Your vehicleHome›Lincoln›MKX› 2018

Lincoln · Compact SUV

2018 Lincoln MKX

Gas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 5

Complaints2 crash · 1 injured reported 31

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 20 mpg

2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Lincoln MKX is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the MKX FWD, is EPA-rated at 20 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 31 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

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

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
MKX FWD	Gas	FWD	2.7L 6-cyl turbo	18	25	20	$3,350
MKX FWD	Gas	FWD	3.7L 6-cyl	17	25	20	$3,350
MKX AWD	Gas	AWD	2.7L 6-cyl turbo	17	24	19	$3,550
MKX AWD	Gas	AWD	3.7L 6-cyl	16	23	19	$3,550

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39546, 39547, 39553, 39554.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
MKX AWD, MKX FWD	5 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 / California LEV-III ULEV70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
MKX AWD, MKX FWD	3 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125	All 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 style	Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	2.7 L
Engine configuration	V-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower

335 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control

Optional: Automatic emergency braking, Forward collision warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

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: Blk Label, Reserve, Select). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	190.2 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	76.0 in
Height	66.1 in
Wheelbase	112.2 in
Track, front	65.0 in
Track, rear	64.6 in
Curb weight	4,387 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	59/41

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. 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.

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

▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

25S87

499,129 vehicles 10% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The rear brake jounce hose may rupture and leak brake fluid. Risk A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 25V544000 reported Aug 22, 2025 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

20S42

488,594 vehicles 82% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely. Risk A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake hoses with the new hoses that have a revised braid material, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S42.

Filed with NHTSADefect report PDF Owner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V469000 reported Aug 10, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Electrical System

20S37

19,299 vehicles 96% reported repaired

Problem Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash. Risk An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.

NHTSA campaign 20V414000 reported Jul 17, 2020 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

18C06

503 vehicles 88% reported repaired built Jul 27, 2018 – Jul 31, 2018

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles. These vehicles may have door striker bolts that are shorter than intended. Vehicles with shorter door striker bolts fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components" potentially resulting in the doors opening in the event of a crash. Risk If the doors open in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door striker bolts, free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C06.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V612000 reported Sep 11, 2018 Ford Motor Company the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Electrical System

18S25

87 vehicles 92% reported repaired built May 29, 2018 – May 29, 2018

Problem Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, 2019 Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The power supply cables at the starter and the alternator may not have been properly secured, possibly resulting in an electrical arc. Risk An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and starter motor power supply cables to verify that they are properly secured, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S25.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V548000 reported Aug 20, 2018 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.

Whether any of this applies to one specific MKX

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 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 2018 Lincoln MKX, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

31complaints filed

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

13 per 10,000 built · Lincoln reported 24,266 MKX built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Unspecified 8

Service Brakes 8

Electrical System 5

Engine 5

Exterior Lighting 3

Wheels 2

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.

My vehicle had an electrical recall; I took it in and it gotten worse. The vehicle is making noise, and saying 911 operator is unavailable. The turning signals turn on and off, if I turn one going left, it stays on a while, or I have to shut car off a while to get it to cooperate of it doesn't signal at all.

Electrical System Sep 16, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11764786

I have experienced this issue and it's been 9 months since the first issuance from Ford on this recall. I paid $523 to repair and this is insane since mechanic told me its an OME part so still going to possibly have same issue till recall is handled

Service Brakes Aug 20, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11758229

Faulty catalytic converters. Ford has a CSP for the 2018 Lincoln mkx 3.7L engine and only included police driven Mkx's which is totally unfair when they're well aware that Faulty/failing emissions catalytic converters were installed on all of them and they fail and produce p0430 codes regardless of driving habits, I've never driven any…

Engine Apr 14, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11730994

The contact owned a 2018 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while parked at an inclined position, the vehicle rolled backward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000

Power Train at 43,000 miles Mar 14, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11511794

Vehicle (SUV) floor board and truck had standing water from unknown source. Suspect rear hatch and/or glass roof design allows for environmental contamination to enter. Water travels down to floor and pools. For example, spare tire was found to be submerged. Rear seat and trunk carpeting were moist (saturated) to the touch.

