2017 Lincoln Continental Reliability
The 2017 Lincoln Continental has 75 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and unknown or other. Compared with nearby Continental model years (2017–2019), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Continental's typical year, while the 2018 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
75
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
1
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2017 Lincoln Continental complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 model year, filed between 2017 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 20 | 27% |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 21% |
| Latches, locks & linkages | 15 | 20% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 19% |
| Backup camera / back-over prevention | 11 | 15% |
| Seats | 4 | 5% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 3 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 4% |
2017 Lincoln Continental recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2017 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V731000 | Oct 12, 2016 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Lincoln Continental vehicles manufactured June 14, 2016, to September 23, 2016 and equipped with high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. The headlights may have been built with incorrect… |
| 17V123000 | Feb 27, 2017 | Air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module | 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 inflate or the air bag cushion may detach from the air bag… |
| 19V077000 | Feb 11, 2019 | Latches, locks & linkages — doors / latch | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental vehicles. The door latch pawl motors may not function properly, possibly resulting in a door latch not fully engaging. |
| 22V644000 | Aug 26, 2022 | Backup camera / back-over prevention — sensing system / camera | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or… |
How the 2017 compares with nearby Continental years
Verdicts compare these Continental model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 (this page) | 75 | 4 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2018 | 21 | 2 | Latches, locks & linkages | Solid |
| 2019 | 32 | 3 | Latches, locks & linkages | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2017 Lincoln Continental
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Doors and latches: open and lock every door, the liftgate or trunk and the hood from the key fob and by hand.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Backup camera: shift into reverse and make sure the image comes up quickly and clearly every time.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2017 Lincoln Continental can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2017 Lincoln Continental reliability FAQ
Is the 2017 Lincoln Continental reliable?
The 2017 Lincoln Continental has 75 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and unknown or other. Compared with nearby Continental model years (2017–2019), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Continental's typical year, while the 2018 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2017 Lincoln Continental problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2017 Lincoln Continental are body structure (20), unknown or other (16), latches, locks & linkages (15), electrical system (14). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2017 Lincoln Continental have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2017 Lincoln Continental, including 16V731000 (exterior lighting — headlights) and 17V123000 (air bags — frontal / driver side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2017 Lincoln Continental compare with the 2016 and 2018 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2018 has 21 complaints and 2 recalls (solid). The 2017 has 75 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2017 Lincoln Continental?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Lincoln Continental research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2017 Continental, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.