Some 2015-2016 vehicles equipped with 6F50/6F55 transmission and built on 2-Nov-2015 and through 1-Feb-2016 may exhibit no reverse, 3rd and 5th gear with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0715,P0717,P0756 and/or P2701. This may be caused by the direct clutch cylinder/tone wheel (7F283) inadvertently forcing the snap ring out of position resulting in damage to the direct clutch hub (7G384). Service part (7J250) complete rotating 3-5-R clutch module is now available. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 307-01. For claiming, use causal part 7F283 and applicable labor operations in Section 7 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Lincoln MKX powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Lincoln MKX have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 MKX | 11 |
| 2012 MKX | 11 |
| 2013 MKX | 15 |
| 2014 MKX | 6 |
| 2015 MKX (this page) | 5 |
| 2016 MKX | 10 |
| 2017 MKX | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 5 powertrain complaints filed for the 2015 Lincoln MKX, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some 2015-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. Before attempting any component diagnosis or replacement of the VCT solenoid, refer to Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) pinpoint test HK11 to cycle the affected VCT solenoid 10 times to attempt to clear the debris. For claiming, use causal part 6M280 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015-2016 Edge/MKX/Flex/MKT/MKZ/MKS/Taurus/Taurus Police/Explorer/Explorer Police vehicles built on or before 10-Jun-2016 and equipped with a 3.5L or 3.7L engine, all wheel drive (AWD) and a power transfer unit (PTU) may exhibit a PTU venting, an odor originating from the PTU, or noise originating from the PTU. These vehicles may be a candidate for rebuild using PTU Idler Gear/Shaft/Bearing Kit (GB5Z-7P258-A). Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 308-07.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A even if grease was not applied from the factory. Also verify that the engine/transmission alignment dowel pins are present as well as the engine crankshaft dowel pin, if equipped, when installing the transmission. Failure to adequately lubricate the converter hub greatly increases the likelihood of the flexplate cracking in the future. Missing dowels may cause a misalignment issue also resulting in a premature failure. Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 307-01.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2016 vehicles equipped with 6F50/6F55 transmission Built On 11/2/2015 And Through 2/1/2016 may exhibit no reverse, 3rd and 5th gear and/or DTCs P0715, P0717, P0756 and/or P2701. This may be caused by the direct clutch snap ring out of position and/or damage to the direct clutch hub. The cause of the failure is the Tone Wheel surface putting uneven load on the snap ring. To repair this condition the Tone Wheel (7F283) must be replaced,(also referred to as Direct Clutch Cylinder/Tone wheel) in addition to the Tone Wheel, replace Direct Clutch Hub (7G384), Direct Clutch Return Spring (7F235), Direct Clutch Snap Ring (7C122), TSS Sensor (7M101), Seal Kit (7153) and filter in the kit. D
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
While driving my vehicle changes from automatic to sorts mode and shows shift changing on dash, which causes it to go from any speed to 5mph instantly. It pulls car back and causes sudden speed change and is very dangerous. I have taken it to the dealer since purchased various times and the still do not find anything and I am still paying for the car that I bought a yr ago while it continues to…
Vehicle loses power, steering and braking without warning. Orange wrench alert illuminates. Car must be shut off and restarted. Very dangerous condition. Several other complaints online. This has happened twice, luckily at low speeds and little traffic.
While traveling on interstate 90 a approx 60 MPH. The vehicle started slowing down. I looked at the speedometer and it read 0. Seconds later the dash power flashed and went completely dark. I'm had absolutely no power at 60mph on an interstate. Fortunately, I was able to cruise along at make it to the next exit and stop on the side of the road. Once stopped, I took gear out of drive and…
Car stalls and looses power in 5-10 seconds while driving. Once stopped, the car will restart and drive. The problem indicator "yellow wrench" tells the dealership nothing relating to the problem. This problem is life threatening because it often happens while traveling at high rates of speed (interstates) in environments with lots of traffic. Since the car begins immediate deceleration,…
Keep getting "transmission is not in park" does not happen each time I put it in park but should not be having this problem only have 26,000 miles on it.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2015 Lincoln MKX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2015 Lincoln MKX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 32,083 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Lincoln/MKX.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.