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2017 Lincoln MKX brakes problems
moderate
Owners of the 2017 Lincoln MKX have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
16
Recalls
2
Avg fix
$450
brakes complaints on the Lincoln MKX, by model year
Of the 16 brakes complaints filed for the 2017 Lincoln MKX,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
1 (100%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted.
Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits
and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Brakes accounts for 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
All 2 active brakes recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Edge and 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX vehicles
A ruptured front brake hose will cause a brake fluid leak, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front brake hoses with the new hoses that have a revised braid material, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 13, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S42.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles
A brake fluid leak can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake jounce hoses and adjust brake jounce hoses with no damage present, free of charge. Interim owner letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S87.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinSSM 51261Dec 2022
Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00. The brake rotors should only be machined if directed by the WSM because one or more of the following conditions are present on the braking surface: scoring, excessive corrosion/rust or pitting, bluing/discoloration and/or heat spots. For additional information, refer to WSM section 206-00.
Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00. The brake rotors should only be machined if directed by the WSM because one or more of the following conditions are present on the braking surface: scoring, excessive corrosion/rust or pitting, bluing/discoloration and/or heat spots. For additional information, refer to WSM section 206-00.
Certain 2015-2019 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT Parts Requirements / Ordering Information: Part numbers for Edge and MKX vehicles have been added. Edge and MKX model year updated from 2018 to 2019, build dates remain the same.
Certain 2015-2018 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement Submitting Owner Letters
Certain 2015-2018 Model Year Edge and Lincoln MKX Vehicles and 2013-2018 Model Year Fusion and Lincoln MKZ Vehicles Front Brake Flexible Hose Replacement In some of the affected vehicles, brake fluid may leak from one or both front brake flexible hoses. If the brake fluid reservoir is depleted below a predetermined level, the brake fluid warning indicator light will illuminate. The driver may experience an increase in pedal travel together with a reduction in the rate of deceleration over time.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 Lincoln MKX vehicles report rear brake hose rupture or failure, with the most common failure point being the rear passenger-side hose, though driver-side hoses have also ruptured. When a hose fails, brake fluid leaks onto the ground, and the brake system loses hydraulic pressure. Owners describe a soft or spongy brake pedal, followed by complete brake failure or the need to depress the pedal all the way to the floor to achieve any braking. The service brake or brake fluid warning light typically illuminates on the dashboard.
The actual brake failures reported occurred between 70,000 and approximately 90,779 miles. In these incidents, owners were unable to stop the vehicle normally and had to use parking brakes, coast downhill, or—in one case—jump a curb at 40 mph to avoid a collision. Independent mechanics confirmed hose rupture after visual inspection showed fluid pooling under the vehicle.
The brake system failures correspond to NHTSA Campaigns 20V469000 and 25V544000, both addressing hydraulic brake service issues. However, the dominant complaint across the cluster is parts unavailability: roughly half the narratives report that dealers have parts on back order or no ETA for arrival. Multiple owners state the manufacturer has exceeded reasonable timelines for recall completion. One owner reported Ford refused to cover collision damage caused by brake failure.
Same Lincoln MKX brakes reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Rear brake hose rupture/failure
Brake hoses, typically on the rear axle (passenger or driver side), rupture or fail, allowing brake fluid to leak and causing partial or total brake loss. The soft, spongy brake pedal and need to depress it to the floor suggest hydraulic fluid loss.
When: 70,000–90,779 miles reported in narratives with actual failures
Symptoms owners cite: Soft or spongy brake pedal; Brake pedal depressed to floor with no response or delayed response; Visible brake fluid leaking under vehicle; Vehicle rolling forward or failing to stop completely; Service brake warning light illuminated; Loss of braking force
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of rear brake hose(s). Two owners reported the failure occurred on both passenger and driver side hoses at different times, requiring multiple repairs. Parts availability has been a widespread issue preventing recall repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V469000 and 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) address rear brake hose failures. However, multiple owners report parts on back order or unavailable, delaying or preventing recall completion. One owner noted Ford refused payment for collision damage caused by brake failure.
Brake fluid loss and system pressure loss
Brake fluid leaks from hose failures result in loss of hydraulic pressure, making the brake system inoperative or severely degraded. Owners report needing to press the pedal to the floor to achieve any stopping force.
When: Occurs during normal driving; some failures noted around 70,000–90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake fluid leak visible under vehicle when parked; Brake fluid warning light on dashboard; Complete brake failure requiring use of parking brake or curb to stop; Brakes require full pedal depression to operate
Repairs/costs cited: Brake fluid top-up or system bleed may be temporary; permanent repair requires hose replacement. One owner paid an independent shop for brake repair and realignment after jumping a curb to avoid collision.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 20V469000 and 25V544000 issued. Parts shortages have prevented recall completion for many owners. One owner reported Ford refused to pay for damage caused by brake failure and that Ford was nonresponsive regarding the claim.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
5 most recent
brakes
· filed 12/22/2025
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact called the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to parts being on back order. The contact called another local dealer, Rosen Ford Belleville (222 County Hwy PB, Belleville, WI 53508); and it was confirmed that parts were on back…
brakes
· filed 12/22/2025
Brake fluid leaks, loss of braking. Brake light showing on dash. Noticeable leak when parked. When driven, brakes have to be pressed to floor to begin operating
brakes
· filed 09/24/2021
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V469000 (Service Brakes, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The…
brakes
· filed 09/17/2025
I received a recalled noticed regarding a potential brake(s) failure. Currently the manufacture does not have sufficient parts and does not provide any ETA on when parts do become available. In the light of the situation, I would rather filed a complaint than risking my life or the lives of others due to the manufacture unable to provide the need parts to resolved this serious issue. I am…
brakes · 90,000 mi
· filed 09/11/2025
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-40 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle was coasted downhill to decelerate. The contact pulled into a parking lot and engaged the parking brake to stop the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The…
Had brakes trouble with your 2017 Lincoln MKX?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2017 Lincoln MKX?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 16 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 80,945 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Lincoln/MKX.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.