Lincoln MKX Safety Ratings

NHTSA gives the 2018 Lincoln MKX an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars in the frontal crash test and 4 stars for rollover resistance.

Latest model year (2018):

NHTSA rates the Lincoln MKX at 5 ★ overall, 5 ★ frontal crash, 5 ★ side crash and 4 ★ rollover.

VerifiedNHTSA Safety Ratings · Verified August 11, 2026

Overview MPG Engine Specs Fuel Cost Transmission Drivetrain Vehicle Class Maintenance Dimensions Curb Weight Safety

Lincoln MKX Safety — All Years

Year	Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Recalls	Complaints
2018	2018 Lincoln MKX SUV FWD	5 ★	5 ★	5 ★	4 ★	5	29
2017	2017 Lincoln MKX SUV AWD	5 ★	5 ★	5 ★	4 ★	5	52

Crash-test star ratings sourced from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Ratings apply to the tested body style and can differ between trims and drivetrain layouts.

Lincoln MKX data analysis

How Lincoln MKX NHTSA rollover risk varies

Across 2 configurations recorded for the 2017 through 2018 Lincoln MKX, NHTSA rollover risk runs from 0.2% to 0.2%. The strongest figure belongs to the 2018 Lincoln MKX (2018 Lincoln MKX SUV FWD) at 0.2%, and the weakest to the 2017 car (2017 Lincoln MKX SUV AWD) at 0.2% — a spread of 1%. The narrow spread means any year of the Lincoln MKX in this table behaves much like the others, so you can shop on price, condition and mileage rather than chasing a particular model year.

What changed for 2018

Average NHTSA rollover risk for the 2018 Lincoln MKX is 0.2%, against 0.2% for the 2017 car — it held flat. A carry-over year like this usually means no powertrain or structural change, so an older example is the cheaper way into the same specification.

How to read this Lincoln MKX data

This page lists every 2017 through 2018 Lincoln MKX record we hold for this measurement — 2 rows in total, one per configuration and model year rather than a single headline figure. Figures are published as the source agency records them: we do not round, average or interpolate missing years, and a year that is absent from the table is a year with no published measurement rather than a zero. Where a manufacturer offered several drivetrains or body styles in the same year, each appears on its own row, because those variants rarely share the same numbers.

Where these Lincoln MKX figures come from

Every value on this page is loaded from federal open data — EPA fuel economy submissions, NHTSA vehicle and crash-test records, and manufacturer specification filings — rather than dealer listings or copied editorial content. The Lincoln MKX record refreshes as the agencies publish, which typically means new model-year rows appear in the autumn and crash-test results follow through the model year as vehicles are tested. Because certification data is filed per configuration, treat any single headline number for this vehicle with caution: the figure that applies to a specific car depends on its engine, drivetrain, body style and model year, all of which are listed separately above. If a number here disagrees with a brochure, the brochure is usually quoting the best available configuration rather than the one being sold.

How the 2018 Lincoln MKX scored

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program rates the 2018 Lincoln MKX at 5 stars overall, 5 stars in the frontal barrier test, 5 stars for side impact, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Its calculated rollover risk is 0.2% — the probability the agency's model assigns to a rollover in a single-vehicle crash. Stars are awarded against the test protocol in force for that model year and are not comparable across a protocol change, so read a year's rating against other vehicles of the same year rather than against an older or newer version of the same car.

Recalls and owner complaints

The 2018 Lincoln MKX carries 5 open or completed safety recalls, 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 0 agency investigations. Recall counts are not a quality score on their own — a manufacturer that reports and fixes a defect early generates a recall, while one that does not may simply accumulate complaints instead. Check any specific car's VIN against the recall database before purchase: recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of ownership history, but only if the work has actually been carried out.

Driver-assistance equipment and how to read this record

NHTSA records the 2018 Lincoln MKX as offering electronic stability control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning. Availability means the system was fitted or offered on the model year, not that every individual car has it — options and trim levels vary. This page covers 2 tested configurations across 2017–2018, one row per body style and model year the agency has published. Where a field is blank the vehicle was not tested for that measure rather than scoring zero, and configurations are never merged, because a front-wheel-drive and an all-wheel-drive version of the same nameplate are separate tests.

Frequently Asked Questions About MKX Safety

Is the Lincoln MKX a safe car?

NHTSA gives the Lincoln MKX an overall crash rating of 5 out of 5 stars, including 5 stars in the frontal crash test and 5 stars in the side crash test. Ratings are per body style and model year — check the table above for yours.

What is the rollover rating of the Lincoln MKX?

The Lincoln MKX scores 4 out of 5 stars for rollover resistance, with a calculated rollover risk of about 15.4%. Taller vehicles typically score lower here than sedans.

Does the Lincoln MKX have driver assistance features?

NHTSA records the tested Lincoln MKX as having electronic stability control, with forward collision warning and with lane departure warning. Availability varies by trim and package.