Model year 2018 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2018 Lincoln MKX: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2018 Lincoln MKX at 19–20 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 31 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
5
EPA combined mpg
19–20
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Lincoln dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2018 Lincoln MKX recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 5 safety recalls for the 2018 Lincoln MKX, newest first.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Foundation components: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
NHTSA 25V544000Reported Aug 22, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25S87)
Units affected
499,129 (estimate)
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.
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.
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 20S42)
Components
Service brakes; Service brakes, hydraulic: Foundation components: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Units affected
488,594 (estimate)
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.
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.
Seats: Front assembly: Power adjust and 2 more components
NHTSA 20V414000Reported Jul 17, 2020
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 20S37)
Components
Seats: Front assembly: Power adjust; Air bags; Electrical system: Wiring: Interior/under dash
Units affected
19,299 (estimate)
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.
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.
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 18C06)
Units affected
503 (estimate)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2018 Lincoln MKX fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2018 Lincoln MKX crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2018 Lincoln MKX NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2018 Lincoln MKX SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
15.5%
Optional
2018 Lincoln MKX SUV FWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
15.4%
Optional
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2018 Lincoln MKX owner complaints
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Lincoln MKX, most recently on Sep 16, 2026. 2 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2018 Lincoln MKX complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Unknown or other
8
Electrical system
5
Service brakes
4
Service brakes, hydraulic
4
Engine
3
Exterior lighting
3
Air bags
2
Engine and engine cooling: Exhaust system: Emission control: Catalytic convertor
2
Steering
2
Wheels
2
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
