Problems · NHTSA complaints

2014 Lincoln MKX problems

Owners filed 35 complaints about the 2014 Lincoln MKX with NHTSA between Nov 2014 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (10).

Complaints
35
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes10
  2. Engine7
  3. Power train7
  4. Electrical system5
  5. Structure2
  6. Back over prevention2
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)2
  8. Visibility2
  9. Visibility/wiper2
  10. Forward collision avoidance1
  11. Engine and engine cooling1
  12. Steering1
  13. Other / unknown7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20142
20154
20163
20171
20184
20193
20204
20211
20221
20234
20242
20255
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes

10 reports1 crash
“A year ago, Lincoln issued a "voluntary recall" for a safety issue affecting loss of power brake assist due to a problem with the Electronic Brake Booster, identical to the recall recently issued for newer models. I took my Lincoln to the dealership, only to be told they cannot fix it unless it is happening when you bring it in. It is a very sporadic failure, lasts for a short time, and impossible to predict. So, while they claimed to have issued a 'voluntary recall', it is ineffective since the sporadic nature makes it impossible to get it fixed. Then the voluntary recall expired a few months after they sent out the notice.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2025Service brakesODI 11677702

Engine

7 reports
“This automobile has a 3.7-liter engine manufactured by Ford Motor Company. We are the second owner of the vehicle. A dealer representative informed us the motor has an inherent defect while inspecting pinch weld failures. This engine, transversely mounted, was created whereby the chain driven water pump is located behind the front casing placing access on the passenger side of the vehicle. Water pumps have planned obsolescence and when these water pumps fail, the antifreeze drains into the engine crankcase mixing with the engine oil causing catastrophic failure of the engine within minutes of the water pump failure. This is a significant safety hazard causing the engine to seize and when at expressway driving could cause a serious accident due to the sudden loss of power and being stranded on the side of the road. There are approximately four (4) million vehicles manufactured by Ford and Mazda with the 3.5 and 3.7 liter transversely mounted engines. As the vehicles age, the water pump failure can occur between 120-150,000 miles rendering the vehicle incapacitated wherever the failure occurs. From my research, there is no prior warning of the failure. The cost…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2025EngineODI 11692046

Power train

7 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“SPORADICALLY GET A MESSAGE THAT THE DRIVER FROM DOOR IS AJAR WHEN IT IS CLOSED. ALSO, GET A MESSAGE THAT TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK WHEN THE SHIFTER IS IN PARK, MORE RECENTLY I HAVE ALSO GOTTEN THIS MESSAGE WHEN I START MY VEHICLE AND PUT IN DRIVE. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET BOTH MESSAGES TO GO AWAY BY OPENING AND SHUTTING THE DOOR A FEW TIMES(FOR THE DOOR AJAR MESSAGE) AND TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON(THIS SOMETIMES TAKES 3 OR 4 TRIES, FOR THE TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK MESSAGE). *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2020Power train, Electrical systemODI 11329468

Electrical system

5 reports
“VEHICLE STATES THAT IT IS NOT IN PARK EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT IS CLEARLY IN PARK. PASSENGER SIDE CLIMATE CONTROL TURNS ITSELF TO LOWEST TEMP. FOGS WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF PASSENGER SIDE CLIMATE CONTROL ISSUE. DRIVER SIDE DOOR SAYS AJAR EVEN THOUGH DOOR IS CLOSED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2020Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11366763

Structure

2 reports
“Through a title search that ended up not being my title number at all And forcing me to do even more research I discovered that the vehicle I bought three weeks ago has a report on public record that caused structural damage to my vehicle and I still don’t have a title for this vehicle because Carvana has the title for my vehicle and I’m having problems touching base with them. They seem to be avoiding me. The vehicle is in my front yard available for inspection whenever you feel is necessary the damage to the vehicle happened in [XXX] where it ended up for sale at Carvana and then at wholesale to ADESA and then to a private used Dealership named Motion Motors LLC. I paid $9500 for this vehicle whose price started at $7260 And I know that ADESA deals with structurally damage damaged and junk vehicles. They have every resource at their fingertips to fix repair and restore all such vehicles if found viable. The used car dealership presented me with a title sent me a copy of it that is bogus. The title number actually goes to a 1993 Mercury that was destroyed in March 2012 along with that title number now underneath that title number. My Lincoln is also listed…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2026Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11752604

Back over prevention

2 reports
“The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that a message was displayed, indicating that the camera was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, but was also not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer suggested that the rearview camera system might need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2025Back over preventionODI 11695862
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.