Lincoln Reliability Overview
Based on 18,479 real complaints filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Lincoln reliability varies significantly by model. Compare models below and review the specific model-year page before buying.
Is Lincoln reliable? Quick answer
Based on 18,479 real NHTSA complaints across 17 Lincoln models
Lincoln reliability varies significantly by model and year. Some Lincoln models have consistently low complaint rates; others show recurring airbags patterns across multiple generations. The brand-level reliability score is less useful than picking the specific model + year you're considering.
- Lincoln Mkx· 1,724 complaints
- Lincoln Nautilus· 242 complaints
- Lincoln Navigator· 1,735 complaints
128 reported fatalities in Lincoln complaints. Scroll down for the full model-by-model breakdown, or use the links above to jump to a specific model's year-by-year page.
Best Lincoln Models to Buy
Lowest complaint severity among Lincoln models with enough data for a confident comparison (200+ complaints).
Worst Lincoln Models to Avoid
All 17 Lincoln models — sorted by severity (highest first)
Lincoln Ls
(2000–2006) high severityLincoln Mkz Hybrid
(2011–2020) high severityLincoln Town Car
(1981–2011) high severityLincoln Zephyr
(2003–2011) high severityLincoln Mark Lt
(2005–2008) high severityLincoln Mks
(2009–2016)Lincoln Continental
(1981–2020)Lincoln Mark
(1984–1999)Lincoln Blackwood
(2002–2002)Lincoln Mkt
(2010–2019)Lincoln Mkz
(2007–2020)Lincoln Mkc
(2015–2019)Lincoln Aviator
(2003–2025)Lincoln Corsair
(2020–2025)Lincoln Navigator
(1998–2025)Lincoln Nautilus
(2019–2026)Lincoln Mkx
(2007–2018)Pick your model above, then check the VIN.
NHTSA data tells you which models & years to avoid. The VIN tells you if this specific car has hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Most Common Lincoln Problems
Components most reported across all Lincoln models in NHTSA complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 1,686 | 9.7% |
| Electrical Faults | 1,072 | 2.4% |
| Engine Problems | 911 | 2.4% |
| Unintended Acceleration | 808 | 21.0% |
| Steering Defects | 659 | 7.1% |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 658 | 5.5% |
| Brakes | 627 | 13.4% |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 621 | 3.2% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 402 | 1.0% |
| Suspension Failures | 392 | 6.4% |
Lincoln Reliability — Frequently Asked Questions
How many NHTSA complaints does Lincoln have?
Lincoln has 18,479 NHTSA consumer complaints across 17 distinct models in the VinItel database (1995–present). 6.7% of those complaints involved a crash, and 128 involved a fatality. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation via VinItel.
Which Lincoln model has the most NHTSA complaints?
By total complaint volume, the top Lincoln models are: Lincoln Town Car (4,324 complaints), Lincoln Continental (2,552 complaints), Lincoln Mkz (1,978 complaints). Note that higher-volume models naturally accumulate more complaints, so per-model severity depends on sales volume and crash rate. See the full sortable ranking at vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/lincoln.
What are the most common Lincoln problems?
Across all Lincoln models in the NHTSA database, the most-reported issue categories are: Airbags (1,686 complaints, 9.7% crash rate); Electrical Faults (1,072 complaints, 2.4% crash rate); Engine Problems (911 complaints, 2.4% crash rate). Crash percentages indicate how often that component failure resulted in an accident — higher percentages are safety-critical.
Which Lincoln model years should I avoid?
Lincoln models with the highest severity scores include Lincoln Ls and Lincoln Mkz Hybrid. Specific model years to avoid depend on the model — click any Lincoln model to see its year-by-year breakdown with complaint counts, crash rates, and recalls. Our AVOID label is applied when a year's normalized complaint rate exceeds 1.5× the model's median.
Which Lincoln model is the most reliable?
Among Lincoln models with at least 200 NHTSA complaints (enough data for a confident comparison), the lowest severity scores are: Lincoln Mkx (1,724 complaints), Lincoln Nautilus (242 complaints), Lincoln Navigator (1,735 complaints). Lower complaint volume plus lower crash/fire/injury rates indicates fewer reported safety issues per vehicle on the road.
Is Lincoln a reliable car brand?
NHTSA complaint data shows reliability varies significantly by model and year within every major brand — including Lincoln. A brand-level reliability verdict is misleading because it averages a bad year of one model with a great year of another. VinItel's approach: pick your target Lincoln model + year and view that specific page for actionable reliability data. See vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/lincoln to browse all 17 Lincoln models.
Should I buy a used Lincoln?
Buying used requires two checks: (1) research the specific model + year for known problems using the NHTSA data on this page, and (2) run a VIN report on the exact car to check for hidden accidents, title issues, and odometer rollbacks. VinItel offers both — reliability research is free, individual VIN reports are $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99). Common Lincoln issues to ask about during inspection include airbags.
Looking for accident history? See Lincoln accident & safety statistics from our 16M+ vehicle history database.
Buying a Lincoln?
Check the specific VIN for hidden accidents, title issues, and full vehicle history — just $4.99.
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