Is exhaust fumes and odor entering the cabin a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?

10 NHTSA complaints have been filed about exhaust fumes and odor entering the cabin on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx (2016-09 → 2020-02). Reported component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11311789): "CAR IS GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR WITH A STRONG SULFUR SMELL, ESPECIALLY AFTER HARD ACCELERATION. CAR IS BACK AT LINCOLN FOR THE SECOND TIME TRYING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM" Source: NHTSA.

Is swollen or rounded lug nuts preventing wheel removal a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?

6 NHTSA complaints have been filed about swollen or rounded lug nuts preventing wheel removal on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx (2021-12 → 2024-02). Reported component: WHEELS. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11574530): "Told by Diamond Ford in Lancaster CA that my Lug Nuts need to be replaced at the cost of $225.00. I have been driving for 60 years and Never had to replace Lug Nuts" Source: NHTSA.

Is brake hose rupture and recall parts delay a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?

43 NHTSA complaints have been filed about brake hose rupture and recall parts delay on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx (2019-05 → 2026-08). Reported component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11754664): "The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The ABS warning light was illuminated" Source: NHTSA.

Is throttle body failure and sudden loss of power a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?

35 NHTSA complaints have been filed about throttle body failure and sudden loss of power on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx (2015-10 → 2024-08). Reported component: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #10906061): "I WAS DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE ON THE BROOKLYN QUEENS EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING HOME FROM ASTORIA, QUEENS TO MY HOME IN BROOKLYN. HAVING PASSED THE ATLANTIC AVENUE EXIT AT APPROXIMATELY 3:15 PM AND PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION" Source: NHTSA.

Is electrical system failure and no-start a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?

7 NHTSA complaints have been filed about electrical system failure and no-start on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx (2020-02 → 2022-10). Reported component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11484035): "The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The contact's husband replaced the battery, and the vehicle restarted; however, the failure reoccurred twice" Source: NHTSA.

Is power liftgate closing unexpectedly on occupants a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?

4 NHTSA complaints have been filed about power liftgate closing unexpectedly on occupants on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx (2017-09 → 2023-04). Reported component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11318773): "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2016 LINCOLN MKX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LIFTGATE INADVERTENTLY CLOSED TRAPPING HER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED TWICE AND OTHERS WERE ABLE TO ASSIST HER" Source: NHTSA.

Is water pump failure and coolant leak into engine oil a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?

5 NHTSA complaints have been filed about water pump failure and coolant leak into engine oil on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx (2018-04 → 2026-05). Reported component: ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11739238): "The internal water pump failed, dumping a half gallon of antifreeze into the engine oil. This caused the engine to suddenly stall and lose all power while driving in the middle of active traffic, creating a severe crash hazard" Source: NHTSA.

Is rear differential and driveline failure a known issue with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?

4 NHTSA complaints have been filed about rear differential and driveline failure on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx (2018-10 → 2026-06). Reported component: POWER TRAIN. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11747526): "Tuesday June 2, 2026 my car went into the shop. At which time the viscous coupler was replaced for the rear AWD differential. This was a Ford OEM Part that had failed" Source: NHTSA.

2016 Lincoln Mkx Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2016 Lincoln Mkx carries 7 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering electric power assist system and service brakes. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Exhaust fumes and odor entering the cabin.” 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.

7 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Campaign #19V632000 · Aug 29, 2019

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.

Risk: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S26.

SERVICE BRAKES

Campaign #20V469000 · Oct 8, 2020

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Campaign #19V809000 · Dec 11, 2019

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Lincoln MKX vehicles equipped with 3.7L engines. The battery positive cable harness may contact the transmission shifter cable bracket resulting in a short circuit.

Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the battery harness clips and elbow guide, and install a wire channel shield and protective sleeve to the battery cable harness, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on December 2, 2019. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available, currently expected to be the end of April 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S41.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

Campaign #20V414000 · Jul 17, 2020

Issue: 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.

Fix: 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.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #17V123000 · Feb 27, 2017

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles and 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles. In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal air bag may not fully inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: During deployment, if the air bag does not fully inflate or the cushion detaches, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C02.

CHILD SEAT:TETHER: CONNECTOR/CLIP

Campaign #16V343000 · May 24, 2016

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 24, 2015. An incorrect seat back trim cover was installed on the affected vehicles, blocking the child seat tether anchors in the second row center seating position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems."

