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Lincoln · NHTSA safety record

2019 Lincoln MKC

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

113

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2019 Lincoln MKC have filed 113 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2019 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 86 of them (76%). The typical failure was reported at 58,000 miles, the median across the 19 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints more than doubled year on year: 39 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 10 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 113.

ENGINE 86 76%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10 9%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 7 6%
POWER TRAIN 4 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 2%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 2%
WHEELS 2 2%
AIR BAGS 1 1%
INTERIOR LIGHTING 1 1%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 1%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 39.

2019 2023 2026
2019 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.

ENGINE

fire · 15,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY, SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE HOOD. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES AFTER I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE SMOKE BECAME WORSE AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO INTENSIFY AND STARTED TO COME THROUGH THE VENTS. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FIRE UNDERNEATH THE THE CAR. NOT TOO LONG AFTER THE ENTIRE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, WHICH CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO BUST. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE REPORT (XXX)DEEMED THIS AS ACCIDENTAL AND BELIEVE A MECHANICAL FIRE.*DT ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE

NHTSA complaint 11298516, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked at a gas station the vehicle caught on fire. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint 11538004. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash · 2,000 miles

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ERROR MESSAGE "THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN" APPEAREDIN ON THE DASHBOARD. HAD THERE BEEN A TRANSPORT TRAILER BEHIND US, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE IS DOING NOTHING FOR US. VERY DISAPPOINTING AS MY MOTHER NOW HAS TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE!

NHTSA complaint 11271696. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 59,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to shudder. The engine overheated warning light and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact’s son was able to drive the vehicle to the contact’s residence. The contact then stated that after the vehicle had been parked for approximately two days, she started the vehicle and the vehicle started to shudder with the engine overheated warning light, and the check engine warning light illuminated was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the battery and unknown wiring harnesses and sensors had

NHTSA complaint 11529516, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
The vehicle needs a complete engine replacement due to a coolant intrusion issue. The safety of myself and my family are of my utmost concern. Overheating of the system can cause sudden engine stalling, catastrophic power loss at highway speeds, a risk of collision, and toxic vapor exposure inside the vehicle. Furthermore, A leaking heater core vents sweet-smelling but toxic antifreeze vapors into the passenger compartment and prolonged breathing of heated glycol fumes can trigger dizziness, headaches, and nausea for the driver. All of which I have recently suffered from. I have taken the car back to the original dealership and was advised that I would need a new engine. The engine light

NHTSA complaint 11757514, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
To NHTSA: I am filing this complaint about a dangerous stall/overheat defect in my 2019 Lincoln MKC, VIN [XXX], currently at 79,820 miles. This vehicle was built 2018-10, before Ford's engine redesign, and it is now undrivable due to coolant intrusion into the engine, a known and documented defect covered under Ford TSB 22-2229 for the 2.0L EcoBoost engine. What happened: the car overheated on me at Church's Chicken. I came out with coolant to top it off, and cautiously drove it to Dr Underhood Repair Shop. They ran the codes and quoted a full engine replacement, but couldn't source an engine, so they sent me to the dealership. I paid them and limped the car across town to Randall Ford.

NHTSA complaint 11757123, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: Engine / Powertrain (Engine Block & Cooling System). The vehicle suffered an internal engine failure caused by coolant intrusion into Cylinder #4, requiring a full engine long block replacement per Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2229. The vehicle and component are available for inspection upon request. ​2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer: The engine suffered a sudden and complete loss of power without warning in the middle of active, moving traffic, leaving the vehicle dead in a live travel lane. Because the engine stalled abruptly due to

NHTSA complaint 11756258, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Car started shaking roughly when started, check engine light came on for cylinder misfire. Known engine problem where coolant leaks in to the engine block due to a known defect from Ford for these 2.0L engines. There is a TSB 22-2229 ([XXX]) already issued for this. Dealer inspected and confirmed the problem. Now the entire engine long block needs to be replaced resulting in $10,000 repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11755475. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Component: Engine (2.0L EcoBoost) — coolant intrusion into cylinders What failed: The engine in my 2019 Lincoln MKC (2.0L EcoBoost, approximately 83,000 miles) failed due to internal coolant intrusion into the cylinders. This is a known defect in this engine, documented by the manufacturer in TSB 22-2229 (superseding TSB 19-2346), which acknowledges coolant leaking into the cylinders on 2.0L EcoBoost vehicles and specifies complete long block engine replacement as the only repair. My vehicle and the failed engine are available for inspection upon request. The car/engine is currently at the [XXX] Ford in Draper, UT. Safety risk: Coolant intrusion causes engine misfires and can cause sudden

NHTSA complaint 11751568, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
There is coolant intrusion into the cyl. It is a known concern and many complaints on line. Lincoln refuses to assist in the engine repair or replacement. Going down the road the engine misses and looses power causing difficulty controlling vehicle causing unsafe conditions for all traffic.

NHTSA complaint 11750623. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lincoln MKC

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 70 4 —
2017 188 3 —
2016 78 5 —
2015 130 12 —

Other 2019 Lincoln models

Nautilus 97 Navigator 72 Continental 32 MKZ 18 MKT 13

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