2017 Lincoln MKT Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
No verdictComplaint Index
0/100
#10 most-complained of 10 MKT years
The 2017 Lincoln MKT has a complaint index of 0, the lowest among the 10 model years with data, and ranks 10th (best) out of those years. It has 3 recalls and 3 complaints, with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported.
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 17
- 15 city / 21 hwy
Top 2017 Lincoln MKT problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine1 (33%)
- Steering1 (33%)
- Structure & Body1 (33%)
What owners report
- Owners report the steering suddenly darting or surging left or right during highway lane changes at speeds between 55 and 80 mph.
- Owners describe excessive smoke from the exhaust pipe after the engine idled for several minutes, with no warning light, at a median mileage of 65,000.
- Owners report abnormal rattling sounds coming from the engine at various driving speeds.
- Owners report the B-pillar door trim strip loosening or detaching, tied to a recall repair, at a median mileage of 40,000.
- Owners report delays in getting the B-pillar trim recall part and repair completed at their local dealer.
2017 Lincoln MKT recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V827000Dec 1, 2025Structure & Body11,852 vehicles
Structure:body
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKT vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 23, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 2, 2025.
- NHTSA 20V072000Feb 10, 2020Suspension, Wheels & Tires211,207 vehicles
Suspension:rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
- NHTSA 16V925000Dec 22, 2016Engine1,163 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Risk: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.
2017 Lincoln MKT fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 17 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,800
- 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 MKT years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Lincoln MKT reliable?
- Among 2017 MKT owners, NHTSA lists only 3 complaints and a complaint index of 0, the lowest of any MKT model year. It ranks 10th out of 10 model years with data, meaning it has the fewest reported problems relative to other MKT years.
- What problems does the 2017 Lincoln MKT have?
- NHTSA complaints for the 2017 MKT cover the engine, steering, and structure/body, each accounting for 33% of complaints. Reported issues include exhaust smoke and rattling noises, a steering dart during lane changes, and a loose B-pillar door trim strip.
- Does the 2017 Lincoln MKT have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 MKT: a B-pillar door trim detachment recall (25V827000), a rear suspension toe link fracture recall (20V072000), and a turbocharger oil supply tube recall (16V925000). None are do-not-drive recalls.
- Should I avoid the 2017 Lincoln MKT?
- No. Compared to other MKT years, 2017 has the lowest complaint index (0) and ranks best (10th of 10) for reported problems, unlike years such as 2013 and 2010, which are rated Avoid with much higher complaint indexes of 100 and 78.