The 2018 Lincoln MKX has 5 safety recalls and 31 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (8 complaints).
Recalls5safety recalls
Complaints31filed by owners
Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
NHTSA recall 25V544000 · Aug 22, 2025 · 499,129 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.
Service brakes
NHTSA recall 20V469000 · Aug 10, 2020 · 488,594 vehicles
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
Risk: A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S42.
Components: Service brakes; Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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 seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
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 as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.
Components: Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust; Air bags; Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles. These vehicles may have door striker bolts that are shorter than intended. Vehicles with shorter door striker bolts fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components" potentially resulting in the doors opening in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the doors open in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door striker bolts, free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C06.
Electrical system › Starter assembly
NHTSA recall 18V548000 · Aug 20, 2018 · 87 vehicles
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, 2019 Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. The power supply cables at the starter and the alternator may not have been properly secured, possibly resulting in an electrical arc.
Risk: An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and starter motor power supply cables to verify that they are properly secured, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S25.
Components: Electrical system › Starter assembly; Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2018 Lincoln MKX SUV AWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
15.5%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
2018 Lincoln MKX SUV FWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
15.4%
Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
MKX FWD
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
MKX FWD
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 25 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
MKX AWD
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
MKX AWD
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Unknown or other
8
0
0
0
—
Electrical system
5
0
0
0
—
Service brakes
4
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic
4
0
0
0
—
Engine
3
0
0
0
—
Exterior lighting
3
0
0
0
—
Wheels
2
0
0
0
—
Air bags
2
1
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
2
0
0
0
—
Steering
2
0
0
0
—
Electronic stability control (esc)
1
0
0
0
—
Seats
1
1
0
1
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Sep 16, 2026Electrical system My vehicle had an electrical recall; I took it in and it gotten worse. The vehicle is making noise, and saying 911 operator is unavailable. The turning signals turn on and off, if I turn one going left, it stays on a while, or I have to shut car off a while to get it to cooperate of it doesn't signal at all. The brake light is on, no airbag light on, has hill assist warning, park aid malfunction light when park aid works, powertrain malfunction light on, pressure monitor on, and I took it to the shop, the mechanic said he couldn't get the correct electrical info to change it. Service steering warning comes on and blinks. I was driving two separate occasions and the car put itself in park…
Aug 3, 2026Service brakes I have experienced this issue and it's been 9 months since the first issuance from Ford on this recall. I paid $523 to repair and this is insane since mechanic told me its an OME part so still going to possibly have same issue till recall is handled.
Sep 15, 2025Service brakes, hydraulic The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: Â 25V544000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) However, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Mar 13, 2026Engine Faulty catalytic converters. Ford has a CSP for the 2018 Lincoln mkx 3.7L engine and only included police driven Mkx's which is totally unfair when they're well aware that Faulty/failing emissions catalytic converters were installed on all of them and they fail and produce p0430 codes regardless of driving habits, I've never driven any of my vehicles harshly and maintain my vehicles, yet since I've owned this 2018 mkx since September of 2024, the rear catalytic converter had to be replaced and now the front catalytic converter is giving the same p0430 permanent code. Its bias of Ford to only extend police vehicles coverage and not regular consumers knowing that this emissions part is faulty…
Mar 18, 2026Engine My vehicle has had emissions vehicle since before I owned it up to now. The catalytic converter has been replaced 4 times which is unheard of. Its presently giving the same codes/issues. The last catalytic converter replacement was November of 2024. It has to be a computer programming issue as my mechanic express. Im asking that this be looked into by Ford. I've owned 1973 Ford Pinto as a teenager, a 1998 Ford Explorer, 2000 Lincoln navigator, 2005 Lincoln aviator and now this 2018 Lincoln mkx has been the only vehicle with this type of issue. Maintenance records can prove this vehicle has properly been maintained before and during my ownership. I only use Shell, sunoco and other top tier…
Mar 20, 2026Unknown or other The 2018 Lincoln MKX Third Brake Light lens cracked off in 3 pieces while going through the automatic car wash dryer on the evening of Friday March 20, 2026. This appears to be an Engineering design issue.
Sep 1, 2025Service brakes, hydraulic The contact owns a 2018 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 amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Dec 1, 2025Electrical system The rear view camera is intermittent. The camera listed for replacement is F2GZ19G490C. That was a recall item listed for the problem that we are having . It is intermittent and is a safety hazard as indicated in the LINCOLN MKX 2015 THRU 2019. WHY IS IT INDICATED AS NOT HAVING A RECALL TO MY 2018 LINCOLN MKX VIN [XXX] . IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAMERA F2GZ19G490C IS THE CAMERA LISTED AS THE REPLACEMENT AND THEY LIST IT AT FORD FOR $560.68. THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT TOLD ME IT WAS OVER $600 AND IT WOULD COST $1300 TO FIX IT. SOMETHING IT IS WRONG HERE BECAUSE i CAN GET THE REPLACEMENT FOR ABOUT $60 DOLLARS. IT LOOKS LIKE A DENIAL OF SERVICE UNDER A RECALL AND A REDICULOUS AMOUNT TO REPAIR…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.