Ford and Lincoln Block Heater Fire Risk critical
In certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles, the engine block heater can crack and develop a coolant leak. If the block heater is plugged in when this happens, it can short circuit.
4 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
In certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles, the engine block heater can crack and develop a coolant leak. If the block heater is plugged in when this happens, it can short circuit.
Some Ford pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, and the Lincoln MKC may have a problem with the rearview camera. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the camera image on the screen may appear distorted, show an upside-down picture, or go completely blank instead of a normal picture. Because of this, the driver may not have a clear view of what is behind the vehicle while backing up.
Some Lincoln MKC vehicles have a battery monitor sensor that can short-circuit and overheat. This can start a fire in the engine compartment, and it can happen either while the vehicle is parked or while it's being driven.
⚠ NHTSA advises: park outside and away from structures (fire risk).
Some Ford Escape and Lincoln MKC vehicles may have the wrong front brake hoses installed. These hoses can rub against other parts of the vehicle. Over time, that rubbing may wear through a hose and cause brake fluid to leak out. Losing brake fluid can make it take longer for the vehicle to stop when the brakes are applied.
Recalls and NHTSA owner complaints for each model year, side by side. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and better-selling or older years naturally collect more — read this as a record, not a ranking.
| Model year | Recalls | High / critical | Do-not-drive / park-outside | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 72 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 117 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls covering the 2018–2019 Lincoln MKC. 3 of them are rated high or critical on this site. The most recent is "Ford and Lincoln Block Heater Fire Risk" (NHTSA campaign 25V685000), reported Oct 10, 2025.
The 2018 Lincoln MKC has the most, with 4 recalls. The 2019 model year has the fewest of the years we cover, with 3. Newer model years have had less time to collect recalls, so a low count on a recent year is not a guarantee.
Yes. 1 Lincoln MKC recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory from NHTSA: Lincoln MKC Battery Sensor Fire Risk (23V378000). These apply only to the affected vehicles, so check your VIN.
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall often applies to only some vehicles of a model year, and the VIN lookup shows the ones still unrepaired on your car. Recall repairs are free at any franchised Lincoln dealer, including for second owners.
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: