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2018 Lincoln MKC: engine failure

26 of the 78 complaints about the 2018 Lincoln MKC describe engine failure.

owner complaints
26
of this car's complaints
33%
typical repair cost reported
$10,000
recalls
1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 19 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Engine failure by model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 7, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · FL

Rough idle at start up persisted as I got onto the road and caused near complete loss of drivability as "check engine" light appeared for the first time. Had towed to mechanic who replaced coils and plugs. One month later, check engine light appeared again. Brought back to mechanic who looked it over and said it was fine. Two weeks later, third apperance of check engine light. This time, I took to Lincoln dealership who ran appropriate diagnostics and confirmed one week later this is the coolant intrusion defect that will require a long-block engine replacement for $12,500. Car has 55,000 miles.

Filed Sep 16, 2026 · Engine · 73,617 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle, the engine misfired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant intrusion had resulted in the engine failure, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 73,617.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Engine · NM

My engine failed. At the time I did not know this. I was driving to work, and although I knew I was not out of gas according to the gas gauge, I thought maybe something was wrong with the gauge when my Lincoln began to putter like when you are running out of gas. I was approaching a stop light in the left turn lane when the car died. Which could have caused a multi car pileup considering the intersection in my town I was at. I got the car to start again but it smelt terrible and started smoking from the exhaust. A white smoke. I was not far from work at all so I made it there and had a mobile mechanic come to look at it. Upon inspecting it, he found oil build up in my spark plugs. When he tested the compression there was no compression at all in cylinder 4. There were no prior indicators such as check engine lights or any other lights. I had just financed this vehicle not even 6 months prior so not only did being stuck at a busy intersection full of anxiety and praying no one hit me, it has caused tremendous financial hardship as I have still been faithfully making my loan payments and paying full coverage on the vehicle. And has left my husband and I without a vehicle. He works 50 minutes from where we live and I work 20mins from where we live and in opposite directions. I since found out there are class action lawsuits for this year,make,model, and engine. I contacted the only shop in my town which is a Ford Lincoln dealership about the issues and was informed that most likely the cost of repairs/replacement would be $10,000 and to contact Ford corporate. Which I did and was denied any sort of assistance with cost when they should have to cover the whole thing as it is a major safety issue. Let alone the financial burden their defective engines are placing on people such as myself. This could have caused a major car accident potentially resulting in severe injuries to myself and others. I did not know until now I could report these types of safety issues.

Filed Aug 3, 2026 · Engine · SC

I am experiencing a coolant-intrusion problem with my 2018 Lincoln MKC, equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle has only 63,900 miles. •The check-engine light repeatedly came on and went off over a two-week period. •A Lincoln dealer performed a diagnostic evaluation and identified the same problem reported in other Ford and Lincoln vehicles with this engine. •An independent automotive service provider confirmed the diagnosis and advised me that Ford had issued a service bulletin addressing this exact issue. •Both assessments indicated that the engine needs to be replaced. When I asked the dealer what could happen if I did not replace the engine, I was warned of serious safety risks, including a possible fire or complete engine failure. This is not a routine wear-and-tear issue; it appears to be a known design defect. The problem has reportedly led to class-action lawsuits and has left many vehicle owners facing significant repair costs without financial assistance. Ford/Lincoln has stated that it will not cover the cost of replacing my engine because the vehicle is no longer under warranty.

Filed Jul 3, 2026 · Engine · NY

Misfiring and then smoke in tail pipe. Just hit 70,000 miles and the engine needs replacing. A defect that's been known since I bought the car.

Filed Jul 3, 2026 · Engine · MD

I am thoroughly disappointed and overwhelmed. My vehicle has 122,000 miles on it. Yes that may be considered many for some but this vehicle has been taken care of extensively and all routine scheduled maintenance has been performed. I purchased from Preston Ford in Pittsville, MD and the vehicle had 48000 miles as a used vehicle. I have had many minor issues,(fuel flap), A/C issues and 2 recalls for back up camera and the vehicle had a recall stating the car may catch on fire so don't park near other structures. Supposedly both recalls were taken care of by the seller of my vehicle. Now I am told I need a new engine, my engine light came on and I thought it was the purge valve assembly. Now this is my first Ford product so I am sad to report this. I still owe on this car and was told a new engine would cost about 10,000. I use the car for work and is my livelihood. I do not know who to contact and would hate to see someone else with this same experience. I feel if you take care of your vehicle it should get more than 122,000 miles.

Filed May 4, 2026 · Engine · KY

Dealer confirmed there is a coolant intrusion in the engine and the engine needs to be replaced due to a known defect.

Filed Jan 30, 2026 · Engine · MI

Ford is well aware of the scam and refuses to fix the faulty engine for millions of these vehicles. 2018 MKC is trash. Already rebuilt the engine, turbo is garbage and the coolant will continue to leak with new engine because it’s a flawed design. They are fully aware but greed is more important than safety or a satisfied customer. I pray the are held accountable eventually.

Filed Jan 16, 2026 · Engine · MO

The check engine light came on and it would run rough when started. It was determined the number four cylinder head was cracked, allowing antifreeze to leak into the engine block. I bought the car new in January 2019. The problem appeared with under 57,000 actual miles. The car has always been serviced on time at the dealership. The cost to fix the problem with a new engine is approximately $10,000. I bought the car new so that I would not have problems. It is my only form of transportation. In researching, I have found this is a reoccurring problem on the echo boost four-cylinder engine since 2017. It didn’t matter whether it was low mileage or high mileage the cracks would appear. There had been a recall on later models, but no recall for the 2018. I believe it should be under recall.

Filed Oct 21, 2025 · Engine · 42,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the failure was due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. In addition, the contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V685000 (Equipment); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Filed Oct 2, 2025 · Engine · NY

Car had engine light come on, was told from dealer need completely new engine despite only 70k miles. Is a known issue, please protect US consumers.

Filed Aug 30, 2025 · Engine · MS

Kirk Brothers ford supposedlly put a new engine in my vehicle. I've had issues with it ever since they supposedly put the engine in. I had another mechanic just look at it on 14AUG25 and he informed me that the engine was shot.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

EngineReported May 26, 2023 · 142,734 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will add an in-line fuse to the battery monitor sensor power circuit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S28.

Recall number 23V378000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2018 Lincoln MKC engine failure

Is engine failure a common problem on the 2018 Lincoln MKC?

26 of 78 owner complaints about the 2018 Lincoln MKC (33%) mention engine failure. The model year with the most reports is 2017.

How much does it cost to fix engine failure on the 2018 Lincoln MKC?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $10,000 (median of 8 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Lincoln MKC?

There is 1 recall and 19 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2018 Lincoln MKC

Check engine light 35Misfire 22Overheating 16Fire or smoke 5

All model years of the Lincoln MKC

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