2018 Lincoln MKX: owner complaints and recalls

Complaints about the 2018 Lincoln MKX are still climbing years after launch. The last three full years account for 13 of the 29 filings on record, which usually means a defect that surfaces with mileage rather than a factory fault.

29
Complaints
5
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
55.2
Severity index

Severity index 55.2 - Medium. It weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints, so a vehicle attracting serious reports scores above one attracting many trivial ones (how this is calculated).

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 55.2p25 35p75 96cleanestworst
Where the 2018 Lincoln MKX sits against the quartiles of every vehicle we track.

What actually fails

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 8 complaints (27.6%)8 28%Service BrakesService Brakes: 7 complaints (24.1%)7 24%HydraulicHydraulic: 4 complaints (13.8%)4 14%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 4 complaints (13.8%)4 14%EngineEngine: 3 complaints (10.3%)3 10%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 2 complaints (6.9%)2 7%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 2 complaints (6.9%)2 7%WheelsWheels: 2 complaints (6.9%)2 7%
Systems named in complaints. One complaint can name several, so shares overlap.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER827.6%
SERVICE BRAKES724.1%
HYDRAULIC413.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM413.8%
ENGINE310.3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING26.9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING26.9%
WHEELS26.9%

Complaints filed per year

0482018: 32019: 22020: 12021: 42022: 12023: 32024: 22025: 82026: 5 (partial year)1819202122232425826
Complaints filed per calendar year, not model year. The hatched bar is the current year and is still incomplete.
YearComplaints
20183
20192
20201
20214
20221
20233
20242
20258
2026 (year to date)5
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 2.2x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
20V46900010/08/2020SERVICE BRAKESFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
18V61200011/09/2018LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHFord 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 Stand
20V41400017/07/2020SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUSTFord 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 da
18V54800020/08/2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATORFord 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.
25V54400022/08/2025SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSFord 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.
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.