First generation
2017 Lincoln MKC
The most reported problem on the 2017 Lincoln MKC is overheating, with 85 complaints, usually around 70,000 miles.
- 191owner complaints
- 3recalls
- 7involved a crash
- 63,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your MKC doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2017 model year.
Is the 2017 Lincoln MKC reliable?
The 2017 Lincoln MKC has 191 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 307 for 2017 SUVs on this site. Of the 5 MKC model years since 2015, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2016 and 2018
- The 2017 stands out from the model years on either side. It draws 19 complaints for each year on the road, while the 2016 draws 7 and the 2018 8.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Overheating has 85 complaints and misfire has 80, out of 191 in all. A quarter of the 36 owners who gave a mileage for overheating saw it by about 50,000 miles, and half by about 70,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 10 of the 191 complaints (5%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 7 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 2 people were hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- overheating, misfire and engine failure all have recalls on the same system, and the same campaigns cover them: 23V-378 and 25V-685. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 51, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 39 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine overheats or leaks coolant, 85 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
191 complaints is 1.4 times fewer than the median 2017 model on this site and 1.6 times fewer than the median 2017 SUV. Among the 3 MKC model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2017 Lincoln MKC
Lincoln filed 163 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2017 Lincoln MKC. 55 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine overheats or leaks coolant 1 bulletin · 85 complaints
2015-2018 Edge, Fusion, Focus, MKZ, MKC, Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit coolant consumption, white smoke and/or a runs rough condition.
Check engine light or misfire 10 bulletins · 80 complaints
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
8 more on this problem
Some 2015-2019 MKC and 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine may exhibit a vibration/rough idle when the vehicle is in DRIVE or REVERSE.
In affected vehicles, the transmission torque converter may overheat in certain driving conditions. If the torque converter overheats it can lead to adverse NVH, rough idle, and low performance concerns.
Some 2017-2019 Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 1.5, 2.0L or 2.3L EcoBoost engines may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P04F0 and/or P144C stored in the powertrain control module (PCM).
Some 2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function and/or a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A0 in the powertrain control module (PCM).
Some 2017-2018 Escape and MKC vehicles equipped with 2.0L Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDI) engine built on or before 18-Sep-2017 may exhibit a MIL illuminated with DTC P04DB (crankcase ventilation system disconnected) in powertrain control ...
Some 2017-2018 Escape/MKC and 2017 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection(GTDI) engines may exhibit illuminated malfunction indicator light(MIL) with DTC P04DB(crankcase ventilation system disconnected) stored in Powertrain ...
Some 2017 Escape and MKC vehicles equipped with a 1.5L, 2.0L or 2.3L engine may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0455, P0456, P144C and/or P1450 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM) memory.
Some 2017 Escape and MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDI) engine built on or before 20-Aug-2016 may exhibit a lack of power drivability concern with an illuminated MIL and DTC P0234 stored in powertrain control ...
Engine misfire 3 bulletins · 40 complaints
Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2017-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
Some 2015-2018 Edge and 2015-2019 Fusion/MKZ/Escape/MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or a runs rough condition with or without an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
1 more on this problem
Some 2015-2018 Fusion/MKZ/MKC/Escape/Edge vehicles equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a runs rough condition with DTCs P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 and/or P0316. This may be due to coolant intrusion due to corrosion on the engine block.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 31 bulletins · 23 complaints
Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone ...
Some 2013-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2013-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2013-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with 8 inch or larger center display ...
29 more on this problem
Some 2014-2017 C-MAX Energi, 2014-2020 Fusion plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), 2015-2017 MKZ/MKZ Hybrid/MKC, 2016-2017 MKX, 2016-2018 Focus battery electric vehicle (BEV) and 2017 Continental vehicles equipped with SYNC screens 8 inch or larger may be ...
Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation voice prompts are inoperative after a SYNC map update. This may be due to an incomplete installation of the SYNC map software.
Some 2016-2021 Ford or Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 or SYNC 4 may exhibit a blank screen or other various SYNC symptoms only when the vehicle is in transport mode.
Some 2016-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a SYNC 3 Touchscreen may experience the volume control unresponsive from the Front Control Interface Module (FCIM) and steering volume controls when using Apple Car Play.
Some 2016-2019 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a map displayed on the left half of the SYNC screen with no other information/soft buttons present after updating to the latest version of V3.0 software.
Some 2015-2019 vehicles may experience a no crank concern due to a security access key table error. When attempting to program keys or perform a parameter reset, the procedure may fail and the appropriate Ford diagnostic scan tool may display an error 232: ...
Some 2016-2019 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 not at the latest software level may exhibit Various Performance Related concerns such as Display Operation, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Phone Pairing, Applink, Travel Link, Slow System ...
Some 2015-2017 vehicles may experience a no crank concern due to a security access key table error. When attempting to program keys or perform a parameter reset, the procedure may fail and the Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) scan tool may display an error ...
Some 2016-2018 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit the Android Auto Preference menu selection is not present after an update to version 3.0 software.
Some 2016-2018 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 not at the latest software level may exhibit Various Performance Related concerns such as Display Operation, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Phone Pairing, Applink, Travel Link, Slow System ...
Plus 19 older ones not listed here.
Backup camera goes black or freezes 1 bulletin · 13 complaints
Some 2016-2017 Edge, Escape, Expedition, Fiesta, Flex, MKC, MKT, MKX, Mustang, Navigator and Taurus or 2017 Explorer and Super Duty vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 and built on 1-Jul-2015 and through 31-Dec-2016 may exhibit a SYNC display message of Please ...
Battery dies or the car will not start 7 bulletins · 8 complaints
Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the FordPass®/LincolnWay® app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode.
Some 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln phone applications as an alternate channel to access vehicle commands such as ...
5 more on this problem
Some customers may experience a notification in the FordPass and/or LincolnWay apps that indicates their vehicle has entered "deep sleep mode".
For Ford and Lincoln vehicles that require positive or negative battery terminal replacement, it is not necessary to replace the complete battery cable harness (14300 and 14301) for this concern.
Some 2016-2018 MKC vehicles built on or before 20-Sep-2017 may exhibit a no crank condition due to a discharged battery from the Rear Gate Trunk Module (RGTM) keeping the vehicle network awake.
Some vehicles may exhibit a no start condition with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and a DTC P161A after PCM replacement. This may be due to the parameter reset procedure not being properly completed.
Some 2017 Fusion/MKZ/MKC and Continental with all audio systems and 2017 Escape with Sony audio systems may exhibit an inoperative audio system after a battery disconnect/reconnect.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 2 bulletins · 6 complaints
Some 2015-2019 MKC and 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine may exhibit a vibration/rough idle when the vehicle is in drive (D) or reverse (R).
In some of the affected vehicles, customers may experience adverse NVH, vibration and/or rough idle in Drive or Reverse, low performance/lack of acceleration during launch, sluggish vehicle operation and shudder while driving
Complaints filed by year
51 complaints came in 2025. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2017 Lincoln MKC
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
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. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
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.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S28.
All 3 recalls on the 2017 Lincoln MKC, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
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Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2017 Lincoln MKC?
Overheating, with 85 of the 191 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 70,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2017 Lincoln MKC problems start?
Of the 80 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 38,000 miles and half by about 63,000.
Is the 2017 Lincoln MKC better or worse than the 2016 and 2018?
Counted per year on the road, the 2017 has more complaints than both the 2016 and the 2018: 19 a year against 7 and 8.
How many 2017 Lincoln MKC complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
10 of them (5%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for overheating on the 2017 Lincoln MKC?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls on the same system: 23V-378 and 25V-685. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.