2016 Lincoln Mkx: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Lincoln Mkx: 7 recalls, 156 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Child seat Vehicle recall #16V343000 · 2016 · 5 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: An improperly anchored child seat can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V123000 · 2017 · 27,531 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 16, 2017.
Steering Vehicle recall #19V632000 · 2019 · 116,160 vehicles
What's wrong: Road salt or other contaminants May corrode the electric power steering gear motor attachment bolts.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Electrical Vehicle recall #19V809000 · 2019 · 54,411 vehicles
What's wrong: 7l engines. The battery positive cable harness May contact the transmission shifter cable bracket resulting in a short circuit.
Why it matters: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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…
Seats, Airbags Vehicle recall #20V414000 · 2020 · 19,299 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Brakes, Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #20V469000 · 2020 · 488,594 vehicles
What's wrong: The front brake hoses May rupture prematurely.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #25V544000 · 2025 · 499,129 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear brake jounce hose May rupture and leak brake fluid.
Why it matters: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (39): the most common themes are warning light on (7), brake failure / soft pedal (6).
- Engine (32): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (11), leaks (4), electrical failure (3).
- Electrical (27): the most common themes are electrical failure (12), stalls / loses power (7), warning light on (7).
- Other / unknown (22): the most common themes are electrical failure (3), warning light on (3).
The 2016 Lincoln Mkx has 156 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 14 Mkx model years for complaints (1.5× the average Mkx year). Complaints peaked in 2016 (28 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 20,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (19 complaints, 0 recalls), 2017 (52 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Lincoln Mkx.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2016 Lincoln Mkx have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Lincoln Mkx. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Lincoln Mkx problems?
Owners have filed 156 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (39), engine (32), electrical (27).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Lincoln Mkx get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.7 L, Automatic (S6)), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Lincoln Mkx repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.