Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln Nautilus vs FORD F 150
How the Lincoln Nautilus and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Lincoln Nautilus vs FORD F 150: The Nautilus averages 26 complaints per year vs. the F-150's 2,755, but both have serious issues like sudden power loss. The Nautilus has 33 recalls, the F-150 141. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln Nautilus or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln Nautilus
The Lincoln Nautilus, a luxury SUV, has a moderate complaint rate of about 26 per year over eight years, but owners report serious failures like sudden power loss and electrical blackouts. The top issues involve the powertrain and electrical system, with complaints describing the vehicle shutting down while driving or screens going dark, which can be alarming. With 33 recalls, including for suspension and child seat anchors, buyers should expect frequent dealer visits.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a popular pickup, has a very high complaint rate of over 2,700 per year over ten years, with many reports of powertrain and engine problems. Owners describe sudden power loss, transmission issues, and unintended acceleration, along with numerous recalls (141). The sheer volume of complaints suggests a higher likelihood of encountering a problem, especially with the powertrain and electrical systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln Nautilus | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 206 Better | 27,553 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 Better | 141 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 762 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 25.8 Better | 2755.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 714 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 10 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Lincoln Nautilus
- 01POWER TRAIN54
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER34
- 04ENGINE23
- 05SERVICE BRAKES13
Owners report the vehicle powering down and shutting off while driving, or the transmission shifting from drive to neutral unexpectedly, causing loss of propulsion. Some also mention front brakes grinding and losing traction in wet conditions.
The 48-inch dashboard screen and center touchscreen can go dark without warning, along with power steering and other electrical components, essentially making the car inoperable. Other reports involve the vehicle auto-shifting into neutral and check engine lights.
Engine problems include violent shaking at highway speeds followed by stalling, and the vehicle shifting into neutral with the check engine light on. These failures can occur suddenly, posing a safety risk.
“On the way home from the dealer the vehicle powered down on its own and then shut off in the middle of the road. Luckily we were able to coast into the median without incident. The vehicle started back up and we garaged it until the dealer came the next day t…”
“Front right brakes make grinding sounds when stopping and lose traction when roads are wet. Vehicle causes safety issues when roads are wet. Due to lack of control. Issue was reported to the dealer and I was told Lincoln is aware of the issue but there’s no f…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN9,967
- 02ENGINE4,861
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3,474
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER3,211
- 05STRUCTURE1,485
The shifter can get stuck in drive when parking, failing to shift into park, which may allow the vehicle to roll. Turbo and wastegate issues are also reported, along with transmission problems that can cause loss of power.
Engine problems include the integrated park module not engaging park properly, and the vehicle losing all power while driving. Some owners report severe shaking and vibration after repairs.
Sudden total power loss while driving, disabling all safety systems including brakes, steering, and airbags. ABS system issues after recall repairs are also common, with loud noises and potential brake failure.
“When I am parking the truck, I press and hold the brake pedal, While the truck shifter in in "Drive", I press the start/stop button to shut truck down, the shifter gets stuck in "drive" and doesn't automatically shift in to park. The truck locks down and will…”
“My truck is a 2025 Ford F150 STX with 5,900 miles on it. This truck was purchased new at River City Ford in Lavalette, WV The component in questions seems to be involved with the turbos and more specifically the wastegate that attached to the turbos. Also, ye…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Lincoln Nautilus — 33 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Edge and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The child seat tether wire welds on the second-row left-side seat back frame may be insufficient, which can reduce the seat's ability to properly restrain a child during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to…
The risk: A child that is not properly restrained during a crash can have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-side second-row seat back frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C09.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The rear shock absorbers may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in damage to the rear brake hose, rear axle half shaft, wheel speed sensor, and/or stabilizer bar end links.
The risk: A damaged brake hose can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear shocks, rear brake hoses, rear wheel speed sensor, and rear half shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer servic…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicl…
The risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model an…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Ranger and 2024 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. When closing the windows with the global closing feature, the windows may not automatically reverse after detecting an object. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor…
The risk: A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the driver door module (DDM) and the passenger door module (PDM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 13, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's nu…
FORD F 150 — 141 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…
The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
The risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Buyer analysis
Lincoln Nautilus or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Nautilus has far fewer complaints per year (26 vs. 2,755), indicating a lower likelihood of encountering a problem. However