Is coolant intrusion into engine cylinders (2.0l ecoboost) a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkc?

14 NHTSA complaints have been filed about coolant intrusion into engine cylinders (2.0l ecoboost) on the 2016 Lincoln Mkc (2022-09 → 2026-07). Reported component: ENGINE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11749189): "2.0 Ecoboost coolant intrusion in cylinder #4 issue with block defect. Ford Motor Company wont cover issue" Source: NHTSA.

Is rearview camera failure under back over prevention recall a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkc?

7 NHTSA complaints have been filed about rearview camera failure under back over prevention recall on the 2016 Lincoln Mkc (2025-01 → 2026-08). Reported component: BACK OVER PREVENTION. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11756986): "Two years waiting for recall repair (rear-backup camera). Lincoln Mfg notified that a pending recall/repair for driver's rear-camera was required. As of 08/14/2026 the repair has not been performed by Lincoln Mfg or it's agents" Source: NHTSA.

Is transmission harsh shifting and gear-shifter failure a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkc?

6 NHTSA complaints have been filed about transmission harsh shifting and gear-shifter failure on the 2016 Lincoln Mkc (2017-05 → 2025-08). Reported component: POWER TRAIN. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11678022): "Was at the Drive-thru ordering speaker and the car would not shift out of park and could not manually be shifted into neutral so the car could be moved. Drive-thru ordering window was blocked for 16 hyrs. Had to have the car towed with dolly" Source: NHTSA.

2016 Lincoln Mkc Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

Q: Is engine recall repair delayed by parts unavailability a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkc?

12 NHTSA complaints have been filed about engine recall repair delayed by parts unavailability on the 2016 Lincoln Mkc (2023-06 → 2024-06). Reported component: ENGINE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11592125): "The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted" Source: NHTSA.

Q: Is engine compartment fire a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkc?

7 NHTSA complaints have been filed about engine compartment fire on the 2016 Lincoln Mkc (2021-09 → 2024-06). Reported component: FIRERELATED. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11593936): "The contact owned a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while an employee was driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, prompting him to pull to the shoulder of the roadway" Source: NHTSA.

The 2016 Lincoln Mkc carries 5 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering engine. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Coolant intrusion into engine cylinders (2.0L EcoBoost).” Lincoln uses Ford's Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor: it tracks how the vehicle is actually driven and calls for oil service when needed — up to 10,000 miles or 12 months on normal duty, much sooner with towing or repeated short trips. EcoBoost-powered Aviators and Nautilus models are turbocharged: heat is their maintenance story, so oil quality and cooling-system health matter more than on the old naturally aspirated V8s. Traditional V8 Navigators and Town Cars are long-interval machines — 100,000-mile plugs — that mostly reward fluid discipline.

5 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Campaign #16V183000 · Mar 31, 2016

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured November 25, 2013, to January 25, 2016, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured October 20, 2014, to January 28, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines and engine block heaters. These engine block heaters have elements that may overheat while plugged in.

Risk: Overheating of the engine block increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and replace the electrical cord, as necessary. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S14. Note: Owners should not use the engine block heater until the vehicle has been remedied.

ENGINE

Campaign #23V378000 · May 26, 2023

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC vehicles. The battery monitor sensor may short-circuit and overheat, causing a fire in the engine compartment while parked or driving.

Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S28.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #25V572000 · Apr 9, 2025

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

Campaign #25V685000 · Oct 10, 2025

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

Campaign #26V011000 · Jan 15, 2026

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Lincoln Mkc.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Action #EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 200…
View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Coolant intrusion into engine cylinders (2.0L EcoBoost)

ENGINE

14 NHTSA complaints · 2022-09 → 2026-07

“2.0 Ecoboost coolant intrusion in cylinder #4 issue with block defect. Ford Motor Company wont cover issue”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11749189

“I purchased a 2016 Lincoln MKC 2.0 with 96k miles on it 2 months ago, and we just discovered a coolant leak into the first cylinder, causing a cracked head gasket. The engine needs to be replaced, and will cost $15k”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11658213

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a coolant leak into cylinder #3 and the engine block needed to be replaced”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11486419

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine recall repair delayed by parts unavailability

ENGINE

12 NHTSA complaints · 2023-06 → 2024-06

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11592125

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11528969

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rearview camera failure under Back Over Prevention recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION

7 NHTSA complaints · 2025-01 → 2026-08

“Two years waiting for recall repair (rear-backup camera). Lincoln Mfg notified that a pending recall/repair for driver's rear-camera was required. As of 08/14/2026 the repair has not been performed by Lincoln Mfg or it's agents”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11756986

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact took the vehicle for a recall repair for notice received NHTSA Campaign Number 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11739043

“Faulty rear camera system. When reversing the vehicle, the infotainment screen shows a turbulent gray static screen rather than a rear view of the vehicle. Extreme safety concern and hazard. Issue is recurring”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11619796

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission harsh shifting and gear-shifter failure

POWER TRAIN

6 NHTSA complaints · 2017-05 → 2025-08

“Was at the Drive-thru ordering speaker and the car would not shift out of park and could not manually be shifted into neutral so the car could be moved. Drive-thru ordering window was blocked for 16 hyrs. Had to have the car towed with dolly”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11678022

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that she started the vehicle and when she shifted the gear shifter into drive, the gear shifted into neutral instead. The contact stated that she noticed that the park mode light was displayed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11553932

“WHEN VEHICLE IS SLOWED (EVEN SLIGHTLY) BY DEACCELERATING OR SPED UP BY ACCELERATING THE SHIFTING SUDDENING AND HARSHLY GRABS AND LURCHES EFFECTING VEHICLE STABILITY. THE IMPACT IS VERY PRONOUNCED AND AUDIBLY LOUD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11165541

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine compartment fire

FIRERELATED

7 NHTSA complaints · 2021-09 → 2024-06

“The contact owned a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while an employee was driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, prompting him to pull to the shoulder of the roadway”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11593936

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unattended, the vehicle caught on fire”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11509731

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended in the garage, it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11472910

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped. (2004-era Town Cars predate cabin filters; modern Lincolns locate it behind the glovebox.)

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement

Every 100,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (OAT) on modern models: first change around 10 years / 200,000 miles per Ford, though shops commonly refresh by 100,000. Older green-coolant V8s: every 5 years. Never mix chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Feature-heavy Lincolns (air suspension compressors, power everything) expose weak batteries as electrical gremlins first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

8 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

complaints mentioning a crash

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc reflects Lincoln's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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