2017 Lincoln MKC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
189 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 109 of 189 complaints (57.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 10.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 6.3% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 109 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Back Over Prevention | 16 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 3 |
Engine: 109; Engine And Engine Cooling: 21; Unknown Or Other: 21; Electrical System: 19; Back Over Prevention: 16; Power Train: 10; Air Bags: 3; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 130 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 36 |
| 2024 | 36 |
| 2025 | 51 |
| 2026 | 37 |
2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2021: 5; 2022: 8; 2023: 36; 2024: 36; 2025: 51; 2026: 37
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11175125 · 2019-02-07 (February 7, 2019)
I STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE SYNC SYSTEM WENT THROUGH A RESTART, KILLING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE DASHBOARD PANELS. IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE ON A LEVEL SURFACE, BUT THIS TIME I WAS ON A 10-15% GRADE. I STOPPED AGAIN, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RETURNED ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER. I WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL, WITH THE ELEVATION LOWER IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I STARTED THE CAR AND STEPPED COMPLETELY OUT WITHIN 10-15 SECONDS. I STEPPED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 10-15 SECONDS. THE HATCH WAS OPEN AND TWO FRIENDS BEHIND COULD CLEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,655 miles reported. Look up ODI 11175125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421544 · 2021-06-20 (June 20, 2021)
Now on my 3rd Battery in 3 months. A section in front of the battery gets very hot. It's a section with a lot of thick wires coming together. Most of the time my car will not start, I just have to keep moving wires until I get a connected for the car to start. I expecting the car to start a fire or a battery explosion pretty soon. l researched 2017 Lincoln MKC's and it seems this is a car with a lot of electrical problems. There needs to be some type of recall to redo the battery connections before someone gets hurt. I will print this notice in…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291738 · 2019-12-28 (December 28, 2019)
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2017 MKC DEVELOPED A SLIPPING ISSUE AT AROUND 81000 MILES. THIS OCCURRED FIRST IN THE RANGE OF 25-35 MPH. NOW IT SEEMS TO HAVE BROADENED. HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY SANDERSON LINCOLN IN PHOENIX, AZ. THEIR INITIAL DETERMINATION WAS A NEW TRANSMISSION OR A REBUILD. COST IS EXCESSIVE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOT WILLING TO REALLY HELP.
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156711 · 2018-12-07 (December 7, 2018)
CAR WAS IN DRIVEWAY. AUTO STOP FEATURE WAS ON. FOOT WAS ON BRAKE, ENGINE STOPPED IDLING. AS I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE A/C COMPRESSOR ENGAGED AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND HIT A BRICK COLUMN CAUSING OVER $2000 IN DAMAGE.CAR WAS SERVICED AT DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE CAR DID NOT "THROW ANY CODES". PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. NOTHING WAS DONE TO THE CAR BY THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11534197 · 2023-07-24 (July 24, 2023)
The head gasket leaked resulting in having to put in an entirely new engine. The dealer suggested that this was a known issue and that the gasket breaks in the corner. After the replacement, I was told that the manufacturer improved the gasket and I should not see this issue happen again. When the gasket blew, there was an immediate loss of power going down the expressway.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11534197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11556458 · 2023-11-22 (November 22, 2023)
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The contact was able to pull over. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that cylinder #4 had misfired. The contact stated that the engine block was defective, and the vehicle was leaking coolant. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately …
Owner-reported narrative. 26,809 miles reported. Look up ODI 11556458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354356 · 2020-09-11 (September 11, 2020)
I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AFTER BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND THE POWER STEERING PRACTICALLY FROZE. I ALMOST HIT MY OTHER CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THREE WARNINGS CAME UP ON THE DASH: 1. SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, 2. STEERING ASSIST FAULT SERVICE REQUIRED, 3. HILL START ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL SERVICE STATION AND HE DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS THE "ELECTRONICS" IN MY RACK AND PINION. HE ADVISED THAT I TAKE IT TO FORD/LINCOLN, BECAUSE IT MAY, OR SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. I THEN TOWED MY CAR TO THE CLOSES…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11681747 · 2025-08-19 (August 19, 2025)
I purchased a 2017 Lincoln MKC approximately 90 days ago and recently encountered a check engine light notification with the diagnostic code P303, indicating a misfire in cylinder three. After replacing the fuel injector on that cylinder and completing a tune-up, which included the replacement of all spark plugs and ignition coils, I consulted a new mechanic. They informed me of a potential issue related to engine block intrusion, which reportedly affected other 2.0 L engines from Ford Motor Company within the 2015-2019 model years. As a result…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11681747 at NHTSA ↗