2016 Lincoln MKX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
213 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Lincoln MKX, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 57/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 66,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2016 Lincoln MKX sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2009, 2014, 2017–2018.
Avoid
Where 2016 sits among all MKX years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); 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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MKX
“The right headlight is filling up with condensation which is shorting out the battery. Replaced it more condensation is back in it. Mechanic says seals are no good says its a common problem in all lincolns. Lights and adaptive module cost well over 5K for one light not including the labor. This is…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MKX
“While driving on city streets, the engine unexpectedly quit and the gears switched from drive to neutral on its own. This has happened 5 times so far. It is dangerous and could be life threatening.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 MKX
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 102 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 20,482 miles. Half of those reports fall between 6,700 and 41,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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.
Fix: 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…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
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.…
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…
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…
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.
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.…
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,…
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…
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…
Fix: 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 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…
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. Owners may contact Ford…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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,…
Technical service bulletins
220 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Lincoln MKX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Lincoln MKX reliable?
The 2016 Lincoln MKX drew 213 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 57/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2016 Lincoln MKX problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Lincoln MKX are brakes & stability (57 complaints), electrical (33), and engine (33).
At what mileage do 2016 Lincoln MKX problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Lincoln MKX problems around 20,482 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 6,700 and 41,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Lincoln MKX have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Lincoln MKX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.