KnownCarProblems2016 Lincoln Mkx Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 156 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Lincoln Mkx, most often about the brakes (36% of complaints, typically around 64,000 miles). It is 4th of 12 Mkx model years by number of complaints and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2016 Lincoln Mkx problems
Brakes
56 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln Mkx. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v544000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while coming to a complete stop and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the…
Unreasonable amount of time for a manufacturer recall repair. Given the severity of this recall for the front brake flex lines the amount of time from notification to current date with no replacement parts available which is still on going. As seniors we feel that our car is very unsafe to drive as we have been told…
Engine
33 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 7,000 miles.
The vehicle when accelerating lets exhaust and carbon monoxide into car interior. Took the SUV to dealer and has been worked on several times with no fix. Ford motor company field engineer was unable to fine and recommend a repair. Asked ford to repurchase vehicle but they refused saying its norm for the SUV. They did…
Vehicle in motion loses acceleration suddenly while driving. This loss leaves you in an extremely dangerous situation when on an interstate highway or any traffic situation. Date of 07/12/17 on interstate highway.date of 06/27/17 interstate highway. 05/19 /17 vehicle in motion on interstate highway. Problem began when…
Electrical
27 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 14,500 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
On 3 separate occasions (most recent on 9/16/16) power to vehicle simply cuts out - on two occasions it has occurred at high speeds on busy interstate with heavy traffic. Extreme danger, as unable to timely pull to side of the road causing traffic jams and potential accidents/rear-ends. Selling dealer has been unable…
The contact owns 2016 Lincoln Mkx. The contact stated that the vehicle liftgate inadvertently closed trapping her. The contact stated that the failure previously occurred twice and others were able to assist her. However, this time she was by herself and when the liftgate came down, she sustained a broken hip and…
Other or unspecified
22 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 7,000 miles.
The vehicle when accelerating lets exhaust and carbon monoxide into car interior. Took the SUV to dealer and has been worked on several times with no fix. Ford motor company field engineer was unable to fine and recommend a repair. Asked ford to repurchase vehicle but they refused saying its norm for the SUV. They did…
Lincoln 2016 Mkx SUV is only 7 months old and has the following problems: 1. Where the a pillar trim panel and headliner meet on left top side, the a pillar trim panel and edge of headliner would not stay (pulling away) under rubber weather strip on front left door (5/12/16). Car was stationary. 2. The rubber weather…
Transmission
12 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles.
Traveling down interstate at 70 MPH, when vehicle lost power. Service warning light appeared on dash, followed quickly by engine service light. No response to the gas pedal. Turned off vehicle and restarted and it operated normally for about 10 minutes. 11000 miles on an 8 month old Mkx. Serious safety issue.
The SUV pto or power transfer unit over heats leaks gear oil and burns on exhurst pipes. Have to pull over to breathe and let cool down. Dealer says it is a sealed unit and should not leak. No way to service unit so you have to replace for over $2400 dollars
Fuel system
12 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 5,500 miles.
My wife lost all power while driving down highway on july 13 2016. She was able to pull over in traffic to avoid major accident from this loss of power. Was able to start car after a few minutes. Check engine light was on. She called and I instructed her to go ford immediately. Met her there and they made this a…
Traveling down interstate @ 70 MPH, when vehicle went to "coast mode" . Service warning light appeared on dash, followed quickly by engine service light. Absolutely no response to the gas pedal. Parked on side of road, when placed in drive the car would move in idle mode only. 5700 miles on 4 month old Mkx. Throttle…
Wheels and tires
8 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln Mkx. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts needed to be replaced due to the lug nut edges being rounded. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had safety concerns if the vehicle had a…
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln Mkx. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated that at start-up there was an abnormal sound coming the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light…
Lights
6 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: headlights.
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln Mkx. The contact stated that the front driver's side turn signal lamp was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to taylor mtr co-waynesville (524 russ ave, waynesville, nc 28786) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that moisture entered the headlamp housing causing damage to the bulb…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Lincoln Mkx recalls
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 17, 2026. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25s87.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 lincoln mkx and 2015-2018 edge vehicles. The rear brake jounce hose may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Brakes: service brakes
Risk: A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake hoses with the new hoses that have a revised braid material, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on may 13, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s42.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 ford edge and 2016-2018 lincoln mkx vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
Seats: power adjust
Risk: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began august 12, 2020. Owners may contact ford/lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20s37.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company, inc. (ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 lincoln mkx and 2019-2020 nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Electrical: cables
Risk: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the battery harness clips and elbow guide, and install a wire channel shield and protective sleeve to the battery cable harness, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on december 2, 2019. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available, currently expected to be the end of april 2020. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s41.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 lincoln mkx vehicles equipped with 3.7l engines. The battery positive cable harness may contact the transmission shifter cable bracket resulting in a short circuit.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gear motor bolts and apply a wax sealer. If any of the steering gear motor attachment bolts are broken or missing, a new steering gear will be installed in the vehicle. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began october 18, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19s26.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 ford fusion and lincoln mkz, 2015-2016 ford edge, and 2016 lincoln mkx vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin. Road salt or other contaminants may corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: During deployment, if the air bag does not fully inflate or the cushion detaches, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began june 16, 2017. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17c02.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 ford edge and lincoln mkx vehicles and 2017 lincoln continental vehicles. In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal air bag may not fully inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Child Seat: connector/clip
Risk: An improperly anchored child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat back trim cover and tether cover bezel on the second row, free of charge. The recall began on june 16, 2016. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16c09.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 lincoln mkx vehicles manufactured september 24, 2015. An incorrect seat back trim cover was installed on the affected vehicles, blocking the child seat tether anchors in the second row center seating position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 225, "child restraint anchorage systems."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2016 Lincoln Mkx
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Lincoln Mkx?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (56 complaints, typically around 64,000 miles); engine (33 complaints, typically around 7,000 miles); electrical (27 complaints, typically around 14,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Lincoln Mkx have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 22, 2025 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Lincoln Mkx?
- It is 4th of 12 Mkx model years by number of complaints, with 156 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.