Lincoln MKC: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lincoln MKC problems by model year, from 598 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2019 (82%, 99 drivetrain complaints), 2018 (78%, 57 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (71%, 134 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 5 Lincoln MKC years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 4 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Lincoln MKC year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2015 (47%).
By raw volume, the 2017 drew the most drivetrain complaints (134 of 399 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Lincoln MKC year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 MKC | high | 47% | 56 | 131 | 5/5 | 12 |
| 2016 MKC | very high | 69% | 53 | 80 | 4/5 | 5 |
| 2017 MKC | very high | 71% | 134 | 191 | 3/5 | 3 |
| 2018 MKC | very high | 78% | 57 | 74 | 2/5 | 4 |
| 2019 MKC | very high | 82% | 99 | 122 | 1/5 | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lincoln MKC years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lincoln MKC engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the Lincoln MKC involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2014 | 14V525000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery | 2015 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V005000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2015 |
| Mar 2016 | 16V183000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2015–2016 |
| May 2023 | 23V378000 | engine | 2015–2019 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V685000 | equipment: electrical: engine block heater | 2016–2019 |
| Jan 2026 | 26V011000 | equipment: electrical: engine block heater | 2015–2016 |
8 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2014 | 14V484000 | visibility: windshield | 2015 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V006000 | electrical system: ignition: switch | 2015 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V643000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2015 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V472000 | seat belts | 2015 |
| Feb 2018 | 18V104000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2018 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V331000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2015 |
| Apr 2025 | 25V270000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2015 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V572000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2015–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lincoln MKC
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Lincoln MKC
What are the worst years for the Lincoln MKC?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lincoln MKC years are the 2019 (82% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2018 (78% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2017 (71% of relevant complaints, very high). 5 of 5 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lincoln MKC?
No Lincoln MKC year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2015 (47%).
Does the Lincoln MKC have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 5 scored years, 399 of 583 relevant NHTSA complaints (68%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Is the Lincoln MKC reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 5 Lincoln MKC years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 68% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Lincoln MKC?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lincoln MKC years we track, out of 14 in total: 23V378000 (May 2023, 2015–2019), 25V685000 (Oct 2025, 2016–2019), 26V011000 (Jan 2026, 2015–2016), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.