2016 Lincoln MKT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
Structure:Body: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Back Over Prevention: 1; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Steering: 1; Structure: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11072330 · 2018-02-12 (February 12, 2018)
MY MOONROOF SHATTERED WITH NO REASON AS I WAS PULL FROM MY DRIVEWAY. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE 28 DEGREES NOT EVEN COLD FOR A CHICAGO. I WAS DRIVING NO MORE THAN 15 MILES AND NO HARD BRAKES OR BUMPS JUST SUDDENLY CRACKED ALL OVER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11072330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11075972 · 2018-03-02 (March 2, 2018)
WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE MOONROOF ON MY VEHICLE EXPLODED (SOUNDED LIKE A .38 GOING OFF). I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED (THINKING MAYBE IT WAS A BLOWN TIRE) ONLY TO FIND THAT THE MOONROOF HAD COMPLETELY SHATTERED (SEE ATTACHED PICTURES). I HAD TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME. FORD KNOWS THAT THIS IS A FLAW AND WON'T RECALL THESE VEHICLES IN WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE MANDATORY AS IT IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11075972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104438 · 2018-06-27 (June 27, 2018)
REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. DAYLIGHT HOURS, APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, PARKED IN SHADED AREA. DRIVER WALKED TO VEHICLE, SAT IN DRIVER SEAT, CLOSED DRIVER-SIDE DOOR, AND STARTED VEHICLE UNEVENTFULLY. LESS THAN ONE MINUTE LATER THE REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. DRIVER CUT LEFT HAND ON BROKEN GLASS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE PERSONAL BELONGINGS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,123 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11180980 · 2019-02-18 (February 18, 2019)
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE MOONROOF HAS SHATTERED ON ME TWICE ALREADY. THE FRONT ONE TO BE EXACT, BOTH TIMES IT WAS RAINING BUT NORMAL RAIN, I LIVE IN NORTHEN CALIFORNIA. NO OBJECTS HIT MY CAR AND NO ACCIDENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOUD GUNSHOT NEAR YOU AND ITS VERY SCARY I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I SWERVED TO NEXT LANE DUE TO BEING SCARED OF THE LOUD NOISE. FIRST TIME I WAS ON MY WAY TO RENO AND I HAD TO KEEP GOING BUT IT WAS HELL AND ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. PART OF THE GLASS FLEW OFF WITHIN MINUTES…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11231718 · 2019-07-14 (July 14, 2019)
WHILE MAKING A TURN ONTO HIGHWAY MY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT WITH CARS TURNING NEXT TO ME. IT YANKED THE WHEEL OUT OF MY HAND ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THEN A WINDOW APPEARS IN LY CAR SAYING YOUR STEERING HAS FAILED PULL OVER SAFELY . LITTLE LATE FOR THAT. AFTER GETTING CAR TO DEALER AND WAITING I SEARCHED AND FOUND ELECTRIC STEERING RECALL FROM 2015 SOME 400K CARS. THE SAME YEAR MINE WAS BUILT. DEALER SAYS NO BUT ITS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11350664 · 2020-08-21 (August 21, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LINCOLN MKT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V072000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR A DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11350664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417799 · 2021-05-19 (May 19, 2021)
Panoramic sunroof shattered and it’s broken in pieces now; No longer just shattered I am on the phone with a George Hilliker from the Newark CarMax now. To my dismay there is nothing that can be done since this is not a mechanical defect. So at this point I am going to definitely cancel the extended CarMax care that I did sign up for him to help offset my cost for my deductible to deal with this damage. I would regret not turning around and returning the car on May 4 just because I heard the sound and had no idea what the consequences of that …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11417799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11702945 · 2025-12-04 (December 4, 2025)
The engine light continues to come on and the only reading it gives off is that the engine is running lean. Nothing seems to be smoking or wrong with the vehicle. It continues to drive well. Then the backup cameras started to go on a blink. It comes off and on intermittently sometimes on while driving forward and less frequently on when in reverse.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11702945 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V925000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
Reported: 2016-12-22 (December 22, 2016)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Consequence: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V072000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2020-02-10 (February 10, 2020)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V827000 · Structure:Body
Reported: 2025-12-01 (December 1, 2025)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKT vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Consequence: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 23, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 2, 2025.
NHTSA campaign record ↗