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2017 Lincoln MKX problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
19%
9 of 52 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2017 Lincoln MKX. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 19% of relevant complaints.

Better than 89% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Lincoln MKX have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 9 of 52 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Lincoln MKX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (19%). For comparison, the 2016 scores 33% and the 2018 scores 23%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
9
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
52
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
0 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES19 · 37%
HYDRAULIC13 · 25%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13 · 25%
ENGINE7 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6 · 12%
POWER TRAIN3 · 6%

The years either side

2010
19%
10 of 111
2011
27%
38 of 149
2012
24%
19 of 84
2013
23%
36 of 163
2014
37%
13 of 35
2015
too few complaints
2016
33%
49 of 156
2017
19%
9 of 52
2018
23%
6 of 31
2019
no data
2020
no data
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2017 compares with other Lincoln MKX years

Of the 8 Lincoln MKX years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (19%). The worst is the 2014 (37%), the best the 2010 (19%). By volume, the 2017 drew 52 complaints (9 drivetrain), against 156 for the 2016 and 31 for the 2018.

Lincoln MKX years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Lincoln MKX

  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER04/09/2026
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 …

One of 9 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2017 Lincoln MKX engine and transmission recalls

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2017 Lincoln MKX, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings25V544000 · Aug 2025
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.
service brakes20V469000 · Aug 2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture prematurely.
seats: front assembly: power adjust20V414000 · Jul 2020
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…
electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables19V809000 · Nov 2019
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…
air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module17V123000 · Feb 2017
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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Lincoln MKX? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2017 Lincoln MKX

Does the 2017 Lincoln MKX have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 9 of 52 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Lincoln MKX concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (19%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Lincoln MKX?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Lincoln MKX is service brakes: 19 of 52 complaints (37%) name it, followed by hydraulic (13) and electrical system (13). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 19% of the relevant total.

Is the 2017 Lincoln MKX reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 19% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 89% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Lincoln MKX years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Lincoln MKX?

No. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2017 Lincoln MKX, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Lincoln MKX years are better?

The 2017 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Lincoln MKX years we track (19%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/lincoln-mkx

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.