LincolnMKS2012Overview/lincoln/mks/2012/base/

2012 Lincoln MKS

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 MKS.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2012 Lincoln MKS is a passenger car maintained with 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil. Ownership records for this model year show 3 recalls and 16 total owner complaints, with steering identified as the top complaint area. Within the 2009-2016 model complaint history, the 2012 unit sits well below the 2013 peak of 140 complaints while remaining above the 2016 low of 3. This placement frames the 2012 MKS as a relatively lower-complaint entry in the lineup, though it retains specific steering-related feedback distinct from the higher complaint volumes seen elsewhere in the model history.

Model year20162015201420132012201120102009

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-55R19OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Thermostat9T4Z8A586B

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length203.9 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height61.4 in
Wheelbase113 in
Curb weight4277 lb
Track (front / rear)65 / 65.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the MKS of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.4–7.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.40 sec — 2010 EcoBoost Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2010EcoBoost Sedan 3.5L Twin-Turbo V65.40 sec14.10 sec355 hpAWD
2009Sedan 3.7L V67.00 sec15.20 sec273 hpAWD
2009Sedan 3.7L V67.40 sec15.60 sec273 hpAWD
2009Sedan 3.7L V67.50 sec15.70 sec273 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidFord Mercon LV
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.0-11.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case FluidSYNTHETIC · GL-5
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1 Pint

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0
Front Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.63 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Standard BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Pressure Test14 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature175-182 °F
Pressure Test14 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature175-182 °F
RPM51-62 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance1-2 Turbo ohms

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket53 ft-lbs / 24 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle111 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.122 in / 0.393 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 37 ft. lbs., step 4: 9089 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
189 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 4: 37 ft. lbs., step 5: 9089 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install 6 new exhaust manifold stud9 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install 6 new exhaust manifold stud9 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Lincoln MKS marks a notable inflection point in its generation, with complaints dropping sharply to 16—less than half the volume of 2011 (43) and a fraction of the 2013 spike (140). While recalls held steady at three, mirroring 2011, the data suggests Ford addressed earlier build issues, as Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) rose to 34, indicating proactive resolution of emerging concerns. The 2012 model’s top complaint areas—primarily steering and electrical systems—align with broader generational trends but occur at a significantly lower frequency than in adjacent years. The absence of investigations or fire-related complaints further distinguishes this year as relatively stable. Compared to the post-2012 surge in recalls and complaints, the 2012 MKS appears to be a sweet spot in the generation’s reliability arc. **Takeaway: This is one of the stronger years to buy, offering a balance of lower complaints and recalls with heightened manufacturer attention to known issues.**

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
34
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
16
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 16 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering6
Steering,Electrical System,Unknown Or Other2
Service Brakes1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Exterior Lighting1
Power Train1
Structure,Unknown Or Other1
Power Train,Engine,Visibility/Wiper1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V040000Structure:Body:DoorReported 28/01/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners…

15V340000Steering:Electric Power Assist SystemReported 02/06/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 34 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 530402024-10-10Unknown Or OtherWhile performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a…
SSM 515362023-04-04StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis…
SSM 492102020-09-25Engine And Engine CoolingSome 2009-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbochargers may exhibit an oil…
SSM 481302019-08-09VisibilitySome 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or…
SSM 481232019-08-07Electrical SystemFor Ford and Lincoln vehicles that require positive or negative battery terminal…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific MKS. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 MKS take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 MKS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.