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2014 Lincoln MKX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
37%
13 of 35 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

37% of relevant owner complaints on the 2014 Lincoln MKX are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2014 Lincoln MKX have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 13 of 35 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Lincoln MKX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%), and the largest group is filed under engine (7). For comparison, the 2013 scores 23%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
13
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
35
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
2 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES10 · 29%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7 · 20%
ENGINE7 · 20%
POWER TRAIN7 · 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5 · 14%
STRUCTURE2 · 6%

The years either side

2010
19%
10 of 111
2011
27%
38 of 149
2012
24%
19 of 84
2013
23%
36 of 163
2014
37%
13 of 35
2015
too few complaints
2016
33%
49 of 156
2017
19%
9 of 52
2018
23%
6 of 31
2019
no data
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2014 compares with other Lincoln MKX years

Of the 8 Lincoln MKX years with enough complaints to score, the 2014 is the worst on engine and transmission share (37%). The best is the 2010 (19%). By volume, the 2014 drew 35 complaints (13 drivetrain), against 163 for the 2013 and 19 for the 2015.

Lincoln MKX years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2014 Lincoln MKX

  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES07/20/2018CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 LINCOLN MKX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CONTACT WAS EXITING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT S…

One of 13 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2014 Lincoln MKX powertrain recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Lincoln MKX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: axle assembly: axle shaft14V393000 · Jul 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip…

Risk: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2014 Lincoln MKX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2014 Lincoln MKX

Does the 2014 Lincoln MKX have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 13 of 35 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Lincoln MKX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2014 Lincoln MKX?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2014 Lincoln MKX is service brakes: 10 of 35 complaints (29%) name it, followed by engine (7) and power train (7). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 37% of the relevant total.

Is the 2014 Lincoln MKX reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 37% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 58% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Lincoln MKX years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2014 Lincoln MKX?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Lincoln MKX involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 14V393000 (power train: axle assembly: axle shaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Lincoln MKX years are better?

Among the Lincoln MKX years we track, the 2010 (19%), the 2017 (19%) and the 2013 (23%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (37%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/lincoln-mkx

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.