Structure Apr 4, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11459501

2018 Lincoln Mkx. Consumer writes in regards to airbag malfunction safety recall. The consumer stated the vehicle was purchased in august of 2018, with a rectangular hole cut into the carpet. The hole was located under the front passenger seat exposing the wiring harness.

Air Bags Oct 25, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11438074

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: 3 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 12 per 100,000 built. Every MKX model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	16%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	15%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 142

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-11

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 138 service bulletins, 2 emissionss, 2 others

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

25N13 Other
2026-09-11 · Service Brakes
Customer Satisfaction Program 25N13 Certain 2015-2018 Model Year Edge and 2016-2018 Model Year MKX Vehicles Rear Brake Flexible Hose Replacement
25N17 Other
2026-03-25 · Back Over Prevention — Rearview System Braking
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
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
25E02 Emissions
2025-11-25 · Power Train
The affected vehicles have an emissions control system that does not account for certain in-use conditions and might not control tailpipe emissions effectively over time.
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.
25E02 Emissions
2025-10-13 · Unknown Or Other
The affected vehicles have an emissions control system that does not account for certain in-use conditions and might not control tailpipe emissions effectively over time.
SSM 53174 Service bulletin
2024-11-27 · Unknown Or Other
Various vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or a 3.0L gas engine may require a crankshaft bolt replacement during repairs. Various vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or a 3.0L gas engine may require a crankshaft bolt replacement during repairs.
TSB 24-2331 Service bulletin
2024-10-24 · Unknown Or Other
Some 2018-2024 F150/Edge, 2018 MKX, 2019-2023 Nautilus, 2020-2025 Explorer/Aviator, 2021-2024 Bronco, and 2024 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost or a 3.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an engine oil leak from the crankshaft rear seal with retaining plate.

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.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
U0198 U0198 on Lincoln →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	7 bulletins
P0011 P0011 on Lincoln →	Camshaft timing on bank 1 is more advanced than commanded.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0012 P0012 on Lincoln →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0014 P0014 on Lincoln →	The second camshaft on bank 1 is timed further advanced than commanded.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0015 P0015 on Lincoln →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0016 P0016 on Lincoln →	The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0017 P0017 on Lincoln →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0018 P0018 on Lincoln →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0019 P0019 on Lincoln →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0021 P0021 on Lincoln →	Camshaft timing on bank 2 is more advanced than commanded.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0022 P0022 on Lincoln →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0024 P0024 on Lincoln →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 2.1%

failed emissions

580 initial inspections of 569 vehicles.

Measure	The 2018 MKX	Every 2018 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	2.1%	3.0%	579
Failed the safety inspection	2.1%	1.9%	580
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.34%	0.22%	580
Miles driven a year	8,904	10,002	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	73,859	82,833	odometer 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 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 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).

MKX by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2018 this page C 5 31 20 mpg 2017 D 5 52 20 mpg 2016 F 7 156 20 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 MKX

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Lincoln MKX have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 5 recall campaigns for the 2018 Lincoln MKX. The most serious on file is 25V544000, covering Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Lincoln MKX 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (70/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Lincoln MKX, the best EPA combined figure is 20 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

Transport Canada measured it at 190.2 in long, 76.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.1 in tall, on a 112.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,387 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Lincoln MKX, most often about unspecified, service brakes, electrical system. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 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 2018 Lincoln MKX?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Lincoln MKX runs 3 to 5 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 — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

The manufacturer has filed 142 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Lincoln MKX, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-11. 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 2018 Lincoln MKX do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Lincoln MKX failed the emissions check on 2.1% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). 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.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	5	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	31	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	142	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No 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 NHTSA	13 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We 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.

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.

JSON for this page · API

2018 Lincoln MKX

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Seating

Transmission

Driver assistance

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (5)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Electrical System

Latches/Locks/Linkages

Electrical System

Whether any of this applies to one specific MKX

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2018 Lincoln MKX

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

MKX by model year

Common questions about the 2018 MKX

Does the 2018 Lincoln MKX have any recalls?

How safe is the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

How clean is the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

How does the 2018 Lincoln MKX do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method