2016 Lincoln MKC Reliability
The 2016 Lincoln MKC has 80 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby MKC model years (2015–2018), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the MKC's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
80
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
1
Complaints citing a crash
7
Complaints citing a fire
2016 Lincoln MKC complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 model year, filed between 2016 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 41 | 51% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 12 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 9 | 11% |
| Engine & cooling | 7 | 9% |
| Steering | 5 | 6% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 4 | 5% |
| Backup camera / back-over prevention | 4 | 5% |
2016 Lincoln MKC recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2016 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V183000 | Mar 31, 2016 | Engine & cooling — engine | 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… |
| 23V378000 | May 26, 2023 | Engine | 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.NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
| 25V572000 | Sep 4, 2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention — sensing system / camera | 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.… |
| 25V685000 | Oct 10, 2025 | Equipment — electrical / engine block heater | 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… |
| 26V011000 | Jan 16, 2026 | Equipment — electrical / engine block heater | 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… |
How the 2016 compares with nearby MKC years
Verdicts compare these MKC model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 131 | 12 | Engine | Caution |
| 2016 (this page) | 80 | 5 | Engine | Caution |
| 2017 | 194 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2018 | 78 | 4 | Engine | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2016 Lincoln MKC
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2016 Lincoln MKC can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2016 Lincoln MKC reliability FAQ
Is the 2016 Lincoln MKC reliable?
The 2016 Lincoln MKC has 80 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby MKC model years (2015–2018), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the MKC's typical year.
What are the most common 2016 Lincoln MKC problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Lincoln MKC are engine (41), powertrain / transmission (12), electrical system (11), unknown or other (9). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2016 Lincoln MKC have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 Lincoln MKC, including 16V183000 (engine & cooling — engine) and 23V378000 (engine). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2016 Lincoln MKC compare with the 2015 and 2017 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2015 has 131 complaints and 12 recalls (caution); the 2017 has 194 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2016 has 80 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2016 Lincoln MKC?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Lincoln MKC research
Other Lincoln MKC model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2016 MKC, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.