2018 LINCOLN MKC Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The check engine light came on and car started to over heat when taken into shop was told need to replace entire engine this is a known issue in these make / model cars with these engines and it is not being addressed

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted in reverse(R), the rearview camera failed displayed a distorted image. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for routine maintenance; however, the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

Ford is well aware of the scam and refuses to fix the faulty engine for millions of these vehicles. 2018 MKC is trash. Already rebuilt the engine, turbo is garbage and the coolant will continue to leak with new engine because it’s a flawed design. They are fully aware but greed is more important than safety or a satisfied customer. I pray the are held accountable eventually.

The check engine light came on and it would run rough when started. It was determined the number four cylinder head was cracked, allowing antifreeze to leak into the engine block. I bought the car new in January 2019. The problem appeared with under 57,000 actual miles. The car has always been serviced on time at the dealership. The cost to fix the problem with a new engine is approximately $10,000. I bought the car new so that I would not have problems. It is my only form of transportation. In researching, I have found this is a reoccurring problem on the echo boost four-cylinder engine since 2017. It didn’t matter whether it was low mileage or high mileage the cracks would appear. There had been a recall on later models, but no recall for the 2018. I believe it should be under recall.

I was driving home from work on December 24th 2025 and my 2018 lincoln mkc 2.3l shut off on me while I was in motion. There were several cars that had to swerve and not hit me. The car would not start but I was able to put the vehicle in neutral and roll to the shoulder of the road. I was very scared and angry because this vehicle only has 54,646 miles currently, give or take 50 miles. I had to get the towed to my home. This needs to be resolved and Fird/Lincoln needs to faithfully fix this dangerous defect, i could have died. Please please do something because I do not want anyone else to deal with this.

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle revved and then the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact's brother was following the contact and assisted with traffic. The Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the flywheel had fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was later informed that the steering power harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer pending the repair. The contact stated that afterwards, oil stains were found on the ground in the driveway. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

The contact owned a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of their driveway in the rain at approximately 2 MPH, the back-over prevention camera display of the rear view of the vehicle was distorted, and the contact was only able to see a black image. The contact was unable to identify what the image was, and the back-over prevention system did not notify the contact of any objects with its chime/alarm. The vehicle continued to move in reverse and ended up crashing into a tree. The vehicle's rear passenger side was damaged. The contact was able to exit the vehicle and had not received any physical injuries. The contact stated they had suffered anxiety as a result of the crash, and medical attention was needed. The vehicle was towed and totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Crash 1 injured

Coolant intrusion in engine

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the failure was due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. In addition, the contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V685000 (Equipment); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

The contact owns a 2018 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 manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Car had engine light come on, was told from dealer need completely new engine despite only 70k miles. Is a known issue, please protect US consumers.

Check engine light came on. The engine has coolant intrusion and the engine would have to be replaced, quoted me $17,240.83 I called [XXX] Lincoln client relationship center and I was told there was nothing they can do to help me. After doing some research, this has been a known problem by Lincoln and they have not put out any recalls. They also have a class action lawsuit against them INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The engine light has appeared approximately in April 2025. The inspection advised that the engine code indicated a misfire in cylinder 4. The engine rough idles when started. The coolant loss is extensive due to an engine issue and must be constantly filled.vwe were told by, iPaul's Repair shop, that upon calling Ford, that there was a Lincoln technical service bulletin re: the 2 liter eco boost engine. It was re coolant intrusion into the cylinders. Service bulletin # 19-2346. We have also replaced the spark plugs and coils. The engine light still came on with the same issue. It did not solve the problem of a DEFECTIVE ENGINE.

I am writing regarding my 2018 Lincoln MKC, VIN # [XXX] which is experiencing clear symptoms of coolant intrusion into the cylinders. These include low coolant levels, white exhaust smoke, engine misfires, and a rough-running condition. According to **Technical Service Bulletin 19‑2346** (NHTSA ID 10169807, dated December 20, 2019), this issue is a known defect affecting MKC models with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine and recommends replacement of the long‑block assembly to correct the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Kirk Brothers ford supposedlly put a new engine in my vehicle. I've had issues with it ever since they supposedly put the engine in. I had another mechanic just look at it on 14AUG25 and he informed me that the engine was shot.

