What 108 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln Mkc

There is coolant intrusion into the cyl. It is a known concern and many complaints on line. Lincoln refuses to assist in the engine repair or replacement. Going down the road the engine misses and looses power causing difficulty controlling vehicle causing unsafe conditions for all traffic.

NHTSA ODI 11750623

The engine on my 2019 Lincoln MKC has failed due to coolant intrusion. A known issue with this model car between 2017-2019. There are two cracked cylinders on the engine block. The dealership says that the engine must be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11745253

Engine has coolant intrusion at 57,000 miles. Mechanic recommends full engine replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11742458

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the following day, while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle idled and drove unusually rough. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle misfired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced two Technical Bulletins, TSB 19-2346 and TSB 22-2133, which had similar failure descriptions. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

NHTSA ODI 11742022

Engine failure TSB 19-2346, A known/common issue with this engine. The car only has 73,790 miles on it. The car started shaking when started, engine light on, empty coolant reservoir and off then parking brake came on randomly several times , and the brakes locked up twice, which resulted in going over a curb. Discontinued driving the vehicle after that incident obviously due to safety. Ford service center gave a $13,000 repair estimate. The vehicle is still at Ford and available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11731447

The engine on my 2019 Lincoln MKC (2.0L EcoBoost) suffered a sudden internal failure without warning shortly after the factory powertrain warranty expired. The vehicle had no prior drivability issues, no warning lights, and had been maintained on schedule. While driving, the engine began running roughly and quickly lost power. The vehicle became unsafe to operate and had to be towed. The dealership diagnosed the engine as having internal mechanical failure requiring complete engine replacement. I was told the failure was not due to maintenance and that the engine could not be repaired. The failure occurred only weeks after the 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty period ended. This appears consistent with other reported EcoBoost engine failures involving internal defects such as coolant intrusion, low-tension piston rings, or block-related issues. A sudden loss of power while driving presents a safety hazard, especially in traffic or at highway speeds. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA is aware of this engine failure pattern and the safety risk associated with unexpected engine shutdowns on these vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11728019

The head gasket has failed, leading to coolant intrusion into the number 2 cylinder. Several misfires occurred due to this. This is a known issue due to the design of the lower block, which uses a channel, thus causing a very small surface area for the head gasket between the channel and the cylinder, which accelerates wear. Spent $3,000 to fix this well-known design issue. Car at ~100k miles.

NHTSA ODI 11725936

The vehicle was recalled. I took the vehicle to the dealer where it was purchased. It was serviced. The engine issue was addressed, so we thought. The repair/replacement parts did not remedy the issue, despite it being in the shop for over 6 months. The problem persists. It is overheating in a 5 minute drive. The local service department is saying there is no other remedy. They keep asking we bring it in for another diagnosis, but the problem is the same as the 47,000 other vehicles that have been recalled by this same issue. We purchased the car and have not been able to use it.

NHTSA ODI 11725234

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT INTRUSION TSB22-2229 DEALER SAID THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND FORD/LINCOLN CORP REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR .

NHTSA ODI 11722249

Purchased a 2019 Lincoln MKC from Mazda and Stokes on Ashley phosphate in North Charleston, South Carolina. I was told that the vehicle had recalls and they identify the recalls about the battery and the rear camera when I asked was there anything else wrong with the vehicle, they said no when I drove the vehicle home after a few days the engine light came on. After doing some diagnostics at the dealership, it will discovered that there was a misfire in the engine. They did a complementary repair. It took a couple of days when I received the vehicle. I took it home and after about a week, the engine light came back on for the same problem after further diagnostic come to find out that if this problem persist is because of coolant intrusion come to find out that this is common among engines that are 2.0 L Eco boost engine engines in the 2019 Lincoln MKC. I am making a complaint because I found out also that I will not get reimburse my money. Neither will they take the vehicle back. I called the Lincoln dealership and they will not do a Goodwill repair so I purchased a car about three weeks ago with them, knowing this problem and did not disclose it to me or told me about it cause this is common knowledge for this vehicle and they sold it to me and now I have payments on a broke vehicle, which I can’t afford $11,000 new engine or a long block.

