LincolnMKT2016Overview/lincoln/mkt/2016/base/

2016 Lincoln MKT

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 MKT.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2016 Lincoln MKT is a sport utility vehicle equipped with an automatic six‑speed transmission and rated at 15/21/17 mpg by the EPA. In its model year it generated only eight owner complaints and was subject to three recalls, a stark contrast to the 2013 model’s peak of 69 complaints and approaching the low of three complaints seen in 2017. Placed within the 2010‑2019 complaint history, the 2016 MKT demonstrates a markedly improved reliability profile relative to the earlier high‑complaint years.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy15/21/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI NS · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI NS · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235/55R19OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length207.5 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height67.3 in
Wheelbase117.7 in
Curb weight4943 lb
Track (front / rear)65.7 / 65.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 21 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the MKT of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.10 sec — 2010 EcoBoost Wagon
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2010EcoBoost Wagon 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.10 sec14.60 sec355 hpAWD
2010EcoBoost Wagon 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.10 sec14.60 sec355 hpAWD
2010EcoBoost Wagon 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.10 sec14.70 sec355 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.0-12.0
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity0.75-1.2
Engine Coolant Capacity11.6
Engine Coolant Capacity13.7
Engine Coolant Capacity13.5
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14.7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsInstall new studs: 12.5 ft/lbs; 2nd step:
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsInstall new studs: 8.8 ft/lbs; 2nd step:
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 1st; Lower: 8.8 ft/lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts111.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0
Front Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap.035 in
Spark Plug Torque11 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Gap.051 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.30-2.40 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.45-8.45 oz
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance750 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55
Intake Valve Lash0.007-0.012 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.012-0.017 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 53; Rear: 26 /; Front: 53; Rear: 24
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 122; Rear: 111 /
ABS Sensor Torque6.6 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 13; Front: 14; Rear: 13; Rear: 13.5
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat bolt threads with clean engine oil. · Bolts 1-8

115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
226.0 ft. lbs.26 ft. lbs
390 degrees90 degrees
490 degrees90 degrees
545 degrees; Bolt 945 degrees
17.4 ft. lbs.7.4 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat bolt threads with clean engine oil. · Bolts 1-8

115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
226.0 ft. lbs.26 ft. lbs
390 degrees90 degrees
490 degrees90 degrees
545 degrees; Bolt 945 degrees
17.4 ft. lbs.7.4 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Lincoln MKT recorded only eight federal complaints and three recalls, positioning it near the low‑end of complaint volume compared with 69 complaints and eight recalls in 2013 and 22 complaints and six recalls in 2015. Across the 2010‑2019 generation, complaint and recall numbers peaked in 2013 and have generally trended downward, with 2016 marking one of the smallest annual totals. The most frequently cited complaint categories for 2016 were “Unknown Or Other” and “Structure,” each appearing twice, while no crash‑or fire‑related complaints were logged. Recalls in 2016 were modest, matching the three reported in 2017 but remaining below the eight recalls recorded in the peak year of 2013. Given the low complaint count, limited recall activity, and absence of safety‑critical complaints, the 2016 model year appears to be a prudent choice for a used purchase.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
96
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
8
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Unknown Or Other2
Structure2
Electrical System,Engine,Back Over Prevention1
Suspension1
Steering1
Visibility/Wiper1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V925000Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/SuperchargerReported 22/12/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may…

20V072000Suspension:RearReported 10/02/2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the… Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 96 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
25E08-S12026-06-30Power TrainPowertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
25E08 S12026-04-14Power TrainNEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 25E08 – Supplement #1 Certain 2016 – 2019…
25N172026-03-25Unknown Or OtherAdvance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year…
TSB 25-25702025-11-26Electrical SystemThis article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles…
SSM 543662025-11-11Power TrainSome 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific MKT. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 MKT have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the MKT get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined mpg.