YearToAvoid

2018 Lincoln MKT Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

11/100

#9 most-complained of 10 MKT years

The 2018 Lincoln MKT ranks 9th worst out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 11 and only 7 complaints logged. NHTSA lists 2 recalls, including a B-pillar trim recall, but no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths tied to this year. It's rated Best among MKT years.

Complaints
7
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 21 hwy

Top 2018 Lincoln MKT problems

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

  1. Other3 (43%)
  2. Structure & Body3 (43%)
  3. Brakes1 (14%)
  4. Electrical System1 (14%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (14%)
  6. Fuel System1 (14%)

What owners report

  • Exterior door and windshield trim panels detach while driving, sometimes at highway speed around 55 MPH.
  • Keyless entry trim on the driver's side has fallen loose, held only by the wiring harness, and swung into the vehicle body.
  • Bluetooth and navigation systems reportedly disconnect repeatedly during trips.
  • Engine hesitates and runs rough at idle, with a blinking check-engine light leading to replacement of fuel injectors, spark plugs, and ignition coils.
  • Structure and body complaints show a median failure mileage of 91,100 miles.
2018 Lincoln MKT complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2020Oct 2021Sep 2023Mar 2024Oct 2025Jan 2026May 2026
10 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2020 to May 2026; peak May 2020 (3).

2018 Lincoln MKT recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

2018 Lincoln MKT fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
21 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
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.

2018 compared with other MKT years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Good339318.5
2017No verdict03317
2018Best117217
2019Good4416417

All Lincoln MKT years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Lincoln MKT reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 MKT has a complaint index of 11, the lowest among the 10 MKT years with data, and ranks 9th worst (meaning it's actually one of the best). It carries a 'Best' verdict relative to other MKT years.
What problems does the 2018 Lincoln MKT have?
NHTSA data shows 7 complaints for this year, with Structure & Body issues (43% of complaints) as the top problem area, mainly detaching trim panels. Brakes, electrical, collision avoidance, and fuel system each account for 14% of complaints.
Does the 2018 Lincoln MKT have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2018 MKT: one for detaching B-pillar door trim (campaign 25V827000) and one for rear suspension toe link fractures on Police Interceptor/SHO Performance Pack models (campaign 20V072000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2018 Lincoln MKT compare to other years?
The 2018 MKT has a complaint index of 11, far below the worst year, 2013, which has an index of 100 and 69 complaints. Only the 2017 model, with 3 complaints and an index of 0, ranks better.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Lincoln MKT?
EPA rates the 2018 MKT at 17 MPG combined (15 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800.

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.