2017 Lincoln MKX Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
50/100
#6 most-complained of 11 MKX years
The 2017 Lincoln MKX has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 6th worst of 11 model years, with a Caution verdict. It has 52 complaints, 5 recalls, and no crashes, fires, or deaths reported.
- Complaints
- 52
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 17 city / 24.5 hwy
Top 2017 Lincoln MKX problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes18 (35%)
- Electrical System14 (27%)
- Engine7 (13%)
- Other6 (12%)
- Structure & Body3 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (4%)
- Seat Belts2 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report the engine unexpectedly shifting into neutral or shutting down while driving at highway speed, sometimes triggering a warning message before the vehicle coasts to a stop.
- Some describe the vehicle stalling shortly after startup, forcing them to coast across multiple lanes of traffic before restarting on the shoulder.
- Electrical system failures reportedly cause the car to shut off without warning, with power steering cutting out and the vehicle coming to a complete stop mid-drive.
- A sunroof cracked on its own while driving at 55 mph with no impact reported.
- Several owners waiting on the battery cable harness recall repair said replacement parts were unavailable at dealers for an extended period.
- One owner reported a rotten-egg smell entering the cabin during hard acceleration, despite a prior repair attempt on the rear hatch seals.
2017 Lincoln MKX recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V544000Aug 22, 2025Brakes499,129 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The rear brake jounce hose may rupture and leak brake fluid.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.
- NHTSA 20V469000Aug 10, 2020Brakes488,594 vehicles
Service brakes
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
Risk: A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake hoses with the new hoses that have a revised braid material, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S42.
- NHTSA 20V414000Jul 17, 2020Structure & Body19,299 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:power adjust
Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.
2017 Lincoln MKX fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,325
- 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 MKX years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Lincoln MKX reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2017 MKX has a Complaint Index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst out of 11 model years for this model. Brakes are the top complaint area, with 18 complaints and a median failure mileage of 70,000.
- Does the 2017 Lincoln MKX have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2017 MKX, covering brake jounce hoses, front brake hoses, seat cushion frame wiring, a battery cable harness short-circuit risk, and a driver airbag inflation issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What is the most common problem with the 2017 Lincoln MKX?
- Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 18 of 52 complaints (35%), followed by the electrical system with 14 complaints (27%).
- How does the 2017 MKX compare to other years?
- The 2017 model ranks 6th worst of 11 years with a Complaint Index of 50. Better years include 2015 (index 20, Best) and 2014 (index 30, Good), while 2013, 2016, and 2011 score worse with Avoid verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Lincoln MKX?
- EPA rates the 2017 MKX at 19.5 mpg combined (17 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325.