CarBrief

The 2017 Lincoln MKX has 52 owner complaints on file with NHTSA and five recalls[1][2]. Brakes are the biggest complaint group, so check recall status by VIN before you buy or keep one.

52owner complaints[1]
5recalls[2]
19–20MPG combined (EPA)[3]
5★NHTSA overall rating[4]

Reported problems

NHTSA lists 52 owner complaints for this model year[1]. None of them mention a crash, fire, injury or death[1]. These are unverified reports from owners. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Here is how the complaints split by component group:

Component group Complaints
Brakes[5] 16
Electrical system[6] 13
Engine[7] 7
Unknown or other[8] 6
Power train[9] 3
Wheels[10] 3
Visibility/wiper[11] 2
Seat belts[12] 2

One complaint can name more than one group. The median mileage at failure for brakes is 75,000[5]. For engine it is 34,713[7].

We read a small sample of the complaint texts. In that sample, brake owners describe waiting on parts for the brake hose recalls, and some describe leaks and a pedal that had to be pressed to the floor[5]. Electrical owners describe a dead battery, the car shutting off while driving, and waiting for recall parts[6]. Engine owners describe the engine shutting off while driving, and in some texts the dealer found no cause[7]. Wheel owners describe lug nuts that swelled and had to be replaced[10]. This is a small sample, so treat it as a hint about what to ask a seller or mechanic, not as a measure of how often a problem happens.

Recalls

NHTSA lists five recalls for this model year[2]. Newest first.

Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see which of these are open on a specific car.

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and the drive type. All four listings use regular fuel.

Version City / Highway / Combined MPG Annual fuel cost
FWD, 3.7L 6-cyl[3] 17 / 25 / 20 $3,350
FWD, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo[18] 18 / 25 / 20 $3,350
AWD, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo[19] 17 / 24 / 19 $3,550
AWD, 3.7L 6-cyl[20] 16 / 23 / 19 $3,550

All-wheel drive costs about 1 MPG combined in these ratings.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the all-wheel-drive version 5 stars overall, 5 for frontal and 5 for side crashes, and 4 for rollover with a 15.5% rollover risk[4]. The front-wheel-drive version gets the same stars with a 15.4% rollover risk[21].

Engine and size

The EPA lists two engines for this model year:

Size comes from Canadian-market specifications, so US cars can differ slightly[24].

Measure Value
Length[24] 190 in
Width[24] 76 in
Height[24] 66 in
Wheelbase[24] 112 in
Curb weight[24] 4,387 lb

How 2017 compares with other years

2007: 298 complaints, 5 recalls20072008: 253 complaints, 6 recalls20082009: 66 complaints, 6 recalls20092010: 111 complaints, 6 recalls20102011: 149 complaints, 3 recalls20112012: 84 complaints, 1 recalls20122013: 163 complaints, 1 recalls20132014: 35 complaints, 1 recalls20142015: 19 complaints, 0 recalls20152016: 156 complaints, 7 recalls20162017: 52 complaints, 5 recalls5220172018: 31 complaints, 5 recalls2018
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each MKX model year. The 2017 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20072985
20082536
2009666
20101116
20111493
2012841
20131631
2014351
2015190
20161567
2017525
2018315

The 2017 MKX has 52 complaints and 5 recalls[2]. Three model years have fewer complaints: 2014 with 35, 2015 with 19 and 2018 with 31[2]. The other eight listed years have more, including 2016 with 156 and 2007 with 298[2].

On recalls, 2016 has 7, and 2008, 2009 and 2010 have 6 each[2]. The years 2007 and 2018 also have 5[2]. Only 2015 has none[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2017 Lincoln MKX?

The complaint count of 52 is lower than eight other MKX years on file, and none of the complaints mention a crash, fire or injury[1][2]. The five recalls include brake hoses, air bag and fire risk items, so confirm every recall status for the exact VIN[13][14][15][16][17]. Brakes and electrical are the largest complaint groups, so ask for brake and battery service records[5][6]. Overall safety is rated 5 stars[4][21].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Lincoln MKX?
Brakes have the most complaints at 16, followed by the electrical system at 13 and engine at 7[5][6][7].
Does the 2017 Lincoln MKX have recalls?
Yes, five: rear brake hoses, front brake hoses, tilt seat wiring, battery cable short on 3.7L cars and the driver air bag[13][14][15][16][17].
What MPG does the 2017 Lincoln MKX get?
EPA combined ratings are 20 MPG for FWD and 19 MPG for AWD[3][18][19][20].
How safe is the 2017 Lincoln MKX?
NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover[4][21].
Is 2017 a good year for the Lincoln MKX?
It has fewer complaints than eight other listed years and more than three[2]. It also has 5 recalls[2].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 52 owner complaints on file for the 2017 Lincoln MKX (0 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Lincoln MKX model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. EPA rating for MKX FWD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  4. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 16 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 13 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 7 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 34,713). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 6 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 8,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 3 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 3 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 2 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 2 complaints name the seat belts component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 25V544, filed August 22, 2025: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 20V469, filed August 10, 2020: Service Brakes. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 20V414, filed July 17, 2020: Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 19V809, filed November 12, 2019: Electrical System › 12V / 24V / 48V Battery › Cables. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 17V123, filed February 27, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  18. EPA rating for MKX FWD, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for MKX AWD, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. EPA rating for MKX AWD, 3.7L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
  22. EPA Test Car List, 2017 Lincoln MKX with 2.7L 6-cylinder: rated 325 hp. www.epa.gov
  23. EPA Test Car List, 2017 Lincoln MKX with 3.7L 6-cylinder: rated 303 hp. www.epa.gov
  24. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MKX 4DR SUV: length 190 in, width 76 in, height 66 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 4,387 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.