The Lincoln MKX brings a certain charm in its driving characteristic and a posh cabin with no compromises. Based on the Ford Edge platform, the MKX brings in a lot of goodies with it for people to enjoy. The luxury crossover also sees good sales with more than 30,000 units sold already. Though the sales have been good, there are certain complaints that the owners have reported repeatedly. The most common issues lie with the electricals of the SUV which affect the navigation system, the headlights, and the battery. Apart from this, there have been some issues with the car’s transmission as well. There’s a catch to it here. Most of the complaints are sourced from unofficial forums since the NHTSA does not cover most of the issues faced by the owners. The American carmaker has issued 4 recalls already, with an open investigation on the list as well. Do these recalls and complaints make the MKX an unreliable bet among its peers like the Audi Q5, the BMW X5, and the Lexus RX? Let’s find out.
2017 Lincoln MKX Problems
Electrical issues:
- Battery issues: The MKX battery has been a recurring issue that the owners have to go through. The battery has caused many cars to lose out electrical assistance while moving and resulted in the engine stalling. There have been many incidents where the instrumentation lights and the cabin lights start flickering due to unstable current.
- Headlight issues: The MKX light issues mostly consist of the headlight burning out and losing its luminance. Many people have reported a weak throw from the headlights that affect visibility while driving at night. In many cases, the lights automatically shut off without any error on the instrument console.
- Navigation system issues: The navigation system in the MKX has given issues repeatedly and shut down while the car is moving. Many complainants have termed it as a major distraction and had to restart their vehicles to get the system working again.
Mechanical issues:
- Engine stalling: The Lincoln MKX engine stalling is another issue that many people have reported to the dealerships. The instrument cluster throws a warning about the system shutting down. This warning is followed by the engine stalling out on the road and shifting the gear into Neutral.
- Reduced brake pressure: Some people have reported MKX brakes losing pressure while moving. This issue increases the distance required to stop and has also led to several crashes and collisions. There have been several reports of brake fluid leaking as well. The dealerships determined the cause to be rupturing brake hoses. The problem was solved via a recall issued by Ford with NHTSA Campaign Number 20V469000.
Interior issues:
- Foul odor in the cabin: There have been myriads of complaints claiming a foul odor emerging in the cabin while accelerating. People have reported the same issue in the Ford Edge as well. Many people claim this odor to be of carbon monoxide and have reported nausea while driving.
2017 Lincoln MKX Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
February 27, 2017 |
17V123000 |
Airbags |
Improper inflation of the driver-side front airbag may cause injuries to the driver in a crash. The affected units fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS Number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection”. |
Ford initiated a recall on June 16, 2017, and notified the owners of the same. The dealerships will replace the front airbag module on the driver’s side free of charge. |
|
2. |
November 12, 2019 |
19V809000 |
Electrical System |
Contact of the transmission shifter cable bracket and the battery positive cable harness may cause a short circuit, increasing the risk of fire. |
Ford initiated a recall on December 2, 2019, and issued interim notices to the owners. The dealerships will remove the battery harness clips and elbow guide. They will install a protective sleeve and a wire channel shield to the cable harness free of charge. . |
|
3. |
July 17, 2020 |
20V414000 |
Seats, Airbags, Electrical System |
Contact of the wire harness and the seat cushion frame edge may damage wiring when the occupant tilts the seats. Such contact may disable the frontal airbag or cause inadvertent deployment, increasing the risk of a crash/injury in a crash. |
Ford initiated a recall on August 12, 2020, and notified the owners of the same. The dealerships will install protective flocking tape on the edges of the seat cushion frames free of charge. |
|
4. |
August 11, 2020 |
20V469000 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulics |
Premature rupture of the front brake hoses affect braking performance and increase braking distance. This increases the risk of a crash. |
Ford mailed the owners of the safety risk on September 21, 2020, which was followed by another notice on April 15, 2021, if parts were available. The dealerships will replace the front brake hoses with a new type of hoses with different braided material, free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2017 Lincoln MKX?
The 2017 Lincoln MKX makes a very interesting proposition because the crossover brings a lot of things to the table. One look at the complaints and you’ll see that most of them are pretty manageable and don’t cost much. The one issue we’d like Ford to address is the odor making its way into the cabin but other than that, they’ve done a pretty good job with the prompt recalls. If you want to get one, the MKX is a perfect choice. For a used bet, make sure to get the vehicle checked for any electrical issues
