2016 Lincoln MKC reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Lincoln MKC holds 80 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most MKC years here — under the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Engine block heater, Camera, and Engine.

2015 Lincoln MKC — Photo by Navigator84, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (41 of 80), then Powertrain (12) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 7 that report a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 MKC has 131 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2017 has 190 complaints, 5 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 Lincoln MKC. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (5)

Recall equipment, electrical, engine block heater 2026-01-15 · NHTSA campaign 26V011000

Summary 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.

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 once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.

Recall equipment, electrical, engine block heater 2025-10-10 · NHTSA campaign 25V685000

Summary 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.

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 will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2025-09-04 · NHTSA campaign 25V572000

Summary 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.

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 Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.

Recall Engine 2023-05-26 · NHTSA campaign 23V378000

Summary 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.

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.

Recall Engine 2016-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 16V183000

Summary 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.

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.

Complaints by component (80 total)

Engine

Powertrain

Electrical system

Engine and engine cooling

Steering

Back-over prevention

Fuel and propulsion system

Exterior lighting

Service brakes

Speed control

Structure

Wheels

Air bags

Fire-related

Forward collision avoidance

Seats

Suspension

Show 9 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"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…"
Suspension, Powertrain, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-22
"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…"
Steering · filed 2026-08-26
"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…"
Electrical system · filed 2026-08-14
"2.0 Ecoboost coolant intrusion in cylinder #4 issue with block defect. Ford Motor Company wont cover issue."
Engine · filed 2026-07-08
"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…"
Back-over prevention · filed 2026-05-20

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2016 Lincoln MKC SUV AWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2016 Lincoln MKC SUV FWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
MKC all-wheel drive	2.3L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	18	26	21 MPG	$3100
MKC all-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	19	26	22 MPG	$2950
MKC front-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	20	29	23 MPG	$2800

Specs and fitment

1st generation, 2015–2019

Body styles SUV

Oil 5W-30 (2.0L and 2.3L turbo) , 5.7 qt capacity

Tire size 235/50R18, 235/45R19, 245/45R19 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 23V-378 covers certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC vehicles: the battery monitor sensor may short-circuit and overheat, causing an engine-compartment fire while parked or driving. Owners are advised to park outside; dealers add an in-line fuse to the sensor power circuit. Recall 25V-572 covers certain 2015-2019 MKC vehicles among other Ford/Lincoln models: the rearview camera may display an inverted, distorted, or blank image; dealers inspect and replace the camera as needed.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Lincoln MKC Next year 2017 Lincoln MKC See every Lincoln MKC model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Lincoln MKC reliable?

What are common problems with a 2016 Lincoln MKC?

Is the 2016 Lincoln MKC more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 MKC has 131 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2017 has 190 complaints, 5 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Lincoln MKC been recalled?

The 2016 Lincoln MKC has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Lincoln MKC?

Owners have filed 80 complaints about the 2016 Lincoln MKC with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Lincoln MKC get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Lincoln MKC is 22 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Lincoln MKC take?

5W-30 for the 2.0L and 2.3L turbo engines on the 2015-2019 generation.

What tire sizes does the MKC use?

235/50R18, 235/45R19, and 245/45R19 depending on trim.

What does recall 23V-378 cover on the MKC?

Certain 2015-2019 MKC vehicles: the battery monitor sensor may short-circuit and overheat, causing an engine-compartment fire while parked or driving. Owners are advised to park outside; dealers add an in-line fuse to the sensor power circuit.