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2015 Lincoln MKC problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
47%
56 of 119 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

47% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Lincoln MKC are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 60% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 12 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 43%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2015 Lincoln MKC have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 56 of 119 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Lincoln MKC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (47%), and the largest group is filed under engine (33). For comparison, the 2016 scores 69%. 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
56
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
131
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
12
7 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE33 · 25%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23 · 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18 · 14%
POWER TRAIN18 · 14%
BACK OVER PREVENTION16 · 12%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12 · 9%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
47%
56 of 131
2016
69%
53 of 80
2017
71%
134 of 191
2018
78%
57 of 74
2019
82%
99 of 122
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

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2015

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 TRAIN07/31/2018CRASH1 INJURED
ON APRIL 14, 2017, AT 9:10 P.M., ON MY WAY HOME, I PULLED UP TO OUR TOWNHOME MAIL BOX CENTER, PUT MY CAR IN PARK, UNHOOKED MY SEAT BELT AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET MY MAIL. I LEFT MY CAR DOOR OPEN AS I WAS ONLY GOING TO GET THE MAIL AND GET BACK IN, AS I HAVE DONE THOUSANDS OF TIMES. RIGHT AFTER I GOT…
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM08/03/2026
When I first submitted the VIN# just one hour ago, it responded with 2 open recalls, now it is responding with only one! The one that magically dropped was a major safety issue , a possibility of a cracked fuel injector , which of course could start a fire at any time ! Why did it suddenly disappear?!
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE02/09/2026
Vehicle unresponsive after sitting idol at traffic light. When trying to accelerate, no power. Vehicle was still running, but unable to accelerate. Finally able to accelerate after RPMs up to nearly 3000 rpms, and slow to respond and accelerate. Engine warning code on dashboard soon after. Error code is P0751, shift so…

Three of 56 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2015 Lincoln MKC (12)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2…
SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles. Improperly manufactured bolts may have be…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 vehic…

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

Before you buy a 2015 Lincoln MKC

Questions people ask about the 2015 Lincoln MKC

Does the 2015 Lincoln MKC have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 56 of 119 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Lincoln MKC concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (47%). 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 2015 Lincoln MKC?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns on the 2015 Lincoln MKC. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Lincoln MKC years are better?

The 2015 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Lincoln MKC years we track (47%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2015 Lincoln MKC?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2015 Lincoln MKC 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.