Most common 2017 Lincoln MKX problems
Share of the 52 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lincoln MKX complaints by model year
Best MKX years: 2015, 2014, 2009. Years to avoid: 2016, 2013. Compare all years →
2017 Lincoln MKX recalls (5)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Lincoln MKX vehicles equipped with 3.7L engines. The battery positive cable harness may contact the transmission shifter cable bracket resulting in a short circuit.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the battery harness clips and elbow guide, and install a wire channel shield and protective sleeve to the battery cable harness, free of charge.
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2017 Lincoln MKX:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2017 Lincoln MKX owners say
Brakes
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The brake pedal was soft and spongy. In addition, the service brake warning light was illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floor, and the vehicle rolled forward before coming to a complete stop. The vehicle was driven to the residence of a friend. The failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed to the floor to stop the vehicle. The contact's friend, who was an independent mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle and determined there was failure with rear passenger's side brake hose. The contact was informed that the rear passenger's side brake hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. …
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. The contact stated that the brake pedal had to be manually raised to the normal upright position. Upon visual inspection, the contact observed brake fluid leaking from the rear brake lines underneath the vehicle. The brake fluid warning light was illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the passenger's side rear brake hose had ruptured. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure later occurred on the driver's side rear brake hose. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V469000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. …
Electrical system
The contact owns 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving at highway speeds. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle would operate normally. The contact stated that during the failure, the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable the determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 58,000.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Battery drain How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? stranded due to battery failure Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No
Engine & cooling
The contact owns 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving at highway speeds. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle would operate normally. The contact stated that during the failure, the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable the determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 58,000.
While driving on interstate 271/480 my check engine light started flashing and my car suddenly died putting me in harms way as I tried navigating 3 lanes to get to the berm. It was towed to 2 different Lincoln dealerships where they both confirmed the engine lost compression and would need a full replacement. This vehicle is only a 2017 and 100K miles and shouldn't have total engine failure at that age. I read articles on NHTSA investigating Ford engines and feel this may have a similar engine issue and is worth investigating. Please let me know how I can assist.
2017 Lincoln MKX engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Lincoln MKX a good car?
Based on 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 MKX rates average: 34% fewer complaints than a typical year of the MKX at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Lincoln MKX?
The brakes — 16 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (13) and engine & cooling (7).
How many recalls does the 2017 Lincoln MKX have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2017 Lincoln MKX, the most recent from August 22, 2025 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lincoln MKX?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2014 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016 and 2013. See the full Lincoln MKX years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Lincoln MKX problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 30,000 miles; 68% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.