I have a 2018 Lincoln MKC with the well known coolant intrusion complete engine failure. I need a new long block at a cost of 9500 dollars. I had no warning light or check engine light to warn me about this issue prior to taking it to Ford dealer in Buellton to ask why coolant was emptying so fast. I had previously taken it to Lincoln dealer while under warranty and was told no issues. Even though they had a specific service bulletin stating the problems I was having. I feel my safety was at risk because I drive alone into sketchy areas for my job and my car could have just stopped and I would be an elderly woman alone with a broken down car waiting for a tow. It also could have possibly caught on fire I’m told. Lincoln Concierge was no help. Said it was VIN specific and not enough vehicles affected to warrant a recall. Mechanic at Ford says 3 to 4 vehicles a month are being repaired at his shop and they are a rural dealership. I think we are all being fleeced. We spent 40000 plus for a luxury reliable vehicle. We still have car payments. Can’t use as trade in. Can’t afford to buy another car. I can’t do my job. The stress alone may be dangerous for my health. Pending lawsuit won’t begin until June of 2026. This is so wrong

Coolant is leaking into the cylinders and could cause the engine to seize while driving. The issue was identified at a Ford dealership and is a known issue on this engine and has been admitted by Ford/Lincoln as a problem. The only warning was a check engine light which appeared after the problem existed and only fix is to replace the engine. Ford/Lincoln did not make any attempts to notify owners in advance of this issue so it could be checked. There are still many of these engines on the road which could seize at any time and cause tragic results.

The contact owned a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was traded. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 57,000.

Dealer service technician states the a crack in the engine block is allowing coolant to enter the cylinder causing misfiring. This appears to require engine replacement with only 59000 miles on the vehicle. This is a common problem with the 2018 engine and could result in a fire.

I have a 2018 Lincoln MKC with approximately 58,000 miles, always taken care of and maintained, in excellent condition. Almost immediately after my extended warranty ran out the check engine light came on and it started to start and idle rough. Took it to a Lincoln dealer, they replaced coil assembly # 4 and the 4 spark plugs, told me if it continues there might be coolant intrusion to the engine and the engine would need to be replaced. Check engine light came on 2 days later again, back to the dealership where they told me there was coolant intrusion and the engine will need to replaced. $8020.00 estimate, Lincoln/Ford is aware of this defect in this engine, they should recall this engine and replace it.

Check engine light came on at approx 54,000 miles with code of cylinder 2 misfire diagnosed as spark plugs and ignition coils need replaced. All spark plugs and ignition coils replaced May 11. June 23 check engine light on again with cylinder 2 misfire. Was told spark plugs and ignition coils need replaced again. July 9 spark plugs and ignitiion coils replaced. July 10 check engine light came on cylinder 2 misfire. July 11 car was diagnosed as needing engine replacement due to coolant intrusion causing rust in engine

Loosing Coolant resulting in coolant leaking into the engine. White smoke coming from exhaust m. Repair garage states only fix is to replace with revised engine causing over $10,000 in repair costs.

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that when the vehicle was cold-started, the vehicle shuddered, shook abnormally, and idled roughly. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was still running rough after the engine had reached normal operating temperatures. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant intrusion into the cylinders, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.

2018 Lincoln MKC with 112,700 miles hesitating with accelerating. There have been no check engine lights activated. Took to Ford dealership for inspection and they found coolant level low and confirmed shuddering/jerking when accelerating. Found that cylinder 1 misfiring and upon further inspection found coolant intrusion in cylinder 1. Recommended long block replacement. I found that this year model with Ford Ecoboost 2L engine has had frequent issues with the coolant leaking into cylinders due to poor design of this engine. Contacted Ford and asked for help with the cost to replace the engine block and was denied any assistance.

Engine failure due to coolant leak. Causing vehicle to overheat without warning while traveling down highway Issue has been reported to service center No other inspection No warning indicated.

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that there was a misfire coming from the engine while starting the vehicle. While inspecting the vehicle, the coolant level was extremely low. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed of coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,349.

