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Home›Lincoln›Lincoln MKC› engine problems
Owner complaints · Engine · every model year

Lincoln MKC engine problems, 2016–2019

335 of the 466 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Lincoln MKC 2016–2019 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2017 (132), 2019 (99), 2018 (56). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 manufacturer bulletins, 2 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

335 complaints, 4 model years 72% of everything filed about the MKC typically at 70k miles

Lincoln MKC engine problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model yearComplaints naming the engineShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
2019 in depth9982%58k19 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
2018 in depth5676%57k20 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
2017 in depth13269%80k49 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
20164860%82k42 TSBs · 2 recallsthe year →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.

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When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
335complaints name the engine, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2018: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 94 · 2024: 53 · 2025: 85 · 2026: 79

70kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 91 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 51,000 and 95,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while in a drive-thru line with the vehicle idling, the vehicle started overheating with a message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.
Engine Jul 11, 2023 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Engine Jun 27, 2023 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Engine at 32,128 miles Jul 7, 2023 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Engine Jul 6, 2023 NHTSA owner report
I purchased car in Septemver of 2023, in May of 2024 I started ha jng issues with it misfiring and a mechanic told me I had a coolant leaking. in June 2024 I had to take it to a mechanic as an emergency as it wasn't driving properly. I was then informed that I need a new engine because coolant is leaking onto engine block.
Engine Aug 1, 2024 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the engine, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

2 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Lincoln MKC years have the most engine complaints?

2017, 132; 2019, 99; 2018, 56. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (82%).

Is there a recall for the engine on the Lincoln MKC?

Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 23V378000 (2019), 16V183000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do engine problems show up on the Lincoln MKC?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 70,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 51,000 and 95,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?

The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.