2016 Lincoln MKX
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 57 of 155 complaints (37%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Electrical include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 19 in 2015 to 155 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–21 | 19–20 | 19–20 | 19–20 | 19–20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–18 / 23–25 | 17–18 / 23–25 | 16–18 / 23–26 | 16–18 / 23–25 | 16–18 / 23–25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 422–461 | 432–459 | 434–472 | 440–471 | 440–471 | |
| Complaints filed | 35 | 19 | 155 | 52 | 30 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Lincoln MKX have?
7 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Lincoln MKX?
Brakes: 57 of 155 NHTSA complaints (37%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Lincoln MKX get?
EPA rates it 19–20 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Lincoln MKX?
EPA estimates $3,100–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 17 mpg | 25 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 438 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 2.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 18 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 434 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 2.7L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 456 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.7L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 472 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 33 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 27 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Brakes | 57 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (7)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 25V544000 · Aug 25, 2025
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Interim owner letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; SERVICE BRAKES · Campaign 20V469000 · Aug 11, 2020
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
Consequence: 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.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S42.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH; AIR BAGS; SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST · Campaign 20V414000 · Jul 17, 2020
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES · Campaign 19V809000 · Nov 13, 2019
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
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. 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.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · Campaign 19V632000 · Aug 29, 2019
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 17V123000 · Feb 28, 2017
Defect: 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."
Consequence: 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.
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. Ford's number for this recall is 17C02.
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: CONNECTOR/CLIP · Campaign 16V343000 · May 24, 2016
Defect: 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."
Consequence: An improperly anchored child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C09.