Is coolant intrusion causing engine failure a known issue with the 2018 Lincoln Mkc?

46 NHTSA complaints have been filed about coolant intrusion causing engine failure on the 2018 Lincoln Mkc (2021-11 → 2026-08). Reported component: ENGINE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11735495): "Dealer confirmed there is a coolant intrusion in the engine and the engine needs to be replaced due to a known defect" Source: NHTSA.

2018 Lincoln Mkc Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

Q: Is back-over prevention camera recall repair delay a known issue with the 2018 Lincoln Mkc?

3 NHTSA complaints have been filed about back-over prevention camera recall repair delay on the 2018 Lincoln Mkc (2025-10 → 2026-02). Reported component: BACK OVER PREVENTION. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11696082): "The contact owned a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the" Source: NHTSA.

Q: Is swollen wheel lug nuts preventing removal a known issue with the 2018 Lincoln Mkc?

3 NHTSA complaints have been filed about swollen wheel lug nuts preventing removal on the 2018 Lincoln Mkc (2022-09 → 2023-04). Reported component: WHEELS. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11514948): "When purchasing new tires today, we were informed that we needed to replace the lug nuts as the lug nut wrench no longer fit the top of the nuts. We were told that they often have this problem with Lincolns and some Fords. He said they could "force" the old ones back on, but the" Source: NHTSA.

Q: Is underhood fire recall repair parts unavailable a known issue with the 2018 Lincoln Mkc?

5 NHTSA complaints have been filed about underhood fire recall repair parts unavailable on the 2018 Lincoln Mkc (2023-07 → 2023-10). Reported component: ENGINE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11550438): "My car was recalled by Lincoln in May 2023 because a battery sensor causes the car to catch on fire anytime, on or off. I have had my car in to Lincoln 2 times since then and there are no parts to fix the recall. Lincoln says the sensors are on back order and they don't know" Source: NHTSA.

The 2018 Lincoln Mkc carries 4 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering hoses, lines/piping, and fittings and engine. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Coolant intrusion causing engine failure.” 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.

4 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

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

Campaign #18V104000 · Dec 2, 2018

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with incorrect front brake hoses that may chafe against other components, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak.

Risk: A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake hoses, replacing any that are incorrect, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S04.

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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2018 Lincoln Mkc.

Reported to NHTSA

Coolant intrusion causing engine failure

ENGINE

46 NHTSA complaints · 2021-11 → 2026-08

“Dealer confirmed there is a coolant intrusion in the engine and the engine needs to be replaced due to a known defect”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11735495

“The contact owned a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11675995

“I purchased car in Septemver of 2023, in May of 2024 I started ha jng issues with it misfiring and a mechanic told me I had a coolant leaking. in June 2024 I had to take it to a mechanic as an emergency as it wasn't driving properly. I was then informed that I need a new engine”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11605925

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Back-over prevention camera recall repair delay

BACK OVER PREVENTION

3 NHTSA complaints · 2025-10 → 2026-02

“The contact owned a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11696082

“The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted in reverse(R), the rearview camera failed displayed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11715220

“The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); 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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11694841

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Swollen wheel lug nuts preventing removal

WHEELS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2022-09 → 2023-04

“When purchasing new tires today, we were informed that we needed to replace the lug nuts as the lug nut wrench no longer fit the top of the nuts. We were told that they often have this problem with Lincolns and some Fords. He said they could "force" the old ones back on, but the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11514948

“The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while at the dealer for routine maintenance, the mechanic discovered multiple wheel lug nuts had swollen and the wheels could not be removed using the standard wrench supplied by the manufacturer. The contact indicated”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11496612

“The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that upon having the tires serviced by an independent mechanic, the mechanic informed him that all the lug nuts were swollen and difficult to be removed. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was given an”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11486500

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Underhood fire recall repair parts unavailable

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2023-07 → 2023-10

“My car was recalled by Lincoln in May 2023 because a battery sensor causes the car to catch on fire anytime, on or off. I have had my car in to Lincoln 2 times since then and there are no parts to fix the recall. Lincoln says the sensors are on back order and they don't know”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11550438

“The contact owns a 2018 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. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11546564

“My car has 2 recalls 1. RISK OF UNDERHOOD FIRE and 2. pcm reprogramming recall, Took my car to Lincoln service center they only fixed the 2nd one which is the PCM reprogramming. They called me and said my car is ready for pick up. After couple of hours I’ll check in your website”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11535277

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)

6 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 2018 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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