Lincoln MKC Engine Problems
Owners have filed 322 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Lincoln MKC across 5 model years. The 2017 model year has the most (110). The words owners use most often: “coolant intrusion” (24% of reports).
- 322engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $9,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 32%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Coolant intrusion: mentioned in 77 of 322 complaints (24%)
- Engine contacted: mentioned in 38 of 322 complaints (12%)
- Long block: mentioned in 23 of 322 complaints (7%)
- Technical service: mentioned in 20 of 322 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Lincoln MKC at $9,550, and half of them between $7,850 and $10,650.
Based on 35 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2021–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 55 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 322 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 9 a fire, 1 an injury.
Lincoln MKC engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Model years: 2015, 2016
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. 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 plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Model years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Problem: 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.
EnginePark outside
Model years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Problem: 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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2015, 2016
Problem: 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 vehicles manufactured October 20, 2014, to January 28, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines and engine block heaters. These engine block heaters have elements that may overheat while plugged in.
Risk: Overheating of the engine block increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and replace the electrical cord, as necessary. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S14. Note: Owners should not use the engine block heater until the vehicle has been remedied.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Rough idle at start up persisted as I got onto the road and caused near complete loss of drivability as "check engine" light appeared for the first time. Had towed to mechanic who replaced coils and plugs. One month later, check engine light appeared again. Brought back to mechanic who looked it…
There is a coolant leak going into the cylinder 3 causing misfire and overheating and engine shutoff Car shut down and locked up on the highway and I had to coast to the shoulder and get it towed. The ford dealer said it needs an engine replacement specifically a long block assembly estimated at…
I am filing an urgent safety complaint regarding a severe Ford/Lincoln EcoBoost engine defect, fraudulent recall reporting, and the illegal refusal of repair on my vehicle, which has only around 20,000 miles. Since this vehicle is under an active safety recall, the manufacturer and dealership have…
My 2017 Lincoln MKC equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost has recently experienced a serious engine failure and requires engine replacement. It developed an engine problem while driving on at least two occasions and is no longer reliable or safe to operate. No prior warning messages were observed on the…
Engine has a known defect causing coolant to leak into cylinders. Car is not safe to drive as car can overheat, blow gasket, loose power, catch fire while operating.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Lincoln MKCs have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 322 owner complaints about engine for the Lincoln MKC. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Lincoln MKC engine?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Lincoln MKC?
Owners report a typical cost of $9,550 (half paid between $7,850 and $10,650), from 35 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Lincoln MKC?
The most frequent phrase is “coolant intrusion”, in 77 of 322 complaints, followed by “engine contacted” (38).
See all Lincoln MKC problems.