1st Engine Failure Dec 2021 due to coolant intrusion and the long block engine needed to be replaced. After the repair I came to look at it & I found, Bolts were missing—including from the undercarriage, battery mount, & power steering reservoir, splash guard, inner wheel well shield. Tools (10mm Snap-on socket & unidentified loose bolts) were left inside the engine bay. The coolant hose came loose, which your team tried to charge $4,000 to fix, despite it being clearly related to poor installation of the engine. The engine mounts—normally last 10-14 yrs before needing to be replaced—suddenly failed. Wiring harnesses weren’t secured, not informed of new engine warranty coverage being only for 1 yr. 2nd Engine Failure (Dec 2024): Less than 22k miles later, the engine failed again—this time 4 months outside the so-called 1-yr warranty that I was never told about. Now, I’m expected to pay out of pocket for another engine, which would conveniently include a 3-yr warranty this time. Why wasn’t the 1st replacement engine covered under the same terms? Purchased with: 45,000 miles 1st engine failed at: 53,594 miles, Coolant hose/engine mount issues: 61,000 miles, 2nd engine failed at: 84,193 miles if inspection is needed, I have photos. It has been confirmed by northpark lincoln dealership. It was inspected by the manufacturer and other mechanics, not affiliated with dealership. No warning signs no warning lamps no codes thrown no nothing until the loss of acceleration and torque combined with the amount of white smoke coming out of the tailpipe in the middle of the summer. It was the only notification it was too late by that point the damage has been done. On both occasions, the exact same thing happened no warning lights no check engine lights no MIL lights, or codes thrown just simply a huge cloud of dust coming from the tailpipe, and you lose almost all power and acceleration. Symptoms appeared after the damage had been done so no way to tell that something wrong prior.

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the side view mirrors folded inward. The contact was turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the mirrors remained in the folded position. The contact stated that after 20 minutes of turning the vehicle off and on, the mirrors unfolded. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's side seat lumbar system was independently changing adjustments and was overriding the preset seat adjustments. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

It was almost time for an oil change when the check engine light came on. The engine was idling roughly when the car was first started. I decided to take the car in early for the oil change and to get them to check the check engine light that’s when they told me of the known problem with the cracked engine block, and the engine coolant leaking into the engine. I took the car to another place for a second opinion and the mechanic told me he had repaired five of these vehicles recently. In my research, I have found that Ford was aware of this problem with Ford vehicles and Lincoln vehicles, but has not offered a solution to the problem. I don’t find a recall notice or anything Ford is doing about this problem, except replacing the engine, as instructed by Ford and charging me full price for the replacement of the engine. I would not have purchased this vehicle had I known of this problem. This vehicle has had every scheduled maintenance performed by the Lincoln dealership except two oil changes that were done at a Ford dealership.

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle however, the message "Engine Coolant Over Temperature" was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a misfire coming from ignition coil #3. The dealer replaced the ignition coils; however, the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the diagnostic trouble codes were cleared. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the engine overheated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact then drove to the nearest Auto Zone, where coolant was added to the vehicle; however, the failure recurred a week later. The contact stated that the vehicle also experienced excessive fuel consumption. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

Engine light came on and showed misfire in cylinder 4. Changed spark plug and engine coil. Still had engine light on and misfiring. Car drove in power safety mode. After much diagnosis and inspection, master mechanic found coolant leaking into the cylinder walls due to a faulty (poorly manufactured) head gasket. Coolant intrusion caused white exhaust smoke, damage to the engine block and risk of fire. Shop replaced head cylinder and gasket with current oem parts that appeared to be revised. Vehicle remains to drive in poor condition with 54k miles. Powertrain warranty did not cover this expense being the vehicle met the 6 year mark in March 2024.

I purchased the automobile on [XXX] with 44,175 miles. When the engine light came on recently, I took it to the Lincoln dealer here in Las Vegas, paid $205 for the computer to be assessed, and was told the problem was coolant leaking into the engine. They were not able to start any repairs at that time. I was not told what it would cost to repair or the time involved. I assumed it was an air conditioning problem. I drove it a few days and the engine light went off, only to come back on. I then took it to AAA ($177 for the diagnosis), reporting that cylinder 3 had coolant leaking. Tech found TSB 19-2172 TSB. 19-2172 is for current symptoms of misfire at start-up. It was suggested that I take it to the Lincoln dealer. While driving the car home on [XXX], the engine was missing, chugging. I was afraid it would stall. I am thankful it did not stall on the freeway and that I made it home safely. When I called the Lincoln dealer to make an appointment to take the car in for service, I was told it would take three or four weeks to get it repaired, that the engine would have to be replaced for $7,800 - $9,800, and that Lincoln Motor Company will not take any responsibility. He said there were two other vehicles in line with the same problem. Due to being afraid to drive it, I had the car towed by AAA on Monday, October 7, 2024, to the Lincoln dealer and was told the estimate to repair it would be $8,493. This is a coolant intrusion issue due to a faulty design in the engine block where the cooling channels will crack and leak coolant into the piston chambers. As gleaned from the Internet, this appears to have been an ongoing problem with this model. I've observed so far from the Internet that Lincoln Motor Company is not taking responsibility for this faulty design affecting many Lincoln owners. I am [XXX], and living on a fixed income. I had to rent a car and put up a $735 deposit. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive coolant consumption. Additionally, the contact noticed that there was an abnormal coolant odor inside the cabin of the vehicle while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with coolant leaking onto the ignition coil #2. The mechanic replaced the spark plugs, and the ignition coil #2 was replaced several times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to coolant intrusion in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