NHTSA ODI 11720797

Engine seizes while driving and chokes due to engine misfire. First occurence was at 34kmiles in 9/2023 and when brought for emissions check mechanic said needed new spark plugs/coil so had them replaced for $800. 3-4months later after only 1k miles check engine light goes on again and car hums/rattles like it will stall. My brother runs diagnosis and same issue and that’s when I started to do research and found that Lincoln MKC 2019 have known engine issues. As it was under warranty until dec 2024, I brought to Steven’s Ford in Milford CT and raised this engine issue and specifically asked for full repair to ensure issue is fixed. 18 months later on 11/12/2025, while driving car the engine starts to hum and rattle feel like it will seize and check engine light goes on again. Same issue from when I had repair under warranty but Lincoln dealer claims it’s a parts issue and not an engine issue. These vehicles are dangerous and can cause accident due to engine just stopping. Dealership and Lincoln refuse to provide any support.

NHTSA ODI 11718003

Ford's 2.0L EcoBoost engine has seen recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs) primarily for coolant intrusion leading to engine failure, affecting models like the 2017-2019 MKC with issues stemming from a block design flaw and faulty head gaskets that allow coolant into cylinders, causing overheating, corrosion, and potential engine fires. This vehicle is confirmed to have coolant intrusion in the cylinders, resulting in premature engine failure.

NHTSA ODI 11716109

Engine warning light went on. Replaced spark plugs and coil to cylinder # 2. Then, Traction control light indicated system off. Technician advised the need for dealership software upgrade to ABS. Dealership advised that engine block allowing coolant intrusion into #2 cylinder. Needs a new engine. And need for a new ABS module, also defective.

NHTSA ODI 11715798

My 2019 Lincoln MKC has the widespread coolant intrusion engine defect acknowledged by Ford. This is a premature internal engine failure due to design.

NHTSA ODI 11715842

Vehicle overheated, due to collant entering #1 cylinder. This coolant intrusion is apparently a well documented issue, from an acknowledged engine defect. (TSB 19-2346, TSB 22-2133) Ford dealership recommended an $11,000 + tax engine replacement, with no relief, as car is past its warranty. The vehicle has 58540 miles. Lincoln customer service also declined any goodwill repair. Independent Service Dealer (Craig’s Auto Repair Service 281-469-5949) first diagnosed the issue, recommended taking the vehicle to Ford Dealership (Tomball Ford).

NHTSA ODI 11715635

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that the messages "Service Advancetrac", "Hill Start Assist Not Available", "System Off - To Save Battery Please Turn Off Ignition or Start Engine" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the battery and the battery monitor sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The parts were ordered to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11715225

Lincoln 2019 MKC reserve head gasket problem check engine light on. Took to dealership and confirmed with compression test that it was TSB – 22–2229 had to replace engine with new long block. Lincoln Corporate Assistance paid some 2835.10 I paid $4265.05

NHTSA ODI 11714790

My 2019 Lincoln MKC with only 52,200 miles experienced unrepairable engine damage due to an internal coolant intrusion condition that directly matches Ford TSB 22-2229. On or around Jan 1st or 2nd, a check engine warning light came on as I was driving home at night. I did not drive my car any further except to the dealership for service on 1/5/2026. The engine failure was diagnosed by the dealership on 1/6/2026. This engine failure occurred well below a reasonable engine life expectancy, and is caused by a documented design defect. The manufacturer’s refusal/delay in recalling these engines with a known design defect places drivers at risk of being stranded at any time of day or night, and drivers risk becoming a road hazard to themselves and others when experiencing complete engine failure.

