Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year, against this model's usual year.
2012AVOIDSerious complaints 4.3× usual, mostly steering and engine Extended coverage
25 serious complaints of 27, the most about steering (19) and engine (2); 4.3× this model's usual share of all serious complaints about 2012 vehicles. 1 recall.
What owners report
“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 the power steering needed to be replaced.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the steering, Dec 2024
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage Ford/lincoln: there is an extended warranty coverage for the loss of abs speed signal related communication that disable obdii system monitors for pcm reprogramming. (CSP-14N02, Aug 2014)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
27 owner complaints · 1 recall (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 18–20 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2012 trims and features
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
Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl, 355 hp; 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp · Drive: AWD, FWD
2012 MKT trims
| Hearse | MKT |
|---|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 303 hp | AWD, FWD | 15–19 mpg | Not rated | 4 | 17 | Back over prevention (12) | Yes |
| 2018 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 303 hp | AWD, FWD | 16–19 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 7 | Structure (3) | Yes |
| 2017 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 303 hp | AWD, FWD | 15–19 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 3 | Structure (1) | Yes |
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 237 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 303 hp | AWD, FWD | 17–21 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 9 | Structure (3) | No |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 303 hp | AWD, FWD | 18–23 mpg | Not rated | 6 | 24 | Unknown or other (9) | No |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 3.5L 6-cyl turbo 3.7L 6-cyl, 303 hp | AWD, FWD | 18–23 mpg | Not rated | 4 | 54 | Structure (13) | No |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 365 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 303 hp | AWD, FWD | 18–23 mpg | Not rated | 7 | 70 | Steering (32) | No |
| 2012 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp | AWD, FWD | 18–20 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 27 | Steering (19) | No |
| 2011 | 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 355 hp 3.7L 6-cyl, 305 hp | AWD, FWD | 16–19 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 19 | Steering (11) | No |
| 2010 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 265–355 hp 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, 265–355 hp | 4WD, AWD, FWD | 18–19 mpg | Not rated | 0 | 65 | Steering (28) | 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.
Which years have…
Apple lists CarPlay for: MKT 2017–2019 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 17 |
| 2019 | Lincoln MKT SUV FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 17 |
| 2018 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 2 | 7 |
| 2018 | Lincoln MKT SUV FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 2 | 7 |
| 2017 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 3 | 3 |
| 2017 | Lincoln MKT SUV FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 3 | 3 |
| 2016 | Lincoln MKT SUV FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 3 | 9 |
| 2016 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 3 | 9 |
| 2015 | Lincoln MKT SUV FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 6 | 24 |
| 2015 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 6 | 24 |
| 2014 | Lincoln MKT SUV FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 54 |
| 2014 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 4 | 54 |
| 2013 | Lincoln MKT SUV FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 8 | 70 |
| 2013 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 8 | 70 |
| 2012 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 27 |
| 2012 | Lincoln MKT SUV FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 27 |
| 2011 | Lincoln MKT SUV AWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 19 |
| 2011 | Lincoln MKT 4DR SUV FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 19 |
| 2010 | Lincoln MKT 4-DR. w/SAB | Not Rated | Optional | No | 0 | 65 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 17 |
| 2019 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2019 | MKT Hearse AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 16 |
| 2019 | MKT Limo AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 15 |
| 2019 | MKT Livery AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 18 |
| 2018 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 17 |
| 2018 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2018 | MKT Hearse AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 17 |
| 2018 | MKT Limo AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 16 |
| 2018 | MKT Livery AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 18 |
| 2017 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 17 |
| 2017 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2017 | MKT Hearse AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 16 |
| 2017 | MKT Limo AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 15 |
| 2017 | MKT Livery AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 18 |
| 2016 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 17 |
| 2016 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2016 | MKT Livery AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 18 |
| 2016 | MKT Livery FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 21 |
| 2015 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 18 |
| 2015 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 20 |
| 2015 | MKT Livery AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2015 | MKT Livery FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2014 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 18 |
| 2014 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 20 |
| 2014 | MKT Livery AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2014 | MKT Livery FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2013 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 18 |
| 2013 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 20 |
| 2013 | MKT Livery AWD | Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2013 | MKT Livery FWD | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2012 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo | 18 |
| 2012 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 20 |
| 2011 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L |
18 |
| 2011 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 19 |
| 2011 | MKT Hearse AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.7 L | 16 |
| 2010 | MKT AWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo |
18 |
| 2010 | MKT FWD | Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L | 19 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.