When J.D. Power published its 2023 Vehicle Dependability Survey, it put Lexus at the top of the list, with Toyota down in seventh place. In more ways than not, a Lexus is just a fancy Toyota, right? Sure, but part of being “fancier” is being built to a higher standard of quality, and being subjected to a more comprehensive inspection.

But when you look at Ford and Lincoln, the blue oval actually ranks two places higher than the luxury brand, with Ford generating 249 issues for every 100 units, and Lincoln generating 259. So, what gives? Are Lincolns actually less reliable than Fords, or is that just how the averages shake out for this particular survey? Let’s dig in for ourselves and find out.

Comparisons in this overview have been made by drawing data from government oversight, non-profit, and car maintenance resources including J.D. Power and the NHTSA, and contrasting scores and repair costs both individually and in terms of broad averages.

Top Three Vs. Top Three

In order to make the comparison between these brands as fair as possible, we’ve taken Lincoln’s top three sellers, the Corsair, the Aviator, and the Nautilus, and compared their J.D. Power Quality & Reliability ratings to those of their Ford counterparts, the Escape, the Explorer, and the Edge. This means flagship models like the Mustang and the F-150 will be sitting this round out, but Lincoln doesn’t have a coupe or a full-size pickup of their own, so it would be hard to get any meaningful data from their inclusion.

Lincoln Average Quality & Reliability Rating: 79/100

Ford Average Quality & Reliability Rating: 82/100

No big surprises here, so far. Lincolns rate three points behind Fords when we divvy up their average scores, counting just the top three selling Lincolns and their Ford counterparts. It’s worth noting, however, that this isn’t a uniform trend across the board. If you look at the 2022 model years, for instance, the Corsair scores two points higher than the Escape, and the Nautilus scores a whopping twelve points higher than the Edge.

First round goes to Ford.

Does A Lincoln Cost More To Maintain Than A Ford?

When it really comes down to it, quality and reliability ratings are just numbers. What really counts is what we’re going to spend on maintenance over the years. That’s a difference you’re going to feel in your wallet. So, we’ve gathered annual maintenance estimates from RepairPal, and ten-year estimates from CarEdge.

It is unsurprising to find that a Lincoln costs around a hundred dollars more to maintain on a year-to-year basis than a Ford. You expect to spend a little extra keeping a luxury car running, owing to the more expensive components. But, that only comes out to an average difference of about three hundred bucks after ten years, a pretty negligible difference.

Now let’s break it down repair by repair. Which brand are you more likely to be shelling out the big bucks for on any given trip to the garage?

Most Expensive Common Lincoln Repairs

• Heater core replacement (Lincoln Nautilus) $1,627 – $2,050
• Engine front cover gasket replacement (Lincoln Mark LT) $1,122 – $1,352
• CV Axle replacement (Lincoln MKS) $464 – $519

CarComplaints reports the worst problem with Lincolns being the chrome lifting off the wheels in the 2008 MKZ. The most troubled model is the MKX, with 243 complaints on file. Lincolns see fewer complaints than Fords overall, but this has a lot to do with the fact that Ford sells in greater volume. The F-150 is still the top-selling vehicle in the world, after all.

Most Expensive Common Ford Repairs

• Timing chain replacement (Ford Crown Victoria) $1,193 – $1,361
• Intercooler replacement (Ford Fusion) $846 – $916
• Water pump replacement (Ford Explorer Sport Trac) $572 – $613

CarComplaints reports the worst problem found in Fords to be transmission failure in the 2003 Ford Taurus, with drivers reporting the transmission failing at just 93,000 miles. CarComplaints data points to the Ford Explorer as the most troubled model, with 13,410 complaints on file, with the worst of these pertaining to the transmission.

What Does The NHTSA Have To Say About Ford And Lincoln?

Taking a look at the same models we checked for the quality & reliability comparisons, here’s what we were able to turn up:

• The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus was included in a recall for 70,483 units with power windows that could pinch fingers, failing to detect the obstacle. Note that a number of 2024 Ford Rangers were also included in this recall.
• The 2024 Lincoln Aviator was included in a recall for 109,283 units, all Aviators, from the 2020 to 2024 model years, with flickering, distorted rearview camera images.
• The 2024 Corsair was recalled for missing dashboard airbag warning labels. This recall also affected a number of 2024-2025 Explorers, Aviators, Escapes, and Expeditions.
• The 2024 Ford Explorer was hit with a recall for 61 3.3-liter hybrid models, owing to a potential short circuit in the 12-volt battery stemming from a chafed cable.

The repairs and recalls round goes to Ford.

Ford Is A Moderately More Dependable Brand Than Lincoln

In fairness, a part of Ford’s superior reliability numbers have to do with volume. When you’re selling millions units a year, the averages tend to even out, and the occasional dud isn’t going to damage your overall reliability ratings or average repair costs. But, even taking that out of the equation, Fords tend to be more reliable than Lincolns on a car-to-car basis.

At the end of the day, what you want to do is compare cars based on their own individual safety ratings. Even the most reliable automakers may release a clunker now and then, and the silver medalists sometimes score a big win, as Lincoln did with the 2022 and 2023 Nautilus. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for open recalls and investigations, and check the CarComplaints page, especially for any used model you’re thinking of buying. “Most reliable” is just a batting average, and every manufacturer has their good and bad models.

Sources:
J.D. Power
, CarEdge, CarComplaints, NHTSA, RepairPal.