Lincoln Reliability 101: An In-depth Look
I am a serial entrepreneur and a consumer advocate. When I’m not helping car buyers, I love working on ventures that have a positive impact.
I run a cause marketing agency and serve on the board of Vayu Global Health where we are disrupting the medical industry and preventing the needless deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth.
Lincoln is the luxury brand of the Ford company. Their cars are American-made and have a reputation for making great cars. the Lincoln brand makes great designs and elegant cars that everyone will love to drive.
With a Lincoln car, you are assured of comfortable rides, improved handling, and an awesome driving experience. But there’s a twist.
On May 10, 2022, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, a tractor-trailer transporting five cars (Porsche, Lincoln MKK, Toyota, and Two Audi cars) was stolen from a driver. Unfortunately, the car was found with the help of a tracker. Guess what? The fleet was stolen, except the Lincoln.
Does it mean Lincoln cars are bad and nobody wants to steal them? Are Lincoln reliable vehicles?
Lincoln is a reliable brand. They are not as reliable as Toyota, but you will get the specs of a luxury brand with the downsides of expensive maintenance and some problematic parts.
Here's a detailed guide on Lincoln’s reliability.
Table of Contents
Are Lincoln Reliable?
Lincoln cars are fairly reliable. According to RepairPal, Lincoln has a reliability rating of 3.0/3.5, ranking 24th out of 32 brands with a maintenance cost of $879.
As a Lincoln user, you will have to deal with the high cost of repairs and maintenance. This includes the fact that these cars have a 15% probability of major repairs and a 0.4 chance of minor damages. However, they have high safety ratings, great handling, and a monstrous burst of power.
Consumer Reports once ranked Lincoln amongst the least reliable SUV brands. Still, there is no argument that the 2020 Lincoln Navigator was one of the best SUVs in the American market, production industry, and even in its category. I will prefer driving the Lincoln Navigator to an X166 Mercedes GLS.
Lincoln offers a better interior design that stands out, better than what is offered by BMWs and Audis. The impressive line-up of the Lincoln brand has made its users tag it “the Poor Man’s Rolls Royce.” You get a Lincoln car till you are rich enough to afford a Rolls Royce.
Overall, Lincoln cars are not considered first-tier luxury cars, they are not perfect in all Ramifications, but they are pretty close.
You need a Lincoln car if you are a fan of power and speed. The Lincoln Continental achieves a whopping 400hp, or you can settle for the 2016 Lincoln MKX with a speed of 335hp and 380lb-ft torque.
With a Lincoln brand, you have the assurance of fuel economy, and if you are lucky enough, you will pick a car that escapes the recurring suspension problems. The truth is that Lincoln’s reliability is not sung as loud as it needs to be.
I don’t think I have ever seen a Lincoln car break down on the road, but I’ve seen a couple of BMW and Mercedes drivers stranded in the middle of the road.
Lincoln might not be able to compare fully with German engineering, but we must commend their reliability and ability to produce great cars.
Why Lincoln Cars Are Considered Fairly Reliable
1. Designs
Lincoln outranks its competitors by building “concept” cars. The Lincoln brand doesn’t stop at introducing new designs, their cars give a good definition of what a luxury brand should look like. These cars are known for their luxurious functionality, elegance, prestige, and contoured simplicity.
Some Lincoln designs are riddled with wear and tears, and in some cases, there are recalls. However, there are some models with durable designs.
Although the Lincoln brand still has much work to do to improve its overall designs, we find them quite good, especially for the affordable prices that their cars come in.
2. Engine and Performance
If there’s one outstanding thing about Lincoln cars, it is their ability to make great performance cars. Performance cars are cars with enormous speed, superior handling and agility, and an amazing overall driving experience. These cars can be sports, luxury, or muscle cars.
In the Lincoln line-up, there is the Continental Sedan with a 400hp and the ability to reach 60mph from 0mph in 5.9 seconds.
There is also the Lincoln Aviator with impressive speed. All Lincoln Grand touring cars are performance cars, with the Aviator Grand delivering a 494hp and a 630lb torque.
Lincoln’s line-up of V6 turbocharged engines delivers power and durability. The most powerful Lincoln engine is the 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine plus hybrid assist in the 2020 Lincoln Aviator. This engine can shoot up to 450hp, with an impressive torque of 600lb-ft.
3. Safety and Technology
Buying a Lincoln car assures you that you are safe. Three Lincoln cars earned the 2021 IIHS Top Safety Pick award, three cars in the 2022 top safety pick award, two in 2020, and two in 2019, with one earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. Lincoln hasn’t skipped a year without winning a safety award.
This impressive feat is due to Lincoln’s outstanding safety technology, the Lincoln Co-pilot 360. The Lincoln co-pilot 360 has achieved a high-level efficiency in reducing collisions and keeping users safe.
Safety features on Lincoln cars include:
- Lane-keeping system
- Active park assist
- Rear view camera
- Auto high-beam headlamps
- Evasive steering assist
- Pre-collision assist with auto emergency braking
- Adaptive headlamps
- Blind spot information system and cross-traffic alert
These features differ in different models, but the safety is reliable and commendable.
4. Durability
Lincoln’s durability sits in the middle of the scale. Most of their cars have lots of problems, but if maintained properly, you can expect your Lincoln car to last up to 180,000 miles. In some cases, Lincoln maintains the stand of a fairly durable car.
Although they try hard to stand out as “just a Ford product,” there is still room for improvement.
5. Fuel Economy
The gas mileage of Lincoln cars is amazing. However, the gas mileage on Lincoln cars varies across different models. Some of the best Lincoln cars with good gas mileage include the Lincoln Corsair, Aviator Hybrid, Aviator AWD, and Nautilus.
These models feature four and six engine configurations, 2.0, 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, and 3.0L. The average gas mileage of Lincoln cars starts from as low as 20mpg to as high as 33mpg and 56 -78mpg for hybrid models.
Most Common Problems of Lincoln Cars
Like any other luxury brand, Lincolns are not left out with its problems. Some of the problems common with Lincoln cars are:
- Transmission problems
- Fluid leakage
- Recalls on airbags of some models
- Overheating
- Wearing off of the dashboard
- Flaking chrome
- Brake failures
These problems are associated with different Lincoln models.
Lincoln Reliability: Pros
- Fast Acceleration
- Great Infotainment
- Great designs
- Large Cargo space
- Comfy rides
- Amazing Technology
Lincoln Reliability: Cons
- Battling with lots of problems
- Wears and tears
- Hybrid models are expensive
Verdict
Lincoln is not big on reliability, but they try hard to live up to expectations. They are a good definition of a luxury brand with fewer premium offers.
You will enjoy driving a Lincoln car, but you must be careful about your choices. Make sure you research your preferred model to avoid dealing with many problems.