NHTSA ODI 11712204

2019 Lincoln MKC with 96K mileage suddenly started running rough around 30mph and I was losing power as I was entering a highway on a ramp. RPM needle was fluctuating between 2K and 3K. Immediately drove back home and towed it to Lincoln shop. They said its an issue with Coolant Intrusion into the engine compartment and would have to replace the engine block. Estimated at $11K. Extended warranty company said claim is likely to be denied as these Ecoboost 2.0L engines are notorious for these issues. It is a faulty manufacturing and there is no recall. Costing consumers thousands of dollars and also putting lives of passengers at risk.

NHTSA ODI 11705293

My car misfired, then the heat wouldn't work then started to overheat. The car is 2019 MKC 2.0L engine. Only 64k miles on it. I am the original owner. Took it to the dealership and they said the coolant has back up into the engine. I read that this has been a known issue with these engines and was never notified. It is going to cost 10k to replace this engine.

NHTSA ODI 11702879

My initial reason I took the car to the dealership, was because the vehicle would not want to start or stay running after fuel was put in. I aIso had a check engine light on. After the dealership performed diagnostics on it, they said the purge valve was bad which was the cause of it not starting. The check engine light was on because it was low on coolant. So I scheduled another appointment with Wyatt Ford in Manistee MI 49660 on Dec 1, 2025. They performed a coolant pressure test and determined that it is losing pressure after shutdown. They cannot find a leak. They removed the spark plugs, but #3 spark plug is "stuck" and they are attempting to remove it. If the spark plug breaks, they will take more of the engine apart to access it and attempt to "tap" out the threads of it. The technician (Sherman) told me that the cause of it being stuck could be due to the fact of the coolant leaking into that cylinder. Sherman was able to remove the #3 spark plug and found coolant in that #3 cylinder. They are now saying that the engine does need replaced and it is not safe to drive. The service department (Ava) gave me Ford Customer Service number to call to start a case. I called 800-392-3673 and spoke with Alex. She told me she will do some further research and call me back in about two hours. It is now 12:30 pm east coast time. After returning a call from her, she said that there are no programs at this time with Ford to assist with replacing the engine. Only if there is a recall on this is when they would be able to replace it for us.

NHTSA ODI 11702430

The 2019 Lincoln MKC model made prior to April 2019 is part of a variety of Ford/Lincoln manufactured models that are known to have a coolant intrusion issue. This causes various issues within the engine system such as head gasket failure, cracked cylinders, and cracked engine block causing the coolant to leak and potential for fire risk. Although check engine light warning will be present, the code is presented as a misfire and the suggested fix is to replace spark plugs and coils. This will be completed, and seem to resolve this issue however, it is temporary and problems continue to persist. The car will loose power while driving and be unable to accelerate or continue to keep consistent speed such as when driving on freeway. Despite having a TSB 22-2133, customers are not made publicly aware of this issue and if they do not fit within warranty timeframe the dealer will not complete recommended service of the issue. Therefore, the customer is not at fault for the unsafe, known manufacturing issue and therefore Ford/Lincoln should make the effort in correcting this prior to serious customer injury/death.

NHTSA ODI 11700918

Total Engine Failure due to coolant leak into the 2.3L Ford motor. This is a KNOWN issue with the Ford motors and it is not covered. This eventual coolant leak makes the owner have to buy and replace the engine with one that has similar issues and costs $8300+. This is unacceptable and Ford needs to cover and address. Never had an engine do this to me before and it’s horrible. Please hold Ford accountable. Navy AD and with the shit down, this will be an expense I can not cover with 3 children, one in college. Was planning on keeping this car till the filter falls off… not anymore I guess.

NHTSA ODI 11695729

There’s a cracked block/head gasket causing coolant to leak into the cylinders and now my engine needs to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11694422

The engine light came on. It was inspected and there is a coolant intrusion. Apparently, this was a known issue for this engine. There is an existing Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 22-2229 and a Ford Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) 21N12 related to this issue The program indicates up to 7 years or 84k miles, which I believe this falls under (my mileage is 42k) providing a one-time repair program providing a no-cost short block replacement. Ford is not cooperating.

NHTSA ODI 11691373