Most common 2016 Lincoln MKX problems
Share of the 156 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lincoln MKX complaints by model year
Best MKX years: 2015, 2014, 2009. Years to avoid: 2016, 2013. Compare all years →
2016 Lincoln MKX recalls (7)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Remedy: 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.
Service brakes
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
Remedy: 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.
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
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…
Remedy: 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…
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
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.
Remedy: 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.
Steering › Electric power assist system
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…
Remedy: 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…
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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.
Show 1 more recall
Child seat › Tether › Connector/clip
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 Lincoln MKX:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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.
What 2016 Lincoln MKX owners say
Brakes all 56 →
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while pulling into the ATM at approximately 10 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal popping sound, and the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was then driven to an independent mechanic, and was diagnosed with brake failure. The mechanic determined that the rear passenger's side brake hose had ruptured, and the rear driver's side brake hose needed to be replaced. The mechanic replaced both rear brake hoses, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact later 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 the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
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 driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but traveled down to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond as needed. Additionally, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the brakes. The brake fluid warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the brake fluid reservoir was refilled, and days later, the low brake fluid warning light was illuminated. Most recently, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, it rolled away. The vehicle was parked and was no longer driven due to safety concerns. The local dealer was not contacted. …
Engine & cooling all 33 →
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Coolant Overheated" was displayed on the digital display screen. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart as intended. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with an air intake valve fracture and abnormal engine oil consumption. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V635000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated complete failure warning message was displayed. The contact was able to pull over and restart the vehicle and functionality was returned. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,700.
Electrical system all 27 →
My car is currently under two recall notices however only one of the issues has been communicated to me of resolution. One being emissions control 25E02 and second being Recall 25S87 REAR BRAKE FLEXIBLE HOSE LEAK. Recall 1- emissions has been a problem for about 2 years now. Emissions are connected to my engine thus having my check engine light come on. My car failed an emissions test but was only 4 years old and the catalytic converters are not broken, have hole, anything leading to failed test, car repair fees and non-registered vehicle. The second recall is not being fixed, and I have had to replace my brake house, line and rear right brake twice this year. Lastly, I have collision warning however it does not work properly if at all. I was in a minor fender bender when I went to push on brakes the sound to warn me of a collision did not go off until after the crash! …
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The contact's husband replaced the battery, and the vehicle restarted; however, the failure reoccurred twice. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V809000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
2016 Lincoln MKX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 20 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Lincoln MKX a good car?
Based on 156 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 MKX rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the MKX at the same age. It is one of the MKX years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Lincoln MKX?
The brakes — 56 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › abs warning light. Next are the engine & cooling (33) and electrical system (27).
How many recalls does the 2016 Lincoln MKX have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2016 Lincoln MKX, the most recent from August 22, 2025 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lincoln MKX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2014 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016 and 2013. See the full Lincoln MKX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Lincoln MKX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 20,000 miles; 74% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.