2016 Lincoln Mkc Safety Report
2016 LINCOLN MKC Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Lincoln Mkc. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (5) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (72) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 8 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2018 | Compare against the 2018 Lincoln Mkc with 63 complaints and 4 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2017 | Check the 2017 Lincoln Mkc before buying across this generation. |
Lincoln Mkc Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Lincoln Mkc years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Lincoln Mkc | 163 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Lincoln Mkc | 126 | 12 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Lincoln Mkc | 63 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Lincoln Mkc | 96 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2016 Lincoln Mkc Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Lincoln Mkc, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
24 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Lincoln onlyUnknown Or Other
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Lincoln onlyPower Train
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Lincoln onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Lincoln onlyElectrical System
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Lincoln onlyBack Over Prevention
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Back Over Prevention issues Lincoln onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc
Reliability Score
The 2016 Lincoln Mkc receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling Coolant leaks and engine hesitation are common, potentially leading to engine damage and safety concerns. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Recalls related to engine block heaters can cause engine start issues and fumes, affecting reliability. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Back Over Prevention Camera malfunctions can lead to reduced visibility and potential safety hazards. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Steering issues can cause the vehicle to jerk and kick in and out of gear, affecting control. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Lincoln Mkc:
Engine issues are the most common problem, affecting 23% of vehicles.
Electrical system problems are the second most common, affecting 18% of vehicles.
Back over prevention system malfunctions are less common, affecting 12% of vehicles.
Steering issues are less common, affecting 10% of vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc
The following 5 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc by NHTSA:
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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 plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent...
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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. 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 thi...
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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 May 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 Identificatio...
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured November 25, 2013, to January 25, 2016, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured October 20, 2014, to January 28, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines and engine block heaters. These engine block heaters have elements that may overheat while plugged in.
Consequence: Overheating of the engine block increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect and replace the electrical cord, as necessary. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S14. Note: Owners should not use the engine block heater until the vehicle has been remedied.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Lincoln Mkc with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera intermittently displayed a distorted image with squiggly, horizontal lines. The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's vie...
When driving you could smell fumes, it would jerk, and kick in and out of gear and would have no heat. Coolant was always low with no visible leaks to the mechanic.
I have a coolant leak and the dealership states that it's located in the engine.
Ford does not have the parts to repair my car; my rear camera gets fuzzy at times
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a black screen or was glitching while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which pre...
As far as everybody did and shut down three times in a major intersections as far as to completely shut off or keep up with the camera activity and it seems to not be able to empower through the cabin or central part of the cabin where the computer is stored when I had my f****** completely turn itself off and ran or red lights just to barely make it to my house and in the car would not start I ha...
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was shaking, and the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that her brother had replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that th...
At 85,000 miles I was experiencing a grinding noise coming from my front end when making sharp turns to left or right. Took car to my mechanic immediately for diagnosis. They found the motor mounts and rear differential is binding and close to failure. My mechanic contacted FOMOCO to see about a replacement for the rear differential and was told that there were not any available due to a REDESIGN ...
While driving a short distance to work, my 2016 MKC check engine light came on. The previous week I noticed that the engine hesitated slightly when it first started, but it drove normally. However, when the light came on, my husband took the vehicle to the dealership where we bought it in Dec 2019. We were shocked when we were told this was a very common problem with this type of engine, a 2.0 eco...
Engin light came on, was diagenosed as coolent leaking in spark plug , or Bad head gasket.
Was at the Drive-thru ordering speaker and the car would not shift out of park and could not manually be shifted into neutral so the car could be moved. Drive-thru ordering window was blocked for 16 hyrs. Had to have the car towed with dolly. Vehicle was inspected by independent mechanic and found that the bushing was damaged.
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a low coolant level. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into cylinders #2 and #3. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The v...
I purchased a 2016 Lincoln MKC 2.0 with 96k miles on it 2 months ago, and we just discovered a coolant leak into the first cylinder, causing a cracked head gasket. The engine needs to be replaced, and will cost $15k. Many other drivers have experienced this problem and reported it, and Ford has done nothing to correct the main issue. This problem is causing overheating of the engine, and could pot...
We purchased the vehicle about a year and a half ago and about three months after we purchased it. The check engine light went on. We’ve had the vehicle into the dealership several times we’ve had the problem fixed supposedly twice we put in over $1000 in fixing it and now the check engine light came on again And the car stopped running saying it’s overheating. Took it to the dealership and now th...
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of coolant, and there were...
Purchased 2016 Lincoln MKC from a Ford dealer in October with approximately 133k miles. Was a trade-in from August. The beginning of January on a very cold day while warming the MKC, the air stayed cold. Drove to work and back. That night added antifreeze as it was low. Next day on the way to work, shortly after leaving home the MKC started losing power and shaking. Couldn't pinpoint where the sha...
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image was distorted or black. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
Faulty rear camera system. When reversing the vehicle, the infotainment screen shows a turbulent gray static screen rather than a rear view of the vehicle. Extreme safety concern and hazard. Issue is recurring.
The contact owned a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while an employee was driving at an undisclosed speed, he observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment, prompting him to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. After a visual inspection, the employee observed flames emanating from the engine compartment. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the flames. No w...
The contact owns a 2016 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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a fa...
Showing 20 of 72 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2021-09-17
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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 20...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Lincoln Mkc
Has the 2016 LINCOLN MKC been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 LINCOLN MKC has 5 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 LINCOLN MKC have?
The 2016 LINCOLN MKC has 72 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
The 2016 LINCOLN MKC received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 LINCOLN MKC involve engine (24 complaints), unknown or other (5 complaints), power train (5 complaints). Other affected components include engine and engine cooling, electrical system, back over prevention.
How many crash reports does the 2016 LINCOLN MKC have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2016 LINCOLN MKC out of 72 total complaints (1.4% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 LINCOLN MKC have?
There are 7 fire reports for the 2016 LINCOLN MKC out of 72 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 LINCOLN MKC.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 LINCOLN MKC. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 LINCOLN MKC is acceptable with caveats. It has 72 complaints, 5 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 LINCOLN MKC are: 1. ENGINE (24 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5 complaints), 3. POWER TRAIN (5 complaints), 4. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (4 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 24 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
Be aware of potential engine and electrical system issues, as they can affect reliability and safety. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2016 LINCOLN MKC has 72 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
The 2016 LINCOLN MKC receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 72 owner complaints, 5 recalls, and 8 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and Engine Cooling and Electrical System.
What are the known issues with the 2016 LINCOLN MKC?
Known issues with the 2016 LINCOLN MKC include: Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System, Back Over Prevention, Steering. These are based on patterns found across 72 NHTSA complaints. 5 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 Lincoln MKC?
Engine and electrical system problems are the most common, affecting 23% and 18% of vehicles, respectively.
Can engine issues lead to safety concerns?
Yes, coolant leaks and engine hesitation can cause engine damage and safety concerns.
What should I do if I experience electrical system problems?
Contact a dealership for a recall check and potential repairs to address engine block heater issues.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of potential engine and electrical system issues, as they can affect reliability and safety. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Lincoln Mkc
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Lincoln Mkc. The data includes 72 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 5 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 7 fire incidents, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Lincoln Mkc an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16