2017 Lincoln Continental Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 4 Continental years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2017 Lincoln Continental has a complaint index of 100, the highest of the four model years with data, ranking it worst (#1) among Continental years. It carries 75 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls, with Structure & Body issues making up 49% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 75
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17 city / 25 hwy
Top 2017 Lincoln Continental problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body37 (49%)
- Other16 (21%)
- Electrical System14 (19%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (16%)
- Brakes4 (5%)
- Engine4 (5%)
- Steering3 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (4%)
- Airbags2 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (1%)
What owners report
- Doors, including the front passenger and driver's side doors, have opened unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds like 60 mph.
- Driver's door latches sometimes fail to close and secure properly, requiring multiple attempts and triggering dashboard warnings.
- Front seat side airbag housings have split open or become exposed without deploying, in some cases recurring after dealer repair.
- Instrument panel lights have dimmed unpredictably, making the display hard to read, especially in bright conditions, without a diagnosed cause.
- The front hood has vibrated at highway speeds around 70 mph as if it were about to unlatch.
2017 Lincoln Continental recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V644000Aug 26, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras277,040 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.
Risk: Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.
- NHTSA 19V077000Feb 11, 2019Structure & Body27,609 vehicles
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental vehicles. The door latch pawl motors may not function properly, possibly resulting in a door latch not fully engaging.
Risk: A door latch that is not fully engaged may result in a door opening while driving, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the latch assemblies on all four doors, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S03.
- NHTSA 17V123000Feb 27, 2017Airbags27,531 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles and 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles. In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal air bag may not fully inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: During deployment, if the air bag does not fully inflate or the cushion detaches, there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 16, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C02.
2017 Lincoln Continental fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Continental years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Lincoln Continental reliable?
- Compared to other Continental model years, 2017 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and 75 NHTSA complaints, more than the 2018, 2019, and 2020 model years.
- What problems does the 2017 Lincoln Continental have?
- NHTSA data shows Structure & Body complaints dominate, at 49% of all complaints, largely tied to door latch and hood issues, followed by Electrical System complaints at 19%.
- Does the 2017 Lincoln Continental have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Continental covering the 360-degree camera system, door latch pawl motors, the driver's frontal air bag, and HID headlights. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What year Lincoln Continental should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint index and recall data, 2017 is the year to approach with caution among Continental years, since it has the highest complaint index (100) versus 33 for 2018, 67 for 2019, and 0 for 2020.
- At what mileage do 2017 Continental problems typically show up?
- Structure & Body complaints, the top problem area, show a median mileage at failure of 47,860 miles, while Electrical System complaints show a median of 89,000 miles.