The Lemon Index

All cars · Lincoln MKC · 2016

2016 Lincoln MKC. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index40100 = average car
Complaints12NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold25,562U.S. model year
Per 100K sold47complaints
Complaint rank#3 of 5among the 5 scored Lincoln MKC model years (2015–2019); #1 = fewest complaints per car sold, not the YouTube rank

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 3,275 and 34,000 miles. Median 28,070, from 10 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain17%
Steering17%
Engine17%
Lights8%
Seats8%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
1210002

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 26V011000 Jan 2026 Equipment / Electrical / Engine Block Heater

    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.

    Remedy. 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

  • 25V685000 Oct 2025 Equipment / Electrical / Engine Block Heater

    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.

    Remedy. 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

  • 25V572000 Sep 2025 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    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.

    Remedy. 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 Identificati

  • 23V378000 May 2023 Engine

    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.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 16V183000 Mar 2016 Engine And Engine Cooling / Engine

    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.

    Remedy. 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.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021–

Manufacturer communications 165

Lincoln filed 165 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • 2015-2016 mkc - without active park assist intermittently inoperative steering column controls…
  • 2015-2016 mkc - active park assist inoperative steering column controls with…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Lincoln MKC SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Lincoln MKC SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

Engines and drivetrains 3

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)FWD20 / 29 / 23Regular$2,700
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)AWD19 / 26 / 22Regular$2,850
2.3L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)AWD18 / 26 / 21Regular$2,950

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

YouTube repair topics

200 videos about the 2015–2019 Lincoln MKC, 4.2M views.

TopicVideosViews
Brakes & ABS2127K
Gauges, lights & wiring266K
Intake, EGR & engine sensors257K
Windows, doors & mirrors232K
Steering & suspension232K
Infotainment, battery & electrical228K
Driveshaft, axles & 4x4222K
Timing chain & engine39K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2015752837,667Electrical
2016401225,562Transmission & drivetrain
2017561627,048Engine
201830826,241Lane assist
201927725,815Engine

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

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