Selling a Lincoln MKC with engine trouble, or worse

Run these recalls before anything else

The MKC has 14 recall campaigns, and several deal with heat and fire. Put your VIN into NHTSA's recall lookup before you price a repair or a sale.

• Battery monitor sensor, 23V378 (2015-2019). The sensor may short-circuit and overheat, causing a fire in the engine compartment while parked or driving. NHTSA's notice says to park outside, away from structures, until a dealer adds an in-line fuse. The description names only the MKC; 142,734 vehicles are in the campaign.
• Engine block heater, three campaigns. 16V183 (2015-2016, shared with the 2016 Explorer), 25V685 (2016-2019, shared with eight other Ford and Lincoln lines) and 26V011 (2015-2016 cars with the 2.0 L engine, shared with the Focus and Escape). The two newer ones say not to plug the heater in until it's replaced.
• Rearview camera, 25V270 (2015) and 25V572 (2015-2019). Both replace the camera. The second campaign counted 1,456,417 vehicles across many Ford models.

One generation, two engines

The MKC had one generation. Ford built it at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky on the Global C platform, alongside the third-generation Ford Escape, per Wikipedia. It came with front- or all-wheel drive, a 6-speed automatic, and a 2.0 L or 2.3 L EcoBoost turbo four. For 2020 the Corsair replaced it, as Lincoln moved away from its MK names.

2015: the launch-year recalls

The 2015 has 131 complaints, with the engine (28), electrical system (17) and power train (13) named most. It also carries 12 of the 14 recall campaigns. Two of those name only the MKC:

• 15V006: a recall on the push-to-start button mounted low on the dash. Dealers moved the switch and reprogrammed the powertrain control module. 11,144 vehicles.
• 14V484: air bubbles in the windshield glass. Dealers inspected and replaced windshields. 1,139 vehicles.

The rest are campaigns the MKC shares with other Fords: a fuel pump (15V005) and a fuel delivery module (14V525) shared with the Escape, two door latch campaigns that each counted more than two million vehicles (16V643, 20V331), and seat bolts (17V472).

2016-2019: engine complaints climb

From 2016 on, the engine leads every year, and its share grows. It's 39 of 80 on the 2016, 102 of 191 on the 2017, 46 of 76 on the 2018 and 85 of 122 on the 2019. NHTSA's back over prevention category, which covers rearview cameras, has 18 on the 2017. The 2018 also has a brake hose campaign (18V104) that counted 88 vehicles.

Across all years, 12 complaints reported a fire and 22 said the car had to be towed.

Complaints and recall campaigns by year

We counted these MKC reports from NHTSA records on October 10, 2026. Late MKCs have been driven for a shorter time, so their owners have had less chance to file reports. An MKC recall shows up in the row for each year it covers, so that column adds past 14.

Repair it or sell it?

Get a written quote. Next, find the price a working MKC with your year and mileage gets. If the repair bill gets near it, selling the MKC unfixed tends to be smarter.

1. Engine gone? Our blown engine guide covers how to weigh a replacement against a sale.
2. Fire in the engine bay? Check 23V378 on the VIN, then see fire damage.
3. Recall still open? Selling with an open recall explains what to tell a buyer.
4. Quote higher than the car? Repairs cost more than it's worth walks through the math.

Selling an MKC whole

1. Have the VIN, the mileage and the problem ready. Say whether it starts, runs rough or won't crank.
2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Say where it is: a driveway, a parking garage, a repair shop lot. If it's in a garage and 23V378 is open, mention that too.
4. Keep the MKC in one piece, with its wheels and catalytic converter on. Mention any part already taken off.
5. When we come for the MKC, have its title, your photo ID and the keys. Still paying on it? See still owe on the loan.

Comparing Lincolns? See the Corsair that replaced it, the larger MKX, or the Nautilus.