CSR

Lincoln · NHTSA safety record

2017 Lincoln MKX

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

52

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2017 Lincoln MKX have filed 52 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2017 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 13 of them (25%). The typical failure was reported at 29,713 miles, the median across the 22 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (5)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

25V544000 · August 22, 2025

The defect
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.
The risk
A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Interim owner letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.

Ford Motor Company · up to 499,129 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES

20V469000 · August 10, 2020

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
The 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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 488,594 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

20V414000 · July 17, 2020

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 19,299 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

19V809000 · November 12, 2019

The defect
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.
The risk
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
The 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. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on December 2, 2019. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available, currently expected to be the end of April 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S41.

Ford Motor Company · up to 54,411 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

17V123000 · February 27, 2017

The defect
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."
The 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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 27,531 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 52.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13 25%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 13 25%
ENGINE 7 13%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6 12%
POWER TRAIN 3 6%
WHEELS 3 6%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 2 4%
SEAT BELTS 2 4%
SEATS 2 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 4%
AIR BAGS 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 12.

2017 2026
2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

towed · 90,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-40 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle was coasted downhill to decelerate. The contact pulled into a parking lot and engaged the parking brake to stop the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear brake hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure

NHTSA complaint 11686688, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

100 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle veered to the right. Additionally, the vehicle shuddered while slowing down and while making a turn. The contact stated that while driving downhill and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle jerked unexpectedly. The trunk warning light was illuminated. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The local dealer was contacted; however, the part for the recall repair was not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the

NHTSA complaint 11745876, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The check engine light is on for periods of time and then goes off. Maybe the sensor is faulty?

NHTSA complaint 11742705. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS
Urgent Safety!!! I called and spoke with Lincoln Client Relations Center regarding two recalls that are for the exact same vehicle I now own; 2017 Lincoln MKX, VIN: [XXX] . The recalls that are in existence for 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles are NHTSA recalls: 20V414000/Ford 20S37 and NHTSA recall 20V399/Ford 20S35. Both of these recalls explain specifically and exactly what has happened to to my front driver's seat. Representative states that my VIN is not assigned as having this recall. The problem as explained in these recalls are as follows: -front seat wiring harness may chafe against seat frame; leading to potential airbag failure or unintended deployment. Harness wires can become

NHTSA complaint 11738068, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS
I submitted a safety complain on recalls that the Lincoln Client Relationship Center informed whereby my VIN is not included on the recalls I listed from NHTSA complaint I just filed, complaint Number: XXX I also have a case number with the Lincoln Client Relationship Center which is: C-XXX Please reference this number to confirm the conversation I had yesterday with them on this issue whereby I was told that the recall numbers from NHTSA are not assigned to my Lincoln MKX, although the issue my driver's seat is having matches exactly what both of those recalls I stated in my NHTSA complaint [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11738081. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

75,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the parts were not available for the recall repair. The contact then stated while driving at at speeds, the brake pedal had become soft and spongy upon depression without warning. In addition, the contact stated that a puddle of brake fluid would accumulate underneath the vehicle near the rear passenger tire. The contact called a local dealer in reference to the failure and was informed that a temporary fix can be made to the failure; the contact declined the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the

NHTSA complaint 11736963, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
During a manufacturer-mandated software module update, North Central Ford (Plano, TX) bypassed continuous power supply safety protocols. This negligence caused a voltage drop, interrupted the software flash, and completely corrupted the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM). The dealership returned the vehicle to me, stating the update was complete. The corrupted module failed to power down, causing a severe parasitic drain that completely killed the battery overnight, leaving the vehicle immobilized and immune to jump-starting. The APIM is completely corrupted. The disabled vehicle was towed back to North Central Ford and remains available for immediate inspection. Safety Risks: The

NHTSA complaint 11730101, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lincoln MKX

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 29 5
2016 151 7
2015 19 0
2014 35 1
2013 163 1 1
2012 84 1
2011 149 3
2010 111 6

Other 2017 Lincoln models

Every Lincoln on this site — 84 vehicles, 269 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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Independent developer and analyst