YearToAvoid

2016 Lincoln MKC Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#5 most-complained of 5 MKC years

The 2016 Lincoln MKC ranks best among 5 model years, with a Complaint Index of 0, 80 complaints, and 5 recalls. Engine issues dominate at 59% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 82,193 miles, but overall this year shows fewer reported problems than 2015, 2017, or 2019.

Complaints
80
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
1 / 7
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 26 hwy

Top 2016 Lincoln MKC problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine47 (59%)
  2. Electrical System13 (16%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain12 (15%)
  4. Other10 (13%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (6%)
  6. Steering5 (6%)
  7. Fuel System4 (5%)
  8. Structure & Body3 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)
  10. Brakes2 (3%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report engine compartment fires occurring both while driving and while the vehicle is parked and off.
  • Owners describe smoke and flames emerging from under the hood, sometimes leading to total loss of the vehicle.
  • Transmission jerks, bangs, or lurches into gear when accelerating from a coast, at both low and highway speeds.
  • The vehicle has stalled while driving with a "shift system fault" message appearing on the instrument panel.
  • One owner reported the driver's seat shifting and popping under them while turning corners.
  • A driver reported the front airbag failed to deploy during a frontal collision at about 45 mph.
2016 Lincoln MKC complaints: complaints filed per quarter122016 Q12018 Q12019 Q32021 Q42023 Q22024 Q22025 Q32026 Q3
105 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q4 (12).

2016 Lincoln MKC recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V011000Jan 15, 2026Other116,672 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:engine block heater

    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 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.

  2. NHTSA 25V685000Oct 10, 2025Other59,006 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:engine block heater

    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 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.

  3. NHTSA 25V572000Sep 3, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,456,417 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

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

See all 5 recalls for the 2016 Lincoln MKC →

2016 Lincoln MKC fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other MKC years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid751311222
2016Best080522
2017Avoid100190321.5
2018Good2574421.5

All Lincoln MKC years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Lincoln MKC a good year?
Among the 5 model years with data, 2016 has a Complaint Index of 0 and ranks best, with 80 complaints and 5 recalls, compared to higher complaint counts and 'Avoid' verdicts for 2015 and 2017.
What are the main problems with the 2016 Lincoln MKC?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints make up 59% of all complaints for this year, with a median failure mileage of 82,193 miles, followed by Electrical System issues at 16% and Transmission & Powertrain issues at 15%.
Does the 2016 Lincoln MKC have engine fire recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists a recall (23V378000) for a battery monitor sensor that may short-circuit and overheat, causing an engine compartment fire, and instructs owners to park outside away from structures until repaired.
How many recalls does the 2016 Lincoln MKC have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Lincoln MKC, covering engine block heater cracking, a rearview camera defect, and a battery monitor sensor fire risk, among others.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Lincoln MKC?
EPA rates the 2016 Lincoln MKC at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.