2017 Lincoln Mkc

After a repair/service visit at a national auto repair chain, my 2017 Lincoln MKC developed ongoing severe drivability and safety issues. The check engine light began flashing (active misfire), and the vehicle was unsafe for highway travel due to risk of loss of power/engine damage. Independent shop documentation reports cylinder #4 misfire (P0304) and additional engine timing-related code(s), low oil condition, and notes indicating internal engine damage and that the engine may require replacement. The vehicle also had a vacuum/brake booster line issue that affected brake assist until corrected. The problem has been confirmed by independent service centers and the vehicle is available for inspection. There was a near crash, but no fire, injury, or police report occurred.

First incident: My daughter was in the vehicle in our driveway in March 2022 and was leaving. She came running inside and told me she hit the start button and that the vehicle did not start, but started to roll down the driveway with the steering wheel locked in position. She was stepping on the brakes and the vehicle continued to roll out into the street until it finally stopped when it hit the curb across the street. She stated the brakes did not work. She hit the start button again and the vehicle started and she drove it back into our driveway to tell me about the incident and the loss of brakes and steering. Second incident: 5/9/22, my daughter was parked at the gas station with 2 friends. After putting gas in the car, she hit the start button and the car did not start, but instead started rolling forward with the steering wheel locked and no brakes. She kept pumping the brakes and nothing would stop the car. She started hitting buttons on the dashboard in an attempt to get the vehicle to stop, but it ran into the yellow bollard at the gas station and scraped the entire passenger side of the vehicle. She pressed the start button and held it down for several seconds before that made the vehicle finally stop. Her two friends corroborated that the vehicle would not stop even though she was frantically pressing the brakes. We now have approximately $4,000 worth of damage down the passenger side of the vehicle. My daughter is afraid to drive the vehicle anymore as this is the second time the vehicle failed to start, started moving, the steering wheel was locked, and the BRAKES did not work to stop the vehicle.

I STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE SYNC SYSTEM WENT THROUGH A RESTART, KILLING THE ENGINE AND TURNING OFF THE DASHBOARD PANELS. IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE ON A LEVEL SURFACE, BUT THIS TIME I WAS ON A 10-15% GRADE. I STOPPED AGAIN, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RETURNED ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER. I WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL, WITH THE ELEVATION LOWER IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I STARTED THE CAR AND STEPPED COMPLETELY OUT WITHIN 10-15 SECONDS. I STEPPED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 10-15 SECONDS. THE HATCH WAS OPEN AND TWO FRIENDS BEHIND COULD CLEARLY SEE THROUGH THE VEHICLE, TO KNOW THAT I DIDN'T TOUCH THE PUSH BUTTON TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. I JUMPED IN, BUT THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DARK. IT STOPPED ROLLING WHEN IT COLLIDED AGAINST A PARKED TRUCK APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET IN FRONT. THE ENGINE WAS OFF WHEN IT STOPPED. I THINK THE RECYCLE OF THE SYNC SYSTEM CAUSED AN INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING THE BRAKES, STEERING AND PUSHBUTTON TRANSMISSION TO BECOME NON-OPERABLE. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE OF $8568 TO MY MKC AND OF $1512 TO THE PARKED TRUCK. SINCE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT INCIDENT, IT CAN'T BE REPLICATED AT A DEALER EVEN IF IT HAPPENED, IT WOULD BE ON A LEVEL SURFACE AND WOULD NOT ROLL. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 7 MONTHS AND 8,819 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 27,474. DURING THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED AND THEN GONE THROUGH AN ELECTRICAL RECYCLE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF AT LEAST 5 TIMES. TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE ON A FLAT SURFACE. I RAN OVER A COONCRETE CURB A MONTH AGO. TONIGHT IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY & RAN UP ONTO MY FRONT PORCH, WHICH HAS A STEP UP OF ABOUT 6 INCHES. I CALLED LINCOLN CONCIERGE TO REPORT THE 2ND INCIDENT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS RECREATED IN A GARAGE - OR IT KILLS OR INJURES SOMEONE.