LincolnMKX2015Overview/lincoln/mkx/2015/base/

2015 Lincoln MKX

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 MKX.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2015 Lincoln MKX is a midsize SUV built on the same platform that underpins the brand’s luxury crossover line, powered by an engine that requires 6.0 qt of 5W‑20 oil and paired with an S6 automatic transmission delivering an EPA rating of 17 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and a combined 19 mpg. Its modest oil capacity and the fuel‑efficiency figures reflect a balanced approach to performance and economy for a vehicle of its class. Notably, the 2015 model recorded the lowest owner‑complaint count in the MKX’s 2007‑2020 span—just 19 complaints and no recalls—signaling a comparatively strong reliability standing within the model’s history.

Model year201820172016201520142013201220112010

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/23/19 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length186.6 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height67.3 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight4427 lb
Track (front / rear)65.4 / 65.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 23 / 19 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 MKX of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.3–8.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.30 sec — 2011 SUV
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2011SUV 3.7L V66.30 sec14.80 sec305 hpFWD
2011SUV 3.7L V66.40 sec15.10 sec305 hpFWD
2011SUV 3.7L V67.20 sec15.50 sec305 hpAWD
2007SUV 3.5L V67.60 sec15.80 sec265 hpAWD
2007SUV 3.5L V67.70 sec15.90 sec265 hpAWD
2007SUV 3.5L V68.10 sec16.30 sec265 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 engine oil, SAE 80W · SAE 80W in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 3 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 Capacity11.1
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 3
Brake Fluid Capacity1.83
Differential Gear OilSAE 80W · SAE 80W
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.43 qt
Engine OilSAE 5W · Synthetic · SAE 5W
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Fuel Tank Capacity19.2 gallons

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 1st; Lower: 8.8 ft/lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionPTU: 52.0, Rear: 18.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts35.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0
Front Wheel Hub258
Rear Wheel Hub258
Front Wheel Hub258

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity20.0 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeYN-12-D
Oil Capacity4.0 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 65; Rear: 19 /; Front: 41; Rear: 21 /
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 98; Rear: 66 /; Front: 111; Rear: 66 /
ABS Sensor Torque7.0 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.023; Rear: .393
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

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 40,000 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 Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 40,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
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 2015 Lincoln MKX, as the final year of its first generation, shows a clear maturation in the federal record: complaints plummeted to just 19—the lowest of any year from 2007 onward—and recalls dropped to zero, a stark improvement over earlier years like 2007 (298 complaints, 6 recalls) and 2008 (253 complaints, 7 recalls). This stands in sharp contrast to the redesigned 2016 model, which immediately spiked to 145 complaints and 7 recalls, indicating that the 2015 model had resolved many of the generation’s earlier issues. The 2015’s top complaint areas are mostly categorized as “Unknown or Other,” with only minor mentions of electrical and visibility systems, and the single open investigation does not specify a root cause; notably, there were no fire-related complaints and only one crash report. Given this trend, the 2015 Lincoln MKX appears to be the most reliable and trouble-free year of its generation, making it a particularly smart choice for a used buyer before the redesign introduced a new wave of problems.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
52
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
19
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 19 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other5
Electrical System3
Visibility/Wiper2
Steering,Vehicle Speed Control1
Power Train,Unknown Or Other,Engine1
Power Train,Electrical System,Engine1
Power Train,Engine1
Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 52 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
25N172026-03-25Unknown Or OtherAdvance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year…
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
SSM 515362023-04-04StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis…
22N02 S12022-10-05Service BrakesCertain 2015-2019 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year…
22N022022-09-30Service BrakesCertain 2015-2018 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year…

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 MKX. 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

How much oil does the 2015 MKX take?

6.0 qt of Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Premium Synthetic Blend Motor Oil; Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Super Premium Motor Oil, per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 MKX have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the MKX get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.