YearToAvoid

2015 Lincoln MKX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#9 most-complained of 11 MKX years

The 2015 Lincoln MKX ranks as the Best year among 11 model years, with only 19 complaints and a complaint index of 20. It has zero recalls, no fires, and one crash reported, with Engine issues being the top problem area at 37% of complaints.

Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17.5 city / 24 hwy

Top 2015 Lincoln MKX problems

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

  1. Engine7 (37%)
  2. Other6 (32%)
  3. Electrical System5 (26%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain5 (26%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers2 (11%)
  6. Brakes1 (5%)
  7. Steering1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Some owners report a sudden complete loss of power while driving at moderate speeds, with the low oil pressure warning light coming on.
  • Owners describe an oil odor coming from the air vents during driving.
  • Several owners report a "transmission not in park" error message even when the car is correctly in park, sometimes causing the battery to drain overnight.
  • Some owners report the dashboard going dark and losing power display at highway speed before the vehicle slowed down on its own.
  • One owner described the transmission shifting into a limited "sorts mode" that suddenly cut speed from highway speeds to a crawl.
  • A owner reported the vehicle losing power, steering, and braking at once with an orange wrench warning light, requiring the car to be shut off and restarted.
2015 Lincoln MKX complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2015Mar 2016Jul 2017Nov 2018Jul 2019May 2021Aug 2022Oct 2025
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2015 to Mar 2026; peak Apr 2019 (3).

2015 Lincoln MKX recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2015 Lincoln MKX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
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.

2015 compared with other MKX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid100163120
2014Good3035120
2015Best2019019.5
2016Avoid90155719.5
2017Caution5052519.5

All Lincoln MKX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Lincoln MKX reliable?
Among the 11 model years of the Lincoln MKX with data, 2015 ranks best, with a complaint index of 20 and only 19 NHTSA complaints logged.
Does the 2015 Lincoln MKX have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2015 Lincoln MKX, and none of them are do-not-drive recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Lincoln MKX?
Engine problems are the top complaint area, making up 37% of complaints, followed by Electrical System and Transmission & Powertrain issues, each at 26%.
At what mileage do 2015 Lincoln MKX problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure across reported complaints is 27,500 miles, with Engine complaints at a median of 28,500 miles and Transmission & Powertrain complaints at 27,000 miles.
How does the 2015 MKX compare to other bad years like 2013 or 2016?
The 2013 MKX has a complaint index of 100 and the 2016 MKX has 90, both rated Avoid, while the 2015 MKX has an index of just 20 and is rated Best.

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.