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Your vehicleHome›Lincoln›MKC› 2016
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Lincoln · Compact SUV

2016 Lincoln MKC

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
48 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 4 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls4 critical 5
Complaints1 crash · 7 fire · 1 injured reported 80
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg
2019201820172016

The 2016 Lincoln MKC is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the MKC FWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 80 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Lincoln MKC — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Lincoln MKC · Photo: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
MKC FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202923$2,900
MKC AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192622$3,050
MKC AWDGasAWD2.3L 4-cyl turbo182621$3,200

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36505, 36513, 36514.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
MKC AWD, MKC FWD5–6 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower240 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Premier, Reserve, Select). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length179.1 in
Width (body, without mirrors)73.2 in
Height65.4 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Track, front62.6 in
Track, rear62.6 in
Curb weight3,951 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door SUV AWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2016 MKC
Other years The 2019 MKC Recalls Lincoln recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Lincoln MKC is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Equipment

26S01
116,672 vehicles
Problem 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
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFInterim owner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V011000 reported Jan 15, 2026 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Equipment

25SA4
59,006 vehicles
Problem 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
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFInterim owner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V685000 reported Oct 10, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Back Over Prevention

25S89
1,456,417 vehicles 15% reported repaired
Problem 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
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V572000 reported Sep 3, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Engine

23S28
Park outside 142,734 vehicles 78% reported repaired
Problem 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V378000 reported May 26, 2023 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

16S14
1,543 vehicles 88% reported repaired built Nov 25, 2013 – Jan 25, 2016
Problem 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 16V183000 reported Mar 31, 2016 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific MKC

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Lincoln publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Lincoln’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Lincoln MKC, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2016 Lincoln MKC

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this MKC →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
80complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 7 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 28 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2026: 12

Most-cited components

Engine 48
Power Train 12
Electrical System 11
Unspecified 9
Steering 5
Back Over Prevention 4

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the RPM was fluctuating. During the failure, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle was decelerating. The cause of the failure was not yet determined.
Engine at 100 miles Jun 28, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11529330
2016 LINCOLN MKC parked on driveway for over 24 hours, when my father was outside gardening he noticed smoke and flames coming from under the hood, the Fire Department was called who out the fire out and stated it was "totaled". Fire Department conducted their own investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Power Train Aug 14, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11479246
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended in the garage, it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries, property damage or police report filed. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Firerelated at 128,000 miles Jul 8, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11472910
Swollen lug nuts prevent use of correct wrench or supplied wrench to remove wheel. This means inability to change a tire. Needs to be warranted for lug nuts that do not swell
Wheels Jan 28, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11449301
Two things are a problem: 1) When adaptive or regular cruise control is set to a particular speed (any speed) and the increase speed (+) button is pressed once or pushed and held, the vehicle increases speed and does not stop unless cruise control is turned off or the brake pedal is pressed.
Vehicle Speed Control Jul 11, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11424267
Passenger's side headlamp became inoperative (burned out). Upon investigation at the Lincoln dealership they noticed the bulb was not fully seated. Closer inspection revealed that one of the ears that spring clip locks to was missing from the assembly. There was no explanation of how the spring clip locks were missing.
Exterior Lighting at 36,854 miles Feb 13, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11309031

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Lincoln itself: 9 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 9 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every MKC model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 69k

miles, typically

Half the 33 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 34,000 and 96,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 5
10k–20k 1
20k–30k 1
30k–40k 4
40k–50k 1
50k–60k 3
60k–70k 2
70k–80k 2
80k–90k 4
90k–100k 2
100k–150k 4
150k + 4

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine1782,1931.33×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 165
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-05-09
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 163 service bulletins, 2 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Power Train, Structure.

  • 25B51 Other
    2026-05-09 · Engine
  • 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 Equipped with a 2.0L or 2.3L Engine and Engine Block Heater System Block Heater Replacement
  • 25N15 S1 Other
    2026-04-20 · Unknown Or Other
  • Customer Satisfaction Program 25N15 - Supplement #1 Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Inspection For One-Time Replacement
  • TSB 25-2570 Service bulletin
    2025-11-26 · Electrical System
  • 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 connection issues  Dropped phone connections  Applink related performance  Travel Link not present
  • SSM 54366 Service bulletin
    2025-11-12 · Power Train
  • 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 the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
  • TSB 25-2005 Service bulletin
    2025-01-24 · Unknown Or Other
  • "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"
  • SSM 53040 Service bulletin
    2024-10-10 · Unknown Or Other
  • 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.
  • TSB 24-2165 Service bulletin
    2024-05-27 · Unknown Or Other
  • This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty, and 2018-2019 EcoSport vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience various SYNC performance relat
  • SSM 52335 Service bulletin
    2024-03-06 · Engine And Engine Cooling
  • For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford has evaluated turbochargers replaced for oil leak symptoms and although oil may collect on the external surface of a turbocharger, it is extremely rare for a turbocharger assembly to b

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0011
P0011 on Lincoln →		Camshaft timing on bank 1 is more advanced than commanded.Power Train4 bulletins
P0012
P0012 on Lincoln →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0014
P0014 on Lincoln →		The second camshaft on bank 1 is timed further advanced than commanded.Power Train4 bulletins
P0015
P0015 on Lincoln →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0016
P0016 on Lincoln →		The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.Power Train4 bulletins
P0017
P0017 on Lincoln →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0018
P0018 on Lincoln →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0019
P0019 on Lincoln →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0021
P0021 on Lincoln →		Camshaft timing on bank 2 is more advanced than commanded.Power Train4 bulletins
P0022
P0022 on Lincoln →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0024
P0024 on Lincoln →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0025
P0025 on Lincoln →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Lincoln MKC failed the emissions check on 2.7% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.4% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 2.7%

failed emissions

369 initial inspections of 360 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 MKCEvery 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.7%4.2%368
Failed the safety inspection2.4%2.2%369
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.54%0.27%369
Miles driven a year9,39610,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer96,890103,109odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

MKC by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2019 D 3 123 Park outside2018 D 4 76 Park outside2017 D 3 192 Park outside2016 this page F 5 80 Park outside

Common questions about the 2016 MKC

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Lincoln MKC have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Lincoln MKC, 4 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 26V011000, covering Equipment. 2 of them were filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. The manufacturer's own estimate for when a fix would be ready: December 2026. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Lincoln MKC?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Lincoln MKC 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (48/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Lincoln MKC?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Lincoln MKC, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Lincoln MKC?

Transport Canada measured it at 179.1 in long, 73.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 65.4 in tall, on a 105.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,951 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Lincoln MKC?

Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Lincoln MKC, most often about engine, power train, electrical system. Of those, 1 involved a crash, 7 a fire, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Lincoln MKC?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Lincoln MKC runs 5 to 6 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Lincoln MKC?

The manufacturer has filed 165 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Lincoln MKC, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-05-09. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Lincoln MKC do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Lincoln MKC failed the emissions check on 2.7% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.4% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations3 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls5NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints80NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins165NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA9 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2019 MKC The MKC model year with the cleanest record on file — grade D, 3 recalls.Recalls Every Lincoln recall on file All campaigns filed against Lincoln vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this MKC by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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