Lincoln is a USA carmaker founded in 1917, now part of Ford Motor Company. The cars themselves are another matter: across 14 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 3 countries — the United States 68.4%, Mexico 15.8%, Canada 15.7%. 17 models are tracked here (1981–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 4.1 out of 5 across 17 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Lincoln
Lincoln is the luxury vehicle division of Ford Motor Company, headquartered alongside its parent in Dearborn, Michigan. Founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland and his son Wilfred — the same Henry Leland who founded Cadillac in 1902 — Lincoln was acquired by Ford in 1922 for $8 million. Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, took over the brand and turned it into Ford's answer to Cadillac. Lincoln has been the official preferred carriage of US presidents since the 1939 Lincoln K-Series limousine, and 11 presidential limousines from FDR through Joe Biden have been Lincoln-based. The Continental nameplate, in service from 1939 to 2020, defined American luxury sedans for much of the 20th century. The modern lineup centers on the Navigator full-size SUV, the Aviator and Nautilus mid-size SUVs, and the entry Corsair. Ford trades on the New York Stock Exchange under F. Recall data for every Lincoln VIN is reported to NHTSA, and EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS crash-test scores and J.D. Power studies provide independent benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any Lincoln VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
Henry Leland left GM and Cadillac in 1917 to form the Lincoln Motor Company to build Liberty aircraft engines for World War I. After the war Lincoln pivoted to luxury cars but financial struggles forced sale to Ford in 1922. Edsel Ford modernized Lincoln's styling, and the 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr Continental Cabriolet — designed for Edsel's personal use — established the design vocabulary of post-war American luxury. The 1961 Continental, with its rear-hinged suicide doors, defined the brand for the next decade.
| Lincoln | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1917 |
| Founded by | Henry Leland, Wilfred Leland |
| Headquarters | Dearborn, USA |
| Owned by | Ford Motor Company |
| Listed as | F |
| Slogan | «Built for the Human Race» |
| Models tracked here | 17 (1981–2026) |
| Assembled in | 3 countries |
Technology it is known for: Lincoln BlueCruise hands-free driving, Lincoln Black Label trim, Perfect Position 30-way seats, Revel Ultima audio, Lincoln Embrace welcome lighting.
This page covers the Lincoln Motor Company, Ford's luxury division — not Abraham Lincoln (after whom the brand is named) or Lincoln, Nebraska.
Where Lincoln cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 11,376 vehicles on record, 14 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1LN, 5LM, 5LT, 1LM | 1981–2026 | |
| Mexico | 3LN | 2006–2020 | |
| Canada | 2LM, 2LN, 2L1 | 1988–2023 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Lincoln beginning 1LN was assembled in the United States.
All Lincoln models 17
Every Lincoln model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Lincoln SUVs & crossovers 7
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Navigator | 1998–2026 | 155 | 1,393 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2003–2026 | 126 | 469 | 23 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Lincoln Nautilus | 2019–2026 | 35 | 210 | 30 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Lincoln Corsair | 2020–2026 | 32 | 113 | 33 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Lincoln MKX | 2007–2018 | 45 | 878 | 21 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Lincoln MKC | 2015–2019 | 27 | 574 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Lincoln Navigator L | 2017–2026 | — | — | 18 mpg | 5.0/5 |
Lincoln Cars & sedans 7
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Continental | 1981–2026 | 80 | 2,683 | 24 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Lincoln Mark | 1981–1998 | 27 | 64 | 24 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 1981–2011 | 93 | 2,439 | 20 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Lincoln MKZ | 2007–2020 | 97 | 1,683 | 41 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Lincoln LS | 2000–2006 | 7 | 1,008 | 21 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Lincoln Zephyr | 2006–2006 | 5 | 229 | 20 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Lincoln MKS | 2009–2016 | 22 | 354 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Lincoln Trucks 2
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Mark LT | 2006–2008 | 7 | 40 | 15 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Lincoln Blackwood | 2002–2003 | 5 | 8 | 13 mpg | 3.5/5 |
Lincoln More models 1
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln MKT | 2010–2019 | 34 | 290 | 23 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Lincoln by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Lincoln | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 797 campaigns | Most recalled: Back Over Prevention:software |
| Owner complaints | 11,771+ filed | Most reported: Continental |
| Fuel economy | 41 mpg best | Leader: MKZ |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ top rated | 8 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $1,384/yr typical | Cheapest: MKT |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Lincoln hybrids & electric models
Lincoln's electrified lineup — 2 hybrids. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
Lincoln hybrids 2
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Nautilus | 2019–2026 | 30 | 35 | 4.5/5 |
| Lincoln MKZ | 2007–2020 | 41 | 97 | 4.0/5 |
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a Lincoln window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Lincoln's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Lincoln window stickers →How to read a Lincoln VIN
Every Lincoln built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Lincoln and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. You can decode any VIN for free and get the year-code table, the country codes and the exact spots where the number is stamped.
Who owns Lincoln, and what you get
Lincoln belongs to Ford Motor Company. Lincoln competes in the US luxury SUV and crossover segments against Cadillac, Acura, Lexus and Genesis, with a smaller passenger-car presence than competitors after retiring the Continental and MKZ in 2020. The brand's positioning around quiet flight and effortless luxury distinguishes it from German rivals' sport-luxury orientation. Lincoln Black Label is the brand's top-tier trim with concierge service, exclusive interior themes and complimentary detail visits.
| Lincoln | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Ownership | Ford Motor Company |
| Stock ticker | F |
| Basic warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | United States, Mexico, Canada |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 4 years / 50,000 miles. See when Lincoln models actually start to break →
Lincoln — frequently asked
Is Lincoln usa?
Lincoln is a USA company, headquartered in Dearborn and founded in 1917. The cars are a separate question: 68.4% of the Lincoln vehicles in our records were assembled in the United States.
Where are Lincoln cars made?
Across 14 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: the United States (68.4%), Mexico (15.8%), Canada (15.7%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Lincoln?
Lincoln is part of Ford Motor Company.
How many Lincoln models are there?
We track 17 Lincoln models spanning 1981–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Lincoln warranty?
New vehicles come with 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Lincoln reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Lincoln model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.
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