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2014 Lincoln MKX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
37%
13 of 35 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

37% of relevant owner complaints on the 2014 Lincoln MKX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 58% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2014 Lincoln MKX have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 13 of 35 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Lincoln MKX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%), and the largest group is filed under engine (7). For comparison, the 2013 scores 23%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
13
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
35
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
2 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES10 · 29%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7 · 20%
ENGINE7 · 20%
POWER TRAIN7 · 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5 · 14%
STRUCTURE2 · 6%

The years either side

2010
19%
10 of 111
2011
27%
38 of 149
2012
24%
19 of 84
2013
23%
36 of 163
2014
37%
13 of 35
2015
too few complaints
2016
33%
49 of 156
2017
19%
9 of 52
2018
23%
6 of 31
2019
no data
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2014

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES07/20/2018CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CONTACT WAS EXITING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT S…
ENGINE10/08/2025
This automobile has a 3.7-liter engine manufactured by Ford Motor Company. We are the second owner of the vehicle. A dealer representative informed us the motor has an inherent defect while inspecting pinch weld failures. This engine, transversely mounted, was created whereby the chain driven water pump is located behi…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM06/17/2020
SPORADICALLY GET A MESSAGE THAT THE DRIVER FROM DOOR IS AJAR WHEN IT IS CLOSED. ALSO, GET A MESSAGE THAT TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK WHEN THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK, MORE RECENTLY I HAVE ALSO GOTTEN THIS MESSAGE WHEN I START MY VEHICLE AND PUT IN DRIVE. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET BOTH MESSAGES TO GO AWAY BY OPENING AND S…

Three of 13 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2014 Lincoln MKX (1)

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 For…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2014 Lincoln MKX

Questions people ask about the 2014 Lincoln MKX

Does the 2014 Lincoln MKX have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 13 of 35 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Lincoln MKX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2014 Lincoln MKX?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Lincoln MKX. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Lincoln MKX years are better?

Among the Lincoln MKX years we track, the 2010 (19%), the 2017 (19%) and the 2013 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (37%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2014 Lincoln MKX?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2014 Lincoln MKX has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.