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Lincoln · NHTSA safety record

2017 Lincoln MKC

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

188

Complaints

7

Crashes

2

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2017 Lincoln MKC have filed 188 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2017 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 109 of them (58%). The typical failure was reported at 63,000 miles, the median across the 59 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose 36% year on year: 53 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 39 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

25V685000 · October 10, 2025

The defect
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.
The risk
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 59,006 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V572000 · September 4, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
The risk
A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,456,417 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE

23V378000 · May 26, 2023

Park outside until repaired

The defect
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.
The risk
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 142,734 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 188.

ENGINE 109 58%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 21 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21 11%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 20 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19 10%
POWER TRAIN 10 5%
AIR BAGS 3 2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 2%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 3 2%
WHEELS 3 2%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 51.

2017 2025 2026
2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 63,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LINCOLN MKC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON A MAIN ROAD, A VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CUT HER OFF TURNING INTO HER LANE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE MAIN ROAD. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BONE BRUISES IN HER STERNUM AND DISPLACED RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. *DT*DT

NHTSA complaint 11399135. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · 8,000 miles

THE CAR WAS NOT ON. IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF A RESIDENTIAL HOME. THE LIFT GATE WAS OPEN. THE ARM THAT LIFTS AND SUPPORTS THE LIFT GATE BROKE SUDDENLY. IT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION AND A LARGE PRESSURIZED SPRING (GREATER THAN 2 FEET IN LENGTH) PROPELLED FROM THE LIFT GATE ARM. THIS SPRING STRUCK A CHILD IN THE FACE WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT IT KNOCKED HIM DOWN, WITH CUTS AND BRUISED TO THE CHILD'S FACE (NEAR THE EYES). THE FORCE OF THE SPRING ALSO CAUSED A DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, IT HAS POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BODILY HARM.

NHTSA complaint 11045083. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 9,800 miles

USB CHARGING AND SNYC CONNECTION STATION AT THE BOTTOM OF CONSOLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BARELY ESCAPED WITH MY LIFE.

NHTSA complaint 11001858. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 80,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving, a burning odor was detected as the vehicle lost power. Upon the contact's arrival at home, her fiancé called AAA service. Where upon inspection the AAA technician diagnosed the vehicle with a battery issue stating that the was about to explode. No warning lights were illuminated. The battery was replaced by the however the contact stated that the vehicle continued to have electrical problems. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer or dealer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA complaint 11632421. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Check engine light on. Codes P0316, P0300, P0301, P0302. Technician confirmed via scope coolant intrusion on cylinder 1 and 2. Technician stated it is known issue with this engine and recommends a new engine for $16,169.92. This has been an ongoing issue for the past two years.

NHTSA complaint 11757136. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
My husband and I own a 2017 Lincoln MKZ that was purchase new in 2018. It is equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, with approximately 69,000 miles. It has been meticulously cared for! Before the diagnosis, I noticed that when starting the vehicle and backing up, the engine would jerk slightly until I stepped on the accelerator to proceed. The check engine light then came on, which prompted me to take the vehicle to the Lincoln dealer for diagnosis. The servicing Ford/Lincoln dealer, Sugar Loaf Ford in [XXX], examined the vehicle and found coolant in a cylinder. We have been advised that the engine requires replacement. I am concerned because this appears consistent with reported

NHTSA complaint 11756940, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Coolant intrusion into number 2 cylinder requiring full engine replacement of my 2017 my 2.0l eco boost engine

NHTSA complaint 11756792. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Head gasket failure where engine coolant leaked internally into the engine cylinders.

NHTSA complaint 11756340. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
For the last 17,000 miles, the engine light has been on. We got it checked out and there is coolant and cylinder three we change the cylinder thought it was a misfire, but the problem keeps occurring and we found out information that those engines are bad.

NHTSA complaint 11755783. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Check Engine Light present. Took car to Ford dealership. Formal diagnosis from Ford dealership: Coolant intrusion present causing misfires, specifically in cylinder 4. P0304 and P0316 codes present. This is a known manufacturing issue; however, Lincoln customer service refuses to acknowledge the problem even exists. Upon talking to the Ford dealership service members, they stated that this is a common issue. One of the service members stated he has already dealt with multiple vehicles with this exact problem this week alone. Having an engine (misfire, steam, etc) go out due to a manufacturing/design flaw, especially while driving on the highway, is a major safety issue. Service team

NHTSA complaint 11752832, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lincoln MKC

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 113 3 —
2018 70 4 —
2016 78 5 —
2015 130 12 —

Other 2017 Lincoln models

MKZ 134 Continental 74 MKX 52 Navigator 30 MKZ Hybrid 17

Every Lincoln on this site — 84 vehicles, 269 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst