2018 Lincoln MKX recalls and problems

The 2018 Lincoln MKX has 5 safety recalls and 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Lincoln dealer.

Recalls
5
Complaints
31
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2018 Lincoln MKX recalls

Recall 25V-544: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Aug 22, 2025 · 499,129 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: 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.

Risk: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Recall 20V-469: Service Brakes, Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Aug 10, 2020 · 488,594 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 20V-414: Seats, Air Bags, Electrical System

Reported Jul 17, 2020 · 19,299 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 18V-612: Latches/Locks/Linkages

Reported Sep 11, 2018 · 503 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: 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.

Risk: If the doors open in the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Recall 18V-548: Electrical System

Reported Aug 20, 2018 · 87 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: 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.

Risk: An electrical arc can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: 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.

2018 Lincoln MKX problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Unknown or Other8
Electrical System5
Service Brakes4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Engine3
Exterior Lighting3
Wheels2
Air Bags2
Engine and Engine Cooling2
Steering2
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1
Seats1

Most reported parts

  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor — 2
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 1
  • Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior — 1
  • Structure › Body — 1
  • Back Over Prevention › Warnings — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 19,827 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2018 Lincoln MKX complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Sep 16, 2026
My vehicle had an electrical recall; I took it in and it gotten worse. The vehicle is making noise, and saying 911 operator is unavailable. The turning signals turn on and off, if I turn one going left, it stays on a while, or I have to shut car off a while to get it to cooperate of it doesn't signal at all. The brake light is on, no airbag light on, has hill assist warning, park aid malfunction light when park aid works, powertrain malfunction light on, pressure monitor on, and I took it to the shop, the mechanic said he couldn't get the correct electrical info to change it. Service steering…
Service Brakes · reported Aug 20, 2026
I have experienced this issue and it's been 9 months since the first issuance from Ford on this recall. I paid $523 to repair and this is insane since mechanic told me its an OME part so still going to possibly have same issue till recall is handled.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · reported Jun 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: Â 25V544000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Engine · reported Apr 14, 2026
Faulty catalytic converters. Ford has a CSP for the 2018 Lincoln mkx 3.7L engine and only included police driven Mkx's which is totally unfair when they're well aware that Faulty/failing emissions catalytic converters were installed on all of them and they fail and produce p0430 codes regardless of driving habits, I've never driven any of my vehicles harshly and maintain my vehicles, yet since I've owned this 2018 mkx since September of 2024, the rear catalytic converter had to be replaced and now the front catalytic converter is giving the same p0430 permanent code. Its bias of Ford to only…
Engine · reported Apr 4, 2026
My vehicle has had emissions vehicle since before I owned it up to now. The catalytic converter has been replaced 4 times which is unheard of. Its presently giving the same codes/issues. The last catalytic converter replacement was November of 2024. It has to be a computer programming issue as my mechanic express. Im asking that this be looked into by Ford. I've owned 1973 Ford Pinto as a teenager, a 1998 Ford Explorer, 2000 Lincoln navigator, 2005 Lincoln aviator and now this 2018 Lincoln mkx has been the only vehicle with this type of issue. Maintenance records can prove this vehicle has…

Other Lincoln MKX years

Compare all Lincoln MKX years · All Lincoln models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Lincoln MKX have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2018 Lincoln MKX: 25V-544 (service brakes, hydraulic), 20V-469 (service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic), 20V-414 (seats, air bags, electrical system), 18V-612 (latches/locks/linkages), 18V-548 (electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Lincoln MKX?

Owners report unknown or other problems most often (8 reports), followed by electrical system (5). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 19,827 miles.

Are Lincoln recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Lincoln dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.