Service bulletin SSM 46998

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10140313
Published by NHTSA	2018-06-11
Manufacturer's number	SSM 46998
Manufacturer's date	2018-01-05
NHTSA component	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY; STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

NHTSA's summary

Some 2016-2018 MKC vehicles built on or before 20-Sep-2017 may exhibit a no crank condition due to a discharged battery from the Rear Gate Trunk Module (RGTM) keeping the vehicle network awake. This may occur after the vehicle has experienced other liftgate related concerns such as bounce back or latching issues. To correct this condition, reprogram the RGTM to the latest level using Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) or Ford J2534 Diagnostic Software (FJDS) version 107.01 or higher. For claiming, use causal part 14B291 and applicable labor operations in section 10 of the service labor time standards (SLTS) manual.

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Body and frame, Electrical system, 12-volt battery, Starter

Vehicles listed
LINCOLN MKC	2016, 2017, 2018

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
SSM 47070	2018-05-14. Service bulletin. When connecting the Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) and Integrated Diagnostic System (IDS) or Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) to the DLC located on the driver side under the steering column at the GWM, make sure that the ignition is off before connecting the VCM. If the ignition is on or the engine is running during the connection, it can result in various warning lights being illuminated with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), no start or no crank conditions or the IPC inoperative. For Lincoln vehicles, this information is now listed in the Technical Inspection and Post Road Test Sections of ePDI on the PTS website. If a vehicle displays these issues, disconnect the equipment from the DLC and disconnect the vehicle battery. Wait 10 minutes and reinstall with the ignition off. Clear any DTCs present and retest.
SSM 46486	2017-05-24. Service bulletin. SOME 2016-2017 FORD OR LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC 3 MAY EXHIBIT A BLANK SCREEN OR OTHER VARIOUS SYNC SYMPTOMS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN TRANSPORT MODE. THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL DUE TO THE POWER SAVING FEATURES ENABLED WHILE IN TRANSPORT MODE. IT IS BENEFICIAL FOR BATTERY LIFE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN TRANSPORT MODE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PREPPED FOR SALE. TO PREVENT A SYNC SYSTEM LOCKUP DURING TRANSPORT MODE DEACTIVATION, FOLLOW THE WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) PROCEDURE EXACTLY ALLOWING TIME FOR THE SYNC SYSTEM TO COMPLETE ITS TASKS SUCH AS FULLY BOOTING UP OR POWERING DOWN AND SHUTTING OFF BEFORE MOVING TO THE NEXT STEP OF THE PROCEDURE. IF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A BLANK SCREEN OR SYNC SYMPTOMS AFTER TRANSPORT MODE DEACTIVATION, REFER TO WSM, SECTION 415-00 FOR NORMAL DIAGNOSIS. THE SYNC VERSION CAN BE CONFIRMED VIA OASIS.
SSM 46333	2017-03-15. Service bulletin. SOME 2017 MKC AND CONTINENTAL WITH ALL AUDIO SYSTEMS AND 2017 ESCAPE WITH SONY AUDIO SYSTEMS BUILT ON OR BEFORE 23-DEC-2016 MAY EXHIBIT A DISCHARGED BATTERY. A REPETITIVE CYCLING NOISE SIMILAR TO A CD EJECTING NOISE MAY ALSO BE PRESENT. IF EXCESSIVE BATTERY DRAIN IS PRESENT AND ELIMINATED WITH THE RADIO BATTERY POWER FUSE REMOVED, REPROGRAM THE AUDIO CONTROL MODULE (ACM) TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION USING THE INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) RELEASE 103.05A OR HIGHER. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WHEN ENTERING MODULE PROGRAMMING TO OBTAIN THE LATEST UPDATES. CALIBRATION FILES MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED AT WWW.MOTORCRAFTSERVICE.COM. FOR CLAIMING, USE CAUSAL PART 18C869 AND APPLICABLE LABOR OPERATIONS IN SECTION 10 OF THE SLTS MANUAL.
SSM 46129	2017-02-07. Service bulletin. SOME 2013-2016 FUSION/ESCAPE/MKT/FLEX/MKS/TAURUS, 2015-2016 MKZ/MKC/EDGE AND 2016 MKX VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS RADIO CONCERNS INCLUDING: SPEAKER STATIC WITH KEY-OFF, NO AUDIO AFTER VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) U0184, NO VOLUME CONTROL, OR A STUCK CD WITH NO SLOT BLOCKAGE. PRIOR TO STARTING NORMAL DIAGNOSIS FOR ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, VERIFY THE ACM IS AT THE LATEST CALIBRATION USING IDS VERSION 102.03 OR HIGHER. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WHEN ENTERING MODULE PROGRAMMING TO OBTAIN THE LATEST UPDATES. CALIBRATION FILES MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED AT WWW.MOTORCRAFTSERVICE.COM. USE THE APPLICABLE LABOR OPERATION IN SECTION 11 OF THE SLTS MANUAL AND CAUSAL PART 18C869 WHEN CLAIMING THIS REPAIR.