2012 Lincoln MKS

Car · 2010–2016

2010–2016 Lincoln MKS — 2010–2016 pictured. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Which year to buy

Best betNo standoutNo year is clearly better than the rest Newest we'd buy2016The latest year rated a good buy Avoid2013Far more serious problems than usual

usual

’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16

Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.

2012GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual

15 serious complaints of 17, the most about steering (8) and fuel system (2); 0.5× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2012 vehicles. 3 recalls.

What owners report

“The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated while attempting to drive out of a parking space, the message "Power Assist Failure" was displayed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the steering, Oct 2024

17 owner complaints · 3 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 19–20 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2012 trims and features

Every MKS year's verdict →

Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. NHTSA doesn't publish sales, so only big differences count. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.

Trims and features

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl, 355 hp; 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp; 3.7L 6-cyl, 275 hp · Drive: AWD, FWD

2012 MKS trims

	EcoBoost

base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Lincoln reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Lincoln aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.

Year by year

Year	Engines	Drive	Fuel economy	Crash rating	Recalls	Owner complaints	Most-reported problem	CarPlay
2016	3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp	AWD, FWD	19–20 mpg	5 of 5	0	3	Electrical system (3)	No
2015	3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp	AWD, FWD	20–22 mpg	5 of 5	3	18	Engine (5)	No
2014	3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp	AWD, FWD	20–22 mpg	5 of 5	2	44	Steering (12)	No
2013	3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp	AWD, FWD	20–21 mpg	5 of 5	7	141	Steering (60)	No
2012	3.5L 6-cyl, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 275 hp	AWD, FWD	19–20 mpg	Not rated	3	17	Steering (8)	No
2011	3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 275 hp	AWD, FWD	19–20 mpg	Not rated	3	43	Steering (21)	No
2010	3.5L 6-cyl, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp	AWD, FWD	19–20 mpg	Not rated	0	51	Steering (15)	No

Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.

Apple lists CarPlay for: MKS 2017–2018 (Apple).

Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints

Year	Version	Stars	Forward collision warning	Lane departure warning	Recalls	Complaints
2016	Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD	5	Optional	Optional	0	3
2016	Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	0	3
2015	Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	18
2015	Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	3	18
2014	Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD	5	Optional	Optional	2	44
2014	Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	2	44
2013	Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD	5	Optional	Optional	7	141
2013	Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	7	141
2012	Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	No	No	3	17
2012	Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	3	17
2011	Lincoln MKS 4 DR AWD	Not Rated	No	No	3	43
2011	Lincoln MKS 4 DR FWD	Not Rated	No	No	3	43
2010	Lincoln MKS 4-DR. w/SAB	Not Rated	Optional	No	0	51

Source: NHTSA.

Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg

Year	EPA model	Engines	Combined
2016	MKS AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	19
2016	MKS FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	20
2015	MKS AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	20–21
2015	MKS FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	22
2014	MKS AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	20–21
2014	MKS FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	22
2013	MKS AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo	20–21
2013	MKS FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	21
2012	MKS AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	19–20
2012	MKS FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L	20
2011	MKS AWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	19–20
2011	MKS FWD	Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L	19
2010	MKS AWD	Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L	19–20
2010	MKS FWD	Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L	19

Source: fueleconomy.gov.

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