Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2018 Lincoln MKX. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Rear Brake Hose May Rupture
- Summary
- Ford 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.
- Consequence
- A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.
Front Brake Hoses Could Rupture
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
- Consequence
- A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake hoses with the new hoses that have a revised braid material, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S42.
Damaged Wiring May Cause Air Bag Malfunction
- Summary
- Ford 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 damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.
Incorrect Length of Door Striker Bolts/FMVSS 206
- Summary
- Ford 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 Standard (FMVSS) number 206, "Door Locks and Door Retention Components" potentially resulting in the doors opening in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- If the doors open in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door striker bolts, free of charge. The recall began October 18, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C06.
Alternator and Starter Cables may be Loose
- Summary
- Ford 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.
- Consequence
- An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the alternator and starter motor power supply cables to verify that they are properly secured, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S25.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (31)
31 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 31 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 8 | 25.8% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 25.8% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 16.1% |
| Engine | 3 | 9.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 9.7% |
| Air bags | 2 | 6.5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 6.5% |
| Steering | 2 | 6.5% |
| Wheels | 2 | 6.5% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | 3.2% |
How 2018 compares with other MKX years
Best and worst MKX years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 66 | 6 |
| 2010 | 111 | 6 |
| 2011 | 149 | 3 |
| 2012 | 84 | 1 |
| 2013 | 163 | 1 |
| 2014 | 35 | 1 |
| 2015 | 19 | 0 |
| 2016 | 156 | 7 |
| 2017 | 52 | 5 |
| 2018 | 31 | 5 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 Lincoln MKX suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,350
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 444 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 440 |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 467 |
| 3.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 19 | $3,550 | 471 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 MKX for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 Lincoln MKX FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Lincoln MKX have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 25V544000 (brake), 20V469000 (brake), 20V414000 (air bag), 18V612000 (latch), 18V548000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Lincoln MKX problems?
Owners filed 31 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (8), Unknown or other (8), Electrical system (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Lincoln MKX get?
EPA rates the 2.7 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 18 city, 25 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 Lincoln MKX get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 Lincoln MKX suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (15.4% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 MKX compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2018 Lincoln MKX model years at least five years old, the 2015 drew the fewest complaints (19) and the 2013 the most (163). The 2018 drew 31. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.