Are Lincolns Good Cars? How To Make The Right Purchasing Decision
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Nowadays, Lincolns is a car brand that doesn’t get much love these days. Despite its foundation more than a century ago, Lincoln isn’t the name people associate with luxury vehicles. Being a luxury division of Ford, Lincoln used to be the leader in the luxury segment but is now struggling to be relevant in the market filled with the likes of Lexus, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.
However, many car buyers are still anxious to know if the Lincoln brand is worth their money, prompting them to ask: are Lincolns good cars?
For today’s post, we shine the spotlight on the luxury brand Lincoln. Do Lincoln brands have good build quality? Are they reliable? Do they offer a good value proposition? Let’s find out!
Build Quality
For this brand highlight, it’s worth pointing out that build quality differs from reliability (which we’ll also discuss below). Build quality refers to how well the vehicle is built, the quality of the materials used, how the parts and body fit together, etc.
Like many luxury brands, Lincoln vehicles have fallen victim to nagging build quality issues such as balky electronics, bad paint, and poor fit and finish. There were several build quality issues that circulated in many automotive forums, including the misaligned door panels. Many owners also complained about ill-fitting speaker grilles, weird tufting on the outer bolster, and less than ideal upper interior fit.
When it comes to build quality, Lincoln has a mix of good and bad over the years. Most of the build quality issues that have been floating around were from two to three years ago. Upon further investigation, it seems that Lincoln was able to iron out the kinks as far as build quality goes.
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Reliability
Are Lincolns good cars in terms of reliability? For Lincoln’s reliability score, we refer to RepairPal, which gave the luxury brand a rating of 3.0 out of 5.0, a rank of 24 out of 32 car brands. Although RepairPal gave Lincoln an “Average” rating, it still placed in the bottom half of all car brands – not surprising considering Lincoln is a luxury brand. In comparison, BMW ranked 30 out of 32 brands, Audi ranked 28th and Mercedes at 27th.
Thus, as far as reliability goes, Lincoln has a better track record than some of its most formidable competitors. However, as you might expect from a luxury brand, owning a Lincoln can be pretty expensive. The average annual repair cost for a Lincoln is $879 per year, which is way higher than $652 across all models. Higher repair costs don’t directly correlate to unreliability since it may also mean that the parts and services are expensive.
Meanwhile, Lincoln owners can expect to visit the shop 0.4 times a year for unscheduled repairs. This is on par with the 0.4 times average across all models. In addition, 15% of Lincoln repairs are considered severe, which is slightly higher than the average of 12% across all models.
8 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING A USED CAR
So you’re in the market for a used vehicle? We’ve gone ahead and prepped some essential questions to ask when buying a used car.
Common Issues with Lincoln Vehicles
Are Lincolns good cars? Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems you may encounter as a Lincoln owner:
- Peeling chrome wheels - Owners of the MKZ model have complained about peeling chrome wheels. Not only is it a cosmetic issue that shouldn’t happen to a luxury brand, but it’s a potential safety problem as well. According to the reports, the peeled chrome wheels also tend to lose air. Replacing the tires will cost you $1,230.
- Power steering fluid leaks - MKZ models from 2007 to 2012 may develop power steering leaks. According to owner reports, they saw puddles of power steering fluid under their vehicle, or they heard whining noises coming from the power steering pump. Experts say this is due to an improperly crimped hose between the power steering gear and pump.
- Body/paint issues - Another problem that received numerous complaints is the body/paint issues with the 2003 Navigator. This was a widespread issue that people suspected to be a manufacturing defect. Many reported that the rear panel below the tailgate window was prone to cracks.
- Slipping and hard shifting - Owners of the Zephyr complained about their vehicle’s slipping transmission and hard shifting. According to the reports, the shifting system may slip or become harder to control as you rack up more miles. At some point, you may have to rebuild or replace the transmission. For lower mileage Zephyr’s, a powertrain control module (PCM) software update will fix this issue.
- Rusting running boards - Lincoln Navigator owners reported rust buildup on the running board panels. This is a potential safety issue since rust and corrosion will unstabilize the support structure. Depending on the severity of the rust buildup, you may have to replace the brackets or the entire running board.
THE 10 MOST RELIABLE USED SEDANS
If you’re ready to start shopping for a used car and reliability is a priority for you, take a look at our list of the top 10 most reliable used sedans on the market today.
Affordability and Value
Are Lincolns good cars when it comes to value? Lincolns are not affordable vehicles in the general scheme of things – as you might expect from a luxury brand. For instance, the 2022 Navigator starts at $76,710, while the 2022 Aviator starts at $51,780. When you compare these prices with a comparable model, you’ll likely get more car for your money.
When you compare Lincolns with its fellow luxury competitors, it’s clear that Lincolns are generally lower. Lincoln vehicles offer good value if you’re only looking for safety, luxury, and comfort. However, if other factors are considered, the Lincolns will fall by the wayside since many other compelling options exist.
Should You Buy a Lincoln?
Lincolns are some of the most reliable luxury brands available, especially when compared to BMW, Mercedes, Tesla, and more. However, there’s no denying that they’re a niche of vehicles.
So are Lincolns good cars? Yes, but it will depend on what you’re looking for. On their own, these vehicles offer good value if you’re talking about safety, comfort, and luxury. However, if you widen your scope of criteria, you’ll find many better options than Lincolns. For instance, the Genesis fleet of vehicles has higher reliability ratings and unbeatable powertrain warranties.
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