NHTSA vehicle safety data
2016 Lincoln MKX Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2016 Lincoln MKX has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 156 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lincoln dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Lincoln MKX, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2016 Lincoln MKX owner complaints
Owners have filed 156 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Lincoln MKX, describing incidents dated August 20, 2015 to September 12, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Service Brakes 56 complaints
- Engine 33 complaints
- Electrical System 27 complaints
- Unknown or Other 22 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 12 complaints
- Power Train 12 complaints
Of the 156 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 156 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11767481 · Filed
"AWD Temporarily Disabled" warning notification came on while driving 55 mph in the middle lane of an expressway during late afternoon/early evening hours. The roadway was clear of debris and the weather was sunny. There was no further instruction of what to do from the dashboard. However, after the…
ODI #11762870 · Filed
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal became inoperable, and the brake warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled away from oncoming traffic to ensure that the vehicle stopped and avoided a crash. The vehicle was taken to an…
ODI #11761576 · Filed
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for…
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2016 Lincoln MKX in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021
Rear Brake Hose May Rupture
NHTSA #25V544000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice
Reported August 22, 2025 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 499,129 vehicles
Repair completion: 9.9% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 25S87 · Owners notified September 17, 2026 · Vehicles built starting November 11, 2014 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.
Front Brake Hoses Could Rupture
NHTSA #20V469000 · Service Brakes · NHTSA notice
Reported August 10, 2020 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 488,594 vehicles
Repair completion: 82.45% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 20S42 · Owners notified May 13, 2021
Defect description
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Damaged Wiring May Cause Air Bag Malfunction
NHTSA #20V414000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Power Adjust · NHTSA notice
Reported July 17, 2020 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 19,299 vehicles
Repair completion: 95.65% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 20S37 · Owners notified August 12, 2020
Defect description
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.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Battery Cable May Chafe and Cause Electrical Short
NHTSA #19V809000 · Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery — Cables · NHTSA notice
Reported November 12, 2019 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 54,411 vehicles
Repair completion: 91.21% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 19S41 · Owners notified April 28, 2020 · Vehicles built November 12, 2014 – September 11, 2017 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Steering Gear Motor May Detach
NHTSA #19V632000 · Steering — Electric Power Assist System · NHTSA notice
Reported August 29, 2019 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 116,160 vehicles
Repair completion: 63.7% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 19S26 · Owners notified October 18, 2019 · Vehicles built November 11, 2014 – June 26, 2015 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Frontal Air Bag may not Deploy Properly/FMVSS 208
NHTSA #17V123000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice
Reported February 27, 2017 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 27,531 vehicles
Repair completion: 85.83% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 17C02 · Owners notified June 16, 2017 · Vehicles built November 11, 2014 – February 15, 2017 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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."
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Child Seat Tether Anchor Blocked/FMVSS225
NHTSA #16V343000 · Child Seat — Tether — Connector/Clip · NHTSA notice
Reported May 24, 2016 · Ford Motor Company
Potentially affected: 5 vehicles
Repair completion: 60% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Manufacturer campaign 16C09 · Owners notified June 16, 2016 · Vehicles built September 24, 2015 – September 24, 2015 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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."
Safety consequence
An improperly anchored child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Lincoln MKX model years
Check your 2016 Lincoln MKX VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lincoln MKX at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Lincoln VIN