2016 Lincoln Mkc problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (28) · Power Train (10) · Engine And Engine Cooling (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lincoln Mkc model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
33 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater 2026-01-15 · campaign 26V011000 · 116,672 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. For
Equipment:electrical:engine Block Heater 2025-10-10 · campaign 25V685000 · 59,006 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2025-09-03 · campaign 25V572000 · 1,456,417 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 202
Engine 2023-05-26 · campaign 23V378000 · 142,734 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC vehicles. The battery monitor sensor may short-circuit and overheat, causing a fire in the engine compartment while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S28.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2016-03-31 · campaign 16V183000 · 1,543 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured November 25, 2013, to January 25, 2016, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured October 20, 2014, to January 28, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines and engine block heaters. These engine block heaters have elements that may overheat while plugged in.
Risk: Overheating of the engine block increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and replace the electrical cord, as necessary. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S14. Note: Owners should not use the engine block heater until the vehicle has been remedied.
Service bulletins (165)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-05-09 · 25B51 · Other
certain 2021-2024 model year bronco, 2021-2024 model year bronco sport, 2020-2022 model year corsair and escape, 2016-2024 model year explorer, 2019-2020 model year fusion, 2016-2018 model year focus rs, 2022-2024 model year maverick, 2016-2019 model year mkc and 2019-2024 model year ranger vehicles
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-20 · 25N15 S1 · Other
customer satisfaction program 25n15 - supplement #1 certain 2015-2019 model year multiple vehicle lines rear view camera inspection for one-time replacement
Electrical System 2025-11-26 · TSB 25-2570 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 24-2165 to update the tsb service procedure. some vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit various sync performance related concerns including but not limited to: display operation concerns navigation inoperative voice recognition concerns phone co
Power Train 2025-11-12 · SSM 54366 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2015-2021 ford and lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated mil with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0011, p0012, p0014, p0015, p0016, p0017, p0018, p0019, p0021, p0022, p0024 and/or p0025. pinpoint test hk in the powertrain control and emissions diagnosis (pc/ed) or in section 303-14 of th
Unknown Or Other 2025-01-24 · TSB 25-2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: • customer concern of a vibration or rough idle in d or r • shudder while driving • lack of engine rpm • low performance, lack of acceleration on take off"
Unknown Or Other 2024-10-10 · SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
while performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
Showing the 6 most recent of 165 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-22 · Suspension“i purchased this vehicle 3 weeks ago from carmax brooklyn park, mn. within 50 miles of driving, the vehicle threw a ford diagnostic trouble code p1450 indicating a unable to bleed up fuel tank vacuum( excessive vacuum in the fuel tank). this defect causes an improper fuel tank vacuum, presenting an immediate engine stalling hazard at highway speeds…”
2026-08-26 · Steering“the vehicle displayed service advanced track, hill assist and traction control warning lights and immediately locks up steering and jars the steering wheel pulling vehicle to left or right abruptly before returning to normal. it has continued to happen and i’ve taken the vehicle to the dealership numerous times and they state they are unable to rep…”
2026-08-14 · Electrical System“two years waiting for recall repair (rear-backup camera). lincoln mfg notified that a pending recall/repair for driver's rear-camera was required. as of 08/14/2026 the repair has not been performed by lincoln mfg or it's agents. rear-camera fails to work consistanly and is a danger to pedestrians. local dealerships (sedano lincoln, arron ford , a…”
2026-07-08 · Engine“2.0 ecoboost coolant intrusion in cylinder #4 issue with block defect. ford motor company wont cover issue.…”
2026-05-20 · Back Over Prevention · 56,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 lincoln mkc. the contact took the vehicle for a recall repair for notice received nhtsa campaign number 25v572000 (back over prevention). the dealer advised the contact that they had to go through the radio to complete the recall repair but this would be at the owners expense. the contact stated that the radio went out wh…”
2026-05-15 · Engine“ my 2016 lincoln mkc with a 2.0l ecoboost engine experienced coolant intrusion into cylinder 3, leading to engine misfire and check engine light to turn on. the dealership confirmed the issue for $176.55 and recommended a full long block engine replacement, estimated at over $11,000. this failure occurred at 98,000 miles. two weeks before this, th…”
2026-05-06 · Engine“i have coolant intrusion in cylinder #2 91000 miles this should be a recall it's a problem that's well documented there's a recall for the back up camera hope the camera can see through the white smoke!…”
2026-04-28 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 60,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 lincoln mkc. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the supercharger-a and the under boost needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired; however, the check engine warning light was illuminated…”
2026-03-11 · Back Over Prevention · 70,000 mi“the contact owns a 2016 lincoln mkc. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v572000 (back over prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that while in reverse(r), the rearview camera intermittently displayed a distorted image with squiggly, horizontal lines. the contact s…”
2026-02-12 · Power Train“when driving you could smell fumes, it would jerk, and kick in and out of gear and would have no heat. coolant was always low with no visible leaks to the mechanic. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.