2017 Lincoln MKC Engine Problems

129 owners have reported engine & cooling problems with the 2017 Lincoln MKC to NHTSA — 67% of all 192 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 71,000 miles. That ranks #1 of 5 MKC model years for engine complaints (a typical year has 56). One related recall has been issued.

129complaints
71ktypical miles
1related recalls
3crashes
1fires
0injuries

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    25%
  • 25k–50k
    718%
  • 50k–75k
    1128%
  • 75k–100k
    1026%
  • 100k–150k
    821%
  • 150k+
    13%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Lincoln MKC owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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 fianc 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.

80,000 miles · Jun 2024 · fire

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (ENGINE) and 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle started, the interior lights and lights on the instrument panel failed to function as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was due to an electrical system failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic; however, the independent mechanic referred the contact to the local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). …

80,000 miles · Aug 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle lunged forward and shook. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. However, the failure was unable to be duplicated. The contact stated that the fluids were replenished, and the fuel line was cleaned. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to another dealer where the failure was diagnosed with a coolant leak and a failed engine, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …

63,000 miles · Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while parked with the engine idling, the engine inadvertently revved. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low coolant warning light illuminated. The contact noticed a cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Additionally, the contact's husband stated that after his wife turned the vehicle around to drive back home, he noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Upon inspecting under the hood, the contact's husband noticed that the coolant level was low and added coolant. Additionally, the contact's husband diagnosed the vehicle with an ODB code reader and retrieved an engine misfire code. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had intruded into cylinder #1 causing engine failure. The vehicle remained at the dealer for further diagnostic tests. …

86,000 miles · Jul 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the #2 and #3 spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, two days after the repair, the check engine warning light illuminated again, and the engine started to overheat. The contact checked to coolant level and discovered there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic and was inspected, and it was determined that the failure was best diagnosed by the dealer. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed additional diagnosis for coolant intrusion to determine if the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. …

70,000 miles · Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to O'Reilly Auto Parts and was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #2. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #3. The dealer replaced the ignition coils and the spark plugs; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption, and the contact noticed an abnormal odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that assistance would not be provided because the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 190,500.

191,000 miles · Jan 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialty shop and was diagnosed with torque converter failure, which caused transmission failure. The torque converter was replaced. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, days after the vehicle was repaired, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a gas station and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, which caused the cylinder head to crack, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

112,000 miles · Sep 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start while pressing the Start button on the key fob. The contact was able to start the vehicle while pressing the Push to Start button inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The mechanic diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #2. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made, and the dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

107,000 miles · Jun 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel, followed by a coolant temperature message. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a hairline crack in the engine. The hairline fracture led to coolant intrusion inside cylinder #2, and the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered Technical Service Bulletins 19-2346 and 22-22229, which the contact linked to the failure. The contact called another dealer about the failure and was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 98,690.

99,000 miles · Oct 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle idled roughly, and there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption, and the low coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the engine replacement was not required, but the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

135,000 miles · Apr 2026

Related recalls

Engine

NHTSA recall 23V-378 · May 26, 2023 · 142,734 vehiclesPark outside

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.

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.

Engine complaints in other MKC years

2015201620172018201933461295698
Engine complaints per model year, Lincoln MKC.

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2017 Lincoln MKC?

NHTSA has 129 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2017 Lincoln MKC, 67% of the model year's 192 complaints.

Is there a recall for 2017 Lincoln MKC engine problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 23V-378 (engine, May 26, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2017 Lincoln MKC engine problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.