Lincoln MKX: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lincoln MKX problems by model year, from 800 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.
Years to avoid: 2014 (37%, 13 drivetrain complaints) and 2016 (33%, 49 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 8 Lincoln MKX years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (19%), 2017 (19%) and 2013 (23%). 2017 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (49 of 180 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 MKX year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 MKX | no elevated signal | 19% | 10 | 111 | 8/8 | 7 |
| 2011 MKX | no elevated signal | 27% | 38 | 149 | 3/8 | 3 |
| 2012 MKX | no elevated signal | 24% | 19 | 84 | 4/8 | 1 |
| 2013 MKX | no elevated signal | 23% | 36 | 163 | 6/8 | 1 |
| 2014 MKX | elevated | 37% | 13 | 35 | 1/8 | 1 |
| 2015 MKX | too few to score | – | 7 | 19 | – | 0 |
| 2016 MKX | elevated | 33% | 49 | 156 | 2/8 | 7 |
| 2017 MKX | no elevated signal | 19% | 9 | 52 | 7/8 | 5 |
| 2018 MKX | no elevated signal | 23% | 6 | 31 | 5/8 | 5 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lincoln MKX years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lincoln MKX powertrain recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Lincoln MKX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2014 | 14V393000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2012–2014 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V712000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2010 |
18 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2010 | 10V516000 | latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock | 2011 |
| Dec 2010 | 10V659000 | structure: body | 2011 |
| Feb 2011 | 11V128000 | electrical system: software | 2011 |
| May 2016 | 16V343000 | child seat: tether: connector/clip | 2016 |
| May 2016 | 16V384000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Feb 2017 | 17V123000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2016–2017 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V046000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V548000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2018 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V612000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2018 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V001000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Aug 2019 | 19V632000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2016 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V809000 | electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables | 2016–2017 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V414000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2016–2018 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V469000 | service brakes | 2016–2018 |
| Feb 2021 | 21E013000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V081000 | air bags: frontal | 2010 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V158000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Aug 2025 | 25V544000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2016–2018 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lincoln MKX
- 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 MKX
What are the worst years for the Lincoln MKX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lincoln MKX years are the 2014 (37% of relevant complaints, elevated) and the 2016 (33% of relevant complaints, elevated). 2 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lincoln MKX?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Lincoln MKX years are the 2010 (19%), the 2017 (19%) and the 2013 (23%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Lincoln MKX have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 180 of 719 relevant NHTSA complaints (25%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2014 and 2016.
Is the Lincoln MKX reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 8 Lincoln MKX years we score have an elevated complaint share and 6 do not. Pooled across those years, 25% 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 MKX?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lincoln MKX years we track, out of 20 in total: 14V393000 (Jul 2014, 2012–2014), 15V712000 (Oct 2015, 2010). 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.