LINCOLN MKC · model year

2019 LINCOLN MKC

108 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2019LINCOLNMKC carries 108 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2019 MKC is engine with 71 filings, followed by electrical system (10) and unknown or other (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2019 MKC, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

108
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
2019 LINCOLN MKC — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2019 LINCOLN MKC. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

108 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE71
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
BACK OVER PREVENTION3
POWER TRAIN2
WHEELS2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
SUSPENSION1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK1
INTERIOR LIGHTING1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
AIR BAGS1

Recalls (3)

23V37800026/05/2023

ENGINE

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.

25V68500010/10/2025

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

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 t

25V57200004/09/2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

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 distort

Recent Complaints

20260214ENGINE

Engine seizes while driving and chokes due to engine misfire. First occurence was at 34kmiles in 9/2023 and when brought for emissions check mechanic said needed new spark plugs/coil so had them replaced for $800. 3-4months later after only 1k miles check engine light goes on again and car hums/rattles like it will stall. My brother runs diagnosis and same issue and that’s when I started to do research and found that Lincoln MKC 2019 have known engine issues. As it was under warranty until dec 2024, I brought to Steven’s Ford in Milford CT and raised this engine issue and specifically asked for full repair to ensure issue is fixed. 18 months later on 11/12/2025, while driving car the engine starts to hum and rattle feel like it will seize and check engine light goes on again. Same issue from when I had repair under warranty but Lincoln dealer claims it’s a parts issue and not an engine issue. These vehicles are dangerous and can cause accident due to engine just stopping. Dealer

20260206ENGINE

Ford's 2.0L EcoBoost engine has seen recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs) primarily for coolant intrusion leading to engine failure, affecting models like the 2017-2019 MKC with issues stemming from a block design flaw and faulty head gaskets that allow coolant into cylinders, causing overheating, corrosion, and potential engine fires. This vehicle is confirmed to have coolant intrusion in the cylinders, resulting in premature engine failure.

20260205SERVICE BRAKES

Engine warning light went on. Replaced spark plugs and coil to cylinder # 2. Then, Traction control light indicated system off. Technician advised the need for dealership software upgrade to ABS. Dealership advised that engine block allowing coolant intrusion into #2 cylinder. Needs a new engine. And need for a new ABS module, also defective.

20260205ENGINE

Engine warning light went on. Replaced spark plugs and coil to cylinder # 2. Then, Traction control light indicated system off. Technician advised the need for dealership software upgrade to ABS. Dealership advised that engine block allowing coolant intrusion into #2 cylinder. Needs a new engine. And need for a new ABS module, also defective.

20260205ENGINE

My 2019 Lincoln MKC has the widespread coolant intrusion engine defect acknowledged by Ford. This is a premature internal engine failure due to design.

20260204ENGINE

Vehicle overheated, due to collant entering #1 cylinder. This coolant intrusion is apparently a well documented issue, from an acknowledged engine defect. (TSB 19-2346, TSB 22-2133) Ford dealership recommended an $11,000 + tax engine replacement, with no relief, as car is past its warranty. The vehicle has 58540 miles. Lincoln customer service also declined any goodwill repair. Independent Service Dealer (Craig’s Auto Repair Service 281-469-5949) first diagnosed the issue, recommended taking the vehicle to Ford Dealership (Tomball Ford).

20260203ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that the messages "Service Advancetrac", "Hill Start Assist Not Available", "System Off - To Save Battery Please Turn Off Ignition or Start Engine" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the battery and the battery monitor sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The parts were ordered to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20260203ENGINE

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that the messages "Service Advancetrac", "Hill Start Assist Not Available", "System Off - To Save Battery Please Turn Off Ignition or Start Engine" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the battery and the battery monitor sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The parts were ordered to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20260202STEERING

My power steering wheel stopped working . I got an alert : steering assist fault service required. Took the car to the dealer , this cost me $5,700.

20260201ENGINE

Lincoln 2019 MKC reserve head gasket problem check engine light on. Took to dealership and confirmed with compression test that it was TSB – 22–2229 had to replace engine with new long block. Lincoln Corporate Assistance paid some 2835.10 I paid $4265.05

20260130BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); 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 dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

20260120ENGINE

My 2019 Lincoln MKC with only 52,200 miles experienced unrepairable engine damage due to an internal coolant intrusion condition that directly matches Ford TSB 22-2229. On or around Jan 1st or 2nd, a check engine warning light came on as I was driving home at night. I did not drive my car any further except to the dealership for service on 1/5/2026. The engine failure was diagnosed by the dealership on 1/6/2026. This engine failure occurred well below a reasonable engine life expectancy, and is caused by a documented design defect. The manufacturer’s refusal/delay in recalling these engines with a known design defect places drivers at risk of being stranded at any time of day or night, and drivers risk becoming a road hazard to themselves and others when experiencing complete engine failure.

