Lincoln MKC VIN Decoder

Decode any Lincoln MKC VIN free: model year, plant, body and engine codes, read from 48 real MKC VINs.

NHTSA · ISO 3779 · 2015–2019 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

A Lincoln MKC VIN opens with 5LM (the United States). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often U (99%); a 2019 MKC carries K in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 14 recall campaigns and 586 owner complaints from NHTSA.

How to read a Lincoln MKC VIN

Here is a real 2019 Lincoln MKC VIN from our database, split into its parts:

1–3 · WMI5LM
4–8 · VDSCJ1D9
9 · Check8
10 · YearK
11 · PlantU
12–17 · SerialL37139

VIN 5LMCJ1D98KUL37139 — decoded free on its own report page.

FIG.01·Lincoln MKC VIN structure
PositionSectionWhat it tells you
1–3WMIWorld Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type.
4–8VDSVehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series.
9Check digitA calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN.
10Model yearOne character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z.
11PlantThe assembly plant that built the car.
12–17SerialSequential production number of this exact vehicle.
ROWS 6·SOURCE ISO 3779 / NHTSA vPIC

Where Lincoln MKC VINs say the car was built

The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier. Across 48 Lincoln MKC VINs we have on file, these are the codes that actually show up — and the plants behind them:

FIG.02·Lincoln MKC assembly by VIN prefix
WMIBuilt inVehicle typeVINs on fileShare
5LMUnited States—48100%
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA vPIC · ForCar decoded VINs

Country and vehicle type come from the NHTSA manufacturer registry. Share is measured across VINs decoded on ForCar, not production volume.

Model-year codes for the Lincoln MKC

Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Lincoln MKC has not yet outlived: its 5 years still map one-to-one. All 5 model years of the Lincoln MKC, 2015 to 2019, with the character each one carries:

FIG.03·Lincoln MKC VIN model-year codes
Model yearVIN character (position 10)Same character as
2019K—
2018J—
2017H—
2016G—
2015F—
ROWS 5·SOURCE ISO 3779

Body and engine characters we see on Lincoln MKC VINs

Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 48 VINs the Lincoln MKC uses 5 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:

FIG.04·Lincoln MKC VIN body and engine characters
PositionCharacters seen on real VINsVariety
4 — bodyC (77%) · T (23%)2 distinct
5 — seriesJ (100%)1 distinct
8 — engine9 (77%) · H (23%)2 distinct
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar decoded VINs

What a decoded Lincoln MKC VIN gets you

Behind a Lincoln MKC VIN: 586 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:

FIG.05·Lincoln MKC data available by VIN
DataFor this modelSource
Recall campaigns14 campaignsNHTSA
Owner complaints586 filedNHTSA
Fuel economy23 mpg combined (avg)EPA
Crash-test ratings5 rated model yearsNHTSA
Model years covered5 yearsForCar catalog
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA · EPA · ForCar

Where to find the VIN on a Lincoln MKC

A Lincoln MKC VIN normally opens with 5LM; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.

FIG.06·Lincoln MKC VIN locations
WhereHow to see itWhy it matters
Dashboard, driver sideThrough the windshield, bottom cornerEasiest to check before you touch anything
Driver door jambOpen the door, sticker on the pillarAlso lists tire pressures and build date
Under the hoodFirewall or strut tower plateSurvives a windshield replacement
Title and insurancePaper documentsMust match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel
ROWS 4·SOURCE ForCar
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Frequently asked questions

Is this Lincoln MKC VIN decoder free?

Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 14 recall campaigns and 586 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Lincoln MKC.

What year is my MKC by its VIN?

Read position 10: a 2019 MKC carries K, a 2018 MKC carries J, a 2017 MKC carries H.

Where was my MKC built?

Position 11 names the plant. Across 586 dated Lincoln MKC VINs it reads U 99%, R 1%.

What does position 4 mean on a Lincoln MKC VIN?

It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 48 Lincoln MKC VINs here, C is the most common character in position 4, on 77% of them.

VIN structure per ISO 3779 and NHTSA vPIC. Plant, body and engine characters observed across 48 decoded VINs on ForCar; recalls and complaints from NHTSA. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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