It has been a year since Lincoln has given its premium midsize SUV, the MKX a fresh lease of life with its first facelift since launch. Although not as popular among the buyers in this segment, this SUV, based on Ford’s Edge, has been decently robust, to say the least. It even has a low recall number than the SUV it is based on which does come in quite surprising to us. Does the update and probably multi folds desirable new MKX have any chances of being your pick against rivals like the Lexus RX 350, the Acura RDX, and the Cadillac SRX? With base asking prices of $39,545, and knowing that there are chances that you would consider buying one, we have compiled a list of common problems seen on the MKX to make that decision easy for you.
2012 Lincoln MKX User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
- Engine Problems- Throttle body issues have been quite widespread on the 2012 Lincoln MKX. Sudden engine stall, loss of power (limp mode), and sputtering are some common indications of throttle body issues on the MKX. Though initially the defective part was replaced at the owner’s expense, Ford did eventually commit to the defect and extended the warranty on the throttle body and related sensors to 10-year/ 150,000 miles from the original purchase policies.
- Transmission/ half-shaft problems- Breaking or dislodging of the drive halfshaft has been an issue that has been popping up on the 2012 Lincoln MKX. Though it was dealt with on a customer basis initially, the manufacturer did admit to faulty assembly procedures that were causing this failure. A recall (ID-14V393000) was initiated later toinspect all affected vehicles and replace the drive shaft if excessive wear of the internal splines has been noticed.
- Service Brake- Service brake failure has been the single most reported complaint on the 2012 Lincoln MKX by users as NHTSA reports suggest. Multiple owners have reported experiencing a sudden loss of braking force, most times even without a warning or indication of the failure. The primary fault of this issue has been traced to be a faulty brake booster unit. Surprisingly, despite the issue being widespread, the manufacturer has decided to only extend the warranty of the part (to 10-year/150,000 miles) rather than initiating a recall taking into consideration the high risk of occurrence of a crash.
Electric System complaints
- Shifter Issues- A damaged pick-up unit on the base of the shifter on the 2012 Lincoln MKX prevent the ECU from detecting if the vehicle is in Park. This main indication of this issue is a warning mentioning “shift to park” or the gear indicator not displaying “P” when the shifter has been slotted into park mode. This is an easy fix and the replacement sensor is readily available at Ford/Lincoln dealerships.
- A/C Problems- A faulty passenger side blend door actuator mechanism on the 2012 Lincoln MKX can cause it to blow cold air despite the temperatures being set high. The failure of this component is commonly seen in this SUV and the replacements are readily available. Though the spares are available for under $60, the labor charges are reported to go high as $250 depending upon the dealer.
Structural complaints
- Driver side door actuator- The driver side door ajar warning lamp stays on despite the doors being closed and locked. The issue mainly arises due to a faulty door lock sensor that would require a replacement. The fix does not come under warranty and the replacement cost including labor is estimated to be between $250 and $350.
2012 Lincoln MKX Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
2nd July 2014 |
14V393000 |
Half-shaft disengagement causes a loss of drive or roll away |
The half-shaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the half-shaft may move outward and disengage from the link-shaft while driving, causing a loss of power or roll-away when in ‘Park’ mode. |
The dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the half-shaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the link shaft and also replace the half-shaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014 |
Should you buy a used 2012 Lincoln MKX?
Lincoln has upped the game with the update MKX last year and it definitely does stand out from the crowd with this new iteration. Essentially being a dressed-up Ford Edge, the 2012 Lincoln MKX does come out as quite reliable for a premium SUV and the low number of recalls comes in as proof of better quality control techniques, something which its parent company has been called out for in recent times. Though the low consumer complaint figures do not showcase the exact condition given its niche segment, there are no major flaws in this midsize SUV that we would flag ‘concerning’. So if you are into Lincolns, the MKX should fair you quite well.
