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Buick vs Lincoln Reliability

Lincoln leads on our inspections: 61/100 average condition vs 58/100 for Buick, from 74 real pre-purchase inspections. The average car we check scores 61/100.

vs
Head to head
BuickLincoln
Cars inspected3836
Average condition58/10061/100
In good shape (60+/100)52%56%
Repainted or replaced panel71%78%
Structural repair found0%3%
Fault codes recently cleared24%19%

Green = the better number of the pair. Condition reflects the mix of cars that came to us — age, price, model — so treat small gaps as a tie.

How they score
Excellent 26% Good 26% Mediocre 18% Poor 29%
Excellent 28% Good 28% Mediocre 22% Poor 22%
How long do they stay good?
Good cars by mileage
▬ Buick▬ Lincoln▬ all cars
0 25 50 75 100 Buick, 40–60k mi: 64%, drawn from the nearby bands (8 cars in this band)Buick, 60–80k mi: 65%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band)Buick, 80–100k mi: 52%, drawn from the nearby bands (6 cars in this band)Buick, 100–120k mi: 32%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band) Lincoln, 40–60k mi: 73%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band)Lincoln, 60–80k mi: 75%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band)Lincoln, 100–120k mi: 45%, drawn from the nearby bands (5 cars in this band)Lincoln, 120–140k mi: 34%, drawn from the nearby bands (7 cars in this band) 40k 80k 120k 160k 200k mileage when we inspected it

Share in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; a band under 20 cars follows the nearby bands, so a run above the all-cars line stays above it, and a band of 20 or more uses the rate we measured; where a band has too few cars, the line follows the trend between the bands on either side; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). Dashed grey = all cars we check.

Most common faults
Oil leaks · Engine
61%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
45%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
37%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
34%
Oil leaks · Automatic transmission
24%
Oil leaks · Engine
64%
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
33%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
33%
Low coolant / cooling system issues · Engine
28%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
22%
FAQ
?
Which is more reliable, Buick or Lincoln?
Lincoln leads on our inspections: 61/100 average condition vs 58/100 for Buick, from 74 real pre-purchase inspections.
?
What are the most common problems with used Buicks and Lincolns?
On Buicks we flag oil leaks (61%), tires condition & wear (45%), fuel trim out of range (37%). On Lincolns: oil leaks (64%), fuel trim out of range (33%), active error codes (33%).
?
How many Buick and Lincoln vehicles have you inspected?
38 Buicks and 36 Lincolns — 74 real pre-purchase inspections. Updated Oct 27, 2026.
?
Should I still get a pre-purchase inspection?
Yes. Badge averages don't sort the good car from the tired one. We still find repainted panels on 71% of Buicks and 78% of Lincolns, and recently cleared fault codes on 24% / 19%.
Buying a used Buick or Lincoln? Get a pre-purchase inspection before you pay.
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Based on 74 inspections · updated Oct 27, 2026