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Cross-comparison · Comparison spans different vehicle types

2007 Kia Sportage vs 2007 Lincoln Town Car

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-05-03 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2007 Kia Sportage and 2007 Lincoln Town Car run close on the data

Reliability scores are close enough (4.0 versus 3.9) that the choice between these two probably comes down to specific use case rather than overall reliability scoring.

2007 Kia Sportage

4.0/5
Reliability score
77 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$9,050 repair exposure
vs

2007 Lincoln Town Car

3.9/5
Reliability score
84 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$5,200 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Reliability scores run close (4.0 versus 3.9). The pick comes down to specific use case more than overall reliability scoring.

If you lean 2007 Kia Sportage, know what you're getting into on lighting and electrical. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2007 Lincoln Town Car sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2007 Lincoln Town Car? Watch the steering and cruise control. The 2007 Kia Sportage has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 1.7x higher on the 2007 Kia Sportage. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2007 Kia Sportage
2007 Lincoln Town Car
steering
10 reports
moderate · ~$700
18 reports
severe · ~$700
cruise control
5 reports
severe · ~$600
23 reports
severe · ~$600
airbags
11 reports
severe · ~$1,100
11 reports
severe · ~$1,100
brakes
7 reports
moderate · ~$450
8 reports
moderate · ~$450
lighting
12 reports
moderate · ~$250
No reports
electrical
7 reports
severe · ~$850
4 reports
moderate · ~$850
body
3 reports
severe · ~$1,500
7 reports
severe · ~$1,500
engine
7 reports
severe · ~$3,100
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2007 Kia Sportage or the 2007 Lincoln Town Car?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (4.0 vs 3.9). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2007 Kia Sportage?

Compared to the 2007 Lincoln Town Car, the 2007 Kia Sportage sees more reported issues in lighting and electrical. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2007 Lincoln Town Car?

Compared to the 2007 Kia Sportage, the 2007 Lincoln Town Car has more complaints in steering and cruise control. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 0 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $9,050 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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