Why was Lincoln MKT discontinued?

The Lincoln MKT was discontinued mainly due to weak sales and a strategic lineup shift toward more popular, modern SUVs, with the Aviator taking its place in Lincoln's lineup.

Background: The MKT in Lincoln's lineup

The MKT debuted for the 2010 model year as Lincoln's large, three-row crossover. Built on Ford's D3 platform and sharing components with the Ford Flex, it offered front- or all-wheel drive and aimed at luxury-family buyers who wanted space and premium styling in one package. Over its lifespan, the MKT faced stiff competition from established luxury SUVs and drew criticism for its price, fuel economy, and styling, which some buyers found polarizing. The model remained a niche in Lincoln's portfolio as the brand shifted its focus to newer designs and technology in subsequent years.

Design, powertrains, and market position

Originally offered with a naturally aspirated V6 and later EcoBoost options, the MKT's performance and efficiency did not keep pace with rivals that continuously refreshed interiors, tech, and powertrain options. Its bold, polarizing styling contrasted with Lincoln's evolving design language, limiting broad appeal among luxury-SUV shoppers.

Key reasons for discontinuation

Industry observers and Lincoln executives point to several overlapping factors that led to the decision.

• Weak sales and limited market share: The MKT consistently lagged behind Lincoln's best-sellers and competing three-row crossovers.


• Strategic product realignment: Lincoln prioritized newer, higher-margin models such as the Aviator and Nautilus, reducing investment in older, slower-selling platforms.


• Platform and cost considerations: The MKT shared an aging architecture with other models, making updates less cost-effective as demand waned.


• Value proposition and modernization gap: The MKT did not keep pace with newer Lincoln designs in interior technology, materials, and perceived luxury value.


• Regulatory and market trends: A shift toward better fuel economy and electrified options influenced lineup decisions in favor of models with electrified variants.

Concluding paragraph: Taken together, sluggish demand, a streamlined product portfolio, and a push toward technologically advanced, efficient SUVs drove Lincoln to retire the MKT from its lineup.

What replaced the MKT

The direct replacement in Lincoln's lineup is the Aviator, a larger, more modern three-row SUV that debuted for the 2020 model year. The Aviator offered stronger performance, updated styling, and advanced technology, including a plug-in hybrid option in later years. Lincoln also continued to develop the Nautilus to fill the mid-size space, completing a refreshed, more focused SUV lineup.

The Aviator as the flagship three-row SUV

The Aviator positions the brand with a contemporary design language, improved interior quality, and advanced driver-assistance features, reflecting Lincoln's pivot toward luxury and efficiency.

Summary

In short, the Lincoln MKT was discontinued due to weak sales and a strategic shift toward a leaner, more modern SUV lineup centered on models like the Aviator and Nautilus. The move mirrors a broader industry trend of trimming aging crossovers in favor of higher-demand, tech-rich vehicles that strengthen Lincoln's luxury branding.

What replaced the Lincoln MKT?

The Lincoln Aviator replaced the MKT, although the brand shifted focus to other models like the Aviator and Corsair after discontinuing the MKT in 2019 due to low sales. The Aviator took over the MKT's position in the lineup as a large luxury SUV, and Lincoln phased out its "MK" naming convention around the same time.
 

• Lincoln Aviator: This is the direct successor to the MKT, which was officially replaced in 2019. The Aviator was built on the newer Ford Explorer platform and offered a luxurious and reliable driving experience. 
• Shift in Naming Convention: The discontinuation of the MKT coincided with Lincoln's broader shift away from its "MK" brand naming strategy. This change led to other models being renamed, such as the MKX becoming the Nautilus. 
• Overall Lineup Shift: Lincoln's strategy was to discontinue the slow-selling MKT and focus on other models, including the Aviator and Corsair. 

What are common problems with Lincoln MKT?

Lincoln MKT Problems

• A/C Fan Speed Changing Constantly.
• A/C Fan Speed Changing Constantly.
• Lincoln MKT electrical issues causing trunk to open randomly and alarm to activate unexpectedly.
• Lincoln MKT A/C blower making brake noise.
• Lincoln MKT transfer case bearings issue with loose drive requiring transmission assessment.

What happened to the Lincoln MKT?

The Lincoln MKT was discontinued after the 2019 model year because of slow sales, and it was not directly replaced in the Lincoln lineup. Lincoln shifted its focus to other SUVs like the Aviator and Corsair. Although production ended, the MKT continued to be sold to fleet and livery companies for a period to avoid devaluing the new Aviator with fleet discounts.
 
This video discusses the history of the Lincoln MK series, including the discontinuation of the MKT: 56sMy Old CarYouTube · Oct 18, 2025
Reason for discontinuation

• Slow sales: The MKT had low sales throughout its production run, and it was Lincoln's slowest-selling model for a time. 
• Shift in brand focus: Lincoln was moving away from vehicles like the MKT to focus on new SUVs and crossovers, such as the Aviator and Corsair. 
• Platform change: The MKT was built on the Ford D3/D4 platform, and Ford discontinued this platform after 2019, which also ended production of its Ford counterpart, the Flex. 

What happened to the MKT

• End of production: The last Lincoln MKT was built in 2019. 
• No direct replacement: Lincoln did not introduce a new model to fill the exact same spot in its lineup. 
• Fleet sales: For a period after production stopped, the remaining MKTs were sold to livery and fleet customers, as Lincoln did not want to offer large fleet discounts on its newer, high-end vehicles like the Aviator. 

This video explains why the Lincoln MKT was misunderstood and how it compares to the Ford Flex: 56sAntique TAGSYouTube · May 21, 2025

What year MKT to avoid?

2010
Avoid: 2010 Lincoln MKT
These incidents left drivers struggling to control their vehicles, often in dangerous situations like highway merges or tight turns. The steering problems weren't isolated - they appeared across various mileages, from as low as 3,000 to over 150,000 miles.