20251216ENGINE

2019 Lincoln MKC with 96K mileage suddenly started running rough around 30mph and I was losing power as I was entering a highway on a ramp. RPM needle was fluctuating between 2K and 3K. Immediately drove back home and towed it to Lincoln shop. They said its an issue with Coolant Intrusion into the engine compartment and would have to replace the engine block. Estimated at $11K. Extended warranty company said claim is likely to be denied as these Ecoboost 2.0L engines are notorious for these issues. It is a faulty manufacturing and there is no recall. Costing consumers thousands of dollars and also putting lives of passengers at risk.

20251203ENGINE

My car misfired, then the heat wouldn't work then started to overheat. The car is 2019 MKC 2.0L engine. Only 64k miles on it. I am the original owner. Took it to the dealership and they said the coolant has back up into the engine. I read that this has been a known issue with these engines and was never notified. It is going to cost 10k to replace this engine.

20251202ENGINE

My initial reason I took the car to the dealership, was because the vehicle would not want to start or stay running after fuel was put in. I aIso had a check engine light on. After the dealership performed diagnostics on it, they said the purge valve was bad which was the cause of it not starting. The check engine light was on because it was low on coolant. So I scheduled another appointment with Wyatt Ford in Manistee MI 49660 on Dec 1, 2025. They performed a coolant pressure test and determined that it is losing pressure after shutdown. They cannot find a leak. They removed the spark plugs, but #3 spark plug is "stuck" and they are attempting to remove it. If the spark plug breaks, they will take more of the engine apart to access it and attempt to "tap" out the threads of it. The technician (Sherman) told me that the cause of it being stuck could be due to the fact of the coolant leaking into that cylinder. Sherman was able to remove the #3 spark plug and found coolant in that #3

20251201BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera had become inoperable while reversing. The local dealer was contacted, but the contact was informed that assistance could not be provided because the part needed for the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,500.

Mileage: 31,500

20251121ENGINE

The 2019 Lincoln MKC model made prior to April 2019 is part of a variety of Ford/Lincoln manufactured models that are known to have a coolant intrusion issue. This causes various issues within the engine system such as head gasket failure, cracked cylinders, and cracked engine block causing the coolant to leak and potential for fire risk. Although check engine light warning will be present, the code is presented as a misfire and the suggested fix is to replace spark plugs and coils. This will be completed, and seem to resolve this issue however, it is temporary and problems continue to persist. The car will loose power while driving and be unable to accelerate or continue to keep consistent speed such as when driving on freeway. Despite having a TSB 22-2133, customers are not made publicly aware of this issue and if they do not fit within warranty timeframe the dealer will not complete recommended service of the issue. Therefore, the customer is not at fault for the unsafe, known manuf

20251117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge started to indicate that the engine was overheating, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a misfire in cylinders #2 and #3. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 58,555.

Mileage: 58,555

20251027ENGINE

Total Engine Failure due to coolant leak into the 2.3L Ford motor. This is a KNOWN issue with the Ford motors and it is not covered. This eventual coolant leak makes the owner have to buy and replace the engine with one that has similar issues and costs $8300+. This is unacceptable and Ford needs to cover and address. Never had an engine do this to me before and it’s horrible. Please hold Ford accountable. Navy AD and with the shit down, this will be an expense I can not cover with 3 children, one in college. Was planning on keeping this car till the filter falls off… not anymore I guess.

20251019ENGINE

There’s a cracked block/head gasket causing coolant to leak into the cylinders and now my engine needs to be replaced.

Compare 2019LINCOLNMKC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2019 LINCOLN MKC have?
The 2019 LINCOLN MKC has 108 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2019 LINCOLN MKC?
The 2019 LINCOLN MKC received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2019 LINCOLN MKC?
Yes, the 2019 LINCOLN MKC has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 LINCOLN MKC?
The most-complained component for the 2019 LINCOLN MKC is ENGINE with 71 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2019 LINCOLN MKC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2019 LINCOLN MKC has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.