Risk: An improperly anchored child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat back trim cover and tether cover bezel on the second row, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C09.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Campaign #25V544000 · Aug 22, 2025

Issue: 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.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Interim owner letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

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

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

Exhaust fumes and odor entering the cabin

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

10 NHTSA complaints · 2016-09 → 2020-02

“CAR IS GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR WITH A STRONG SULFUR SMELL, ESPECIALLY AFTER HARD ACCELERATION. CAR IS BACK AT LINCOLN FOR THE SECOND TIME TRYING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11311789

“2016 LINCOLN MKX - UNDER HARD ACCELERATION, I AM GETTING EXHAUST FUMES AND ALSO ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING INTO THE INTERIOR WITH A.C. ON AND IN RECIRCULATE MODE WITH WINDOWS UP. MY SUV ONLY HAS 27,000 MILES ON IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11011586

“SINCE PURCHASING BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER 2015, VEHICLE HAS EMITTED STRONG SULPHURIC SMELL IN CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING FROM ANY SPEED OR FROM STATIONARY POSITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11012053

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Swollen or rounded lug nuts preventing wheel removal

WHEELS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2021-12 → 2024-02

“Told by Diamond Ford in Lancaster CA that my Lug Nuts need to be replaced at the cost of $225.00. I have been driving for 60 years and Never had to replace Lug Nuts”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11574530

“Brought vehicle into the dealer for tire rotation service. They said they could not take my wheels off the car because the lug nuts have become swollen”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11459743

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts needed to be replaced due to the lug nut edges being rounded”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11443824

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake hose rupture and recall parts delay

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

43 NHTSA complaints · 2019-05 → 2026-08

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The ABS warning light was illuminated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11754664

“I am writing to file a formal safety complaint regarding the extreme delay in the recall remedy for my vehicle. Despite the recall being issued months ago, Ford Motor Company/Lincoln has failed to resolve this critical safety issue in a timely manner”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11744532

“Right rear brake line ruptured while driving. I felt the pedal go to the floor, pulled over and got towed home”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11660238

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Throttle body failure and sudden loss of power

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

35 NHTSA complaints · 2015-10 → 2024-08

“I WAS DRIVING IN THE CENTER LANE ON THE BROOKLYN QUEENS EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING HOME FROM ASTORIA, QUEENS TO MY HOME IN BROOKLYN. HAVING PASSED THE ATLANTIC AVENUE EXIT AT APPROXIMATELY 3:15 PM AND PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10906061

“I WAS ON I 10 HEADED WEST WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I HAD A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO CROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER (WHICH WAS VERY SMALL). SO THERE I SAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10888737

“WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND WARNING LIGHT/WRENCH SYMBOL CAME ON. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH AND LIMPED TO SIDE OF ROAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10917221

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electrical system failure and no-start

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

7 NHTSA complaints · 2020-02 → 2022-10

“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The contact's husband replaced the battery, and the vehicle restarted; however, the failure reoccurred twice”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11484035

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 LINCOLN MKX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING OUT OF A STANDSTILL, THE VEHICLE STATED "A TRAIN MAINTENANCE NEEDED" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11408346

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LINCOLN MKX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V809000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11326497

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power liftgate closing unexpectedly on occupants

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2017-09 → 2023-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2016 LINCOLN MKX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LIFTGATE INADVERTENTLY CLOSED TRAPPING HER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED TWICE AND OTHERS WERE ABLE TO ASSIST HER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11318773

“WHEN LOADING GROCERIES IN THE TRUNK OF THE SUV, I HAD KEYS IN MY POCKET AND MY 8 YEAR OLD WAS LEANING OVER IN THE TRUNK PUTTING THE BAGS IN THE BACK- HER FEET WERE UNDER NEATH THE BACK OF THE CAR AND THE TRUNK STARTED CLOSING BC I WAS WITHIN RANGE FOR THE HANDLESS ENTRY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11279506

“In 2019 the rear liftgate on my 2016 Lincoln MKX would open correctly and then immediately start automatically closing causing whomever was standing at the rear of the vehicle to abruptly jump out of the way of the closing hatch to avoid serious injury”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11519580

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Water pump failure and coolant leak into engine oil

ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-04 → 2026-05

“The internal water pump failed, dumping a half gallon of antifreeze into the engine oil. This caused the engine to suddenly stall and lose all power while driving in the middle of active traffic, creating a severe crash hazard”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11739238

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LINCOLN MKX. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE RADIATOR AND RESERVOIR CONTAINERS WERE EMPTY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11089559

“At this months regular oils change my current mechanic Dahl ford said the water pump was leaking. The estimated repair is $5000”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11507461

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear differential and driveline failure

POWER TRAIN

4 NHTSA complaints · 2018-10 → 2026-06

“Tuesday June 2, 2026 my car went into the shop. At which time the viscous coupler was replaced for the rear AWD differential. This was a Ford OEM Part that had failed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11747526

“The rear differential appears to be an issue on these vehicles. 2021-2022 models/vehicles were recalled for having an issue with the rear differential. Fortunately there was not an accident with my vehicle as I was able to determine that it shouldn’t be driven”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11634018

“THE SUV PTO OR POWER TRANSFER UNIT OVER HEATS LEAKS GEAR OIL AND BURNS ON EXHURST PIPES. HAVE TO PULL OVER TO BREATHE AND LET COOL DOWN. DEALER SAYS IT IS A SEALED UNIT AND SHOULD NOT LEAK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11144491

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)

12 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 Mkx 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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