2018 Lincoln MXC -2.0L- 47,000 mile Need engine long block replacement Coolant leaking into cylinders

After the original 2.0L EcoBoost in my MKC Black Label failed from coolant intrusion around 37,500 miles in May 2023, the replacement engine my dealer installed also failed from coolant intrusion. This time, it failed in July 2024 after less than 5,000 miles. Like the first engine failure, the check engine light illuminated, but this time, the code I saw was P0300 random cylinder misfire. Like last time, the dealer performed a cooling system pressurization test, and the engine failed the test. They also did a borescope inspection and saw coolant leaking into cylinder three's combustion chamber. They also found rust pitting in the cylinder walls. Like last time, they replaced the $7,000+ long block. This failed replacement engine was assembled in March 2023 via the engine code information sticker, with the block part number J2GE 6006 AC, which Ford's TSB 22-2229 states technicians should use. The engine currently in my car, the second replacement, was assembled in April 2024, having the same block part number of J2GE 6006 AC as the first replacement engine assembled in March 2023. In other words, the dealer installed an engine with the same block part number as the one that failed on me in less than 5,000 miles. All three of my MKC's engines are assembled at Ford's Valencia engine plant in Spain. I'm afraid this second engine replacement will also fail, and I'll have to pay the full cost. In the less than three years I've owned this car, these engine replacements have cost $14,000+. I can't believe how many owners have experienced this coolant intrusion problem, as the 2.0L EcoBoost is used in many models. And it's not just the 2.0L; it's also other variants such as the 1.5L, 1.6L, and 2.3L. I hope Ford will do the right thing and recall these engines, or NHTSA will open an investigation and force a recall. Please help us owners, NHTSA, as there are many, many more of us out there suffering from these notorious engine problems that Ford doesn't want to deal with.

I have the 2.0L EcoBoost I-4 (assembled December 2017, engine block part number HV 206 AA) in my 2018 Lincoln MKC Black Label. The head gasket failed at 37,000 miles in May 2023, according to my Ford/Lincoln dealer. It started as intermittent misfiring/running rough with the check engine light illuminated. My scanner detected the code P0301 cylinder one misfire. My coolant reservoir tank level also gradually decreased, with no visible leakage. After waiting weeks to have my engine looked at, they confirmed that cylinder 1 was burning coolant as it failed Ford's cooling system pressurization test. A borescope test also proved that the coolant was leaking into cylinder one's combustion chamber. At this point, I've learned from many complaints online that these engines are notorious for suffering coolant intrusion even at low mileage, and Ford refuses to issue a recall despite this well-known issue that also plagues other EcoBoost I-4 variants. This well-known coolant intrusion problem affecting many Ford and Lincoln models is a costly safety issue for owners. Ford needs to do the right thing and recall these engines. I bought the car in December 2021 with 30,000 miles from a Lincoln dealer in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it was CPO, so the extended warranty covered the engine replacement (long block). Had this not been under warranty, I would have paid more than $7,000. Most owners are not fortunate like me to have a warranty cover this repair. The replacement engine in my MKC now was assembled in March 2023 via the engine code information sticker, with the block part number J2GE 6006 AC.

2.0 Ecoboost engine has coolant intrusion issues due to manufacturing defect and is causing the vehicle to be unsafe to drive

Misfire cylinder2 coolant found in combustion chamber requiring longblock engine replacement. Through investigation found that this is a widespread factory defect that Ford is well aware of. A diagnostic check was not performed on this issue during any routine service visit even though a technical service bulletin had been distributed to dealerships in 2019. The dealership and Ford customer service personnel all confirm there was nothing an owner could have done to prevent this result. An engine light came on at 37,000 miles, just 1 year outside of the warranty.

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was a slight hesitation in the response of the vehicle. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the coolant level was low and that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, causing a misfire. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not covered under recall or warranty. The manufacturer opened a case for the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.