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2017 Lincoln Mkz Hev

Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

115 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 21, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Buywillitcar.com

Why buy?

Engine problems dominate (43% of complaints, typically reported near 59k miles).

Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.

Score breakdown, by factor

Full methodology →

#156 of 468Among the 2017 models with a matured record, the 2017 Lincoln Mkz Hev ranks #156, scoring higher than 64% of them. See the 2017 ranking →

Complaint volume78
Severity78
Recall load100
Trend49

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20172025

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

5/5 overall

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2017 Lincoln MKZ HEV 4 DR FWD

Front crash
Side crash
Rollover

Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%

Stability control: StandardForward collision warning: OptionalLane departure warning: Optional

2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2017 Lincoln Mkz Hev, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~59k mi · 50 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (17) · Transmission & drivetrain (16) · Engine & cooling (11) · Steering (8)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

43%

50 complaints · typically near 59k mi · 18 in the last 2 years

I am paying on a 2017 Lincoln MKZ with total engine failure due to coolant leaking into it. I am aware that NHTSA in early October 2023 there was an investigation into…

Read the engine complaints →

Brakes

15%

17 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the reca…

Read the brakes complaints →

Transmission & drivetrain

14%

16 complaints · 6 in the last 2 years

Transmission slipping, side airbags deployed, seatbelt cut, TPMS light on, unsafe to drive.

Read the transmission & drivetrain complaints →

Engine & cooling

10%

11 complaints · 6 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a…

Read the engine & cooling complaints →

Check it against this car’s mileage

Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.

miles

We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.

Read all 115 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 6 crash/fire/injury reports →

Recalls (0)

No recall campaigns on file for this model year.

Questions to ask the seller

Questions worth asking the seller of this Lincoln before you buy, drawn from its public record:

  1. Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 59k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  2. Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
  3. Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
  4. How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
  5. Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?

Before you hand over money

Check the VIN for open recalls

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Lincoln MKZ HEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2017? See how every Mkz Hev model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Lincoln Mkz Hev against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

See what owners are saying about other cars →

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2017 Lincoln Mkz Hev as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.