAVELED THIS ROUTE REGULARLY SINCE 1979. I CANNOT HELP BUT CONCLUDE THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF BRAKE MALFUNCTION WITH MY 2012 LINCOLN MKZ. *TR

NHTSA ID
10928553
Incident
Nov 26, 2016
Mileage
42,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 9, 2016
Crash reported

I WAS ON A CITY STREET MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN I WAS HIT BY A BARRELING CAR AFTER HE HIT ME ONCE THEN HE BACKED UP AND HIT ME AGAIN TO PUSH ME OUT OF THE WAY HE TOOK OFF THEN MY CAR ACCELERATED GOING UP CURBS THE STEERING AN BRAKES DID NOT WORK IT TOOK TWO OF US TO AVOID A BRICK WALL AFTER PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TWICE IT FINALLY STOPPED WITH A BANG

NHTSA ID
10925131
Incident
Nov 4, 2016
Mileage
21,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Feb 27, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LINCOLN MKZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. TYHE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IDLES ROUGH AT STAND STILL. IT SURGES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM AN ALMOST BRAKING STOP WHILE DRIVING. THE GARAGE DOOR HOME LING FAILS AT TIMES. BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN RELEASED. HEADLINES SAGS IN THE FRONT OF REAR WINDOW. UPDATED 06/17/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10500661
Incident
Jul 17, 2012
Mileage
1,000 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 .