2016 Lincoln MKT Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#7 most-complained of 10 MKT years
The 2016 Lincoln MKT has 9 complaints, a Complaint Index of 33, and 3 recalls, ranking 7th of 10 model years. NHTSA data shows this year is rated Good compared to other MKT years.
- Complaints
- 9
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 23.5 hwy
Top 2016 Lincoln MKT problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body3 (33%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (22%)
- Other2 (22%)
- Electrical System1 (11%)
- Engine1 (11%)
- Steering1 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (11%)
What owners report
- Moonroof glass reportedly shattered suddenly while driving, with no impact or hard braking involved.
- Rear window spontaneously shattered while the vehicle was parked, with median failure mileage at 24,123 miles.
- Electric power steering reportedly cut out completely during a highway turn, at just 90 miles, triggering a warning message.
- Rear suspension toe link recall parts were reported unavailable, leaving the repair incomplete for an extended time.
- Backup camera and rear-view camera reportedly went intermittently blank, sometimes paired with an engine light for a lean-running condition.
- B-pillar trim on the passenger side reportedly partially detached, tied to the structure and body recall.
2016 Lincoln MKT recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V827000Dec 1, 2025Structure & Body11,852 vehicles
Structure:body
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKT vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 23, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 2, 2025.
- NHTSA 20V072000Feb 10, 2020Suspension, Wheels & Tires211,207 vehicles
Suspension:rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
- NHTSA 16V925000Dec 22, 2016Engine1,163 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Risk: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.
2016 Lincoln MKT fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 MPG
- Combined
- 18.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,500
- 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 MKT years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Lincoln MKT reliable?
- NHTSA lists 9 complaints for the 2016 Lincoln MKT with a Complaint Index of 33, ranking 7th worst out of 10 model years. It carries a Good verdict relative to other MKT years.
- What problems does the 2016 Lincoln MKT have?
- The top problem area is Structure & Body, making up 33% of complaints, followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 22%. Owners also reported issues with electrical systems, steering, suspension, and visibility.
- Does the 2016 Lincoln MKT have any recalls?
- Yes, it has 3 recalls covering Structure & Body (B-pillar trim detachment), Suspension (rear toe link fracture), and Engine (turbocharger oil supply tube). None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2016 MKT compare to other years?
- The 2016 model year has a Complaint Index of 33, better than 2010 (78), 2013 (100), and 2014 (89), all rated Avoid. It ranks below 2011 (22, Best) and 2018 (11, Best).