2016 Lincoln MKX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
90/100
#2 most-complained of 11 MKX years
The 2016 Lincoln MKX ranks 2nd worst of 11 model years, with 155 complaints, a complaint index of 90, and 7 recalls. Brakes are the top problem area, cited in 37% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 60,866.
- Complaints
- 155
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 6 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 17 city / 24.5 hwy
Top 2016 Lincoln MKX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes57 (37%)
- Engine38 (25%)
- Electrical System31 (20%)
- Other21 (14%)
- Fuel System12 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires12 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (7%)
- Structure & Body7 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (3%)
- Steering5 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report smoke or fire starting in the engine compartment shortly after starting the vehicle, sometimes preceded by dashboard warning lights and loss of power.
- Some describe the brake pedal traveling to the floor with no warning lamp activation, resulting in a crash.
- Several owners say the brake pedal design causes their shoe to hit a metal support bar, making it hard to brake smoothly.
- Coolant leaks paired with smoke under the hood have been reported, with empty radiator and reservoir containers found afterward.
- Owners describe repeated replacement of rear brake pads, rotors, and hoses within a single year, tied to the brake hose recall.
- The Sync 3 infotainment system has been reported to freeze and disable phone and 911 assist functions, requiring a manual reset.
2016 Lincoln MKX recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V544000Aug 22, 2025Brakes499,129 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The rear brake jounce hose may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.
- NHTSA 20V469000Aug 10, 2020Brakes488,594 vehicles
Service brakes
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
Risk: A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake hoses with the new hoses that have a revised braid material, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S42.
- NHTSA 20V414000Jul 17, 2020Structure & Body19,299 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:power adjust
Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.
2016 Lincoln MKX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 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.
2016 compared with other MKX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Lincoln MKX reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 MKX ranks 2nd worst of 11 model years, with a complaint index of 90 and a verdict of Avoid relative to other MKX years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2016 Lincoln MKX?
- Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 37% of complaints (57 of 155), with 4 crashes reported and a median failure mileage of 60,866.
- Does the 2016 Lincoln MKX have a brake recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists two brake-related recalls for the 2016 MKX: campaign 25V544000 for a rear brake jounce hose that may rupture and leak fluid, and campaign 20V469000 for front brake hoses that may rupture prematurely.
- Are there fire risks with the 2016 Lincoln MKX?
- NHTSA complaint data shows 3 fires reported for the 2016 MKX, several tied to the Electrical System and Engine problem areas, including cases with smoke in the engine compartment.
- How does the 2016 MKX compare to other years?
- The 2016 model has a complaint index of 90, worse than 2014 (30), 2015 (20), 2017 (50), and 2018 (40), but slightly better than 2013 (100), the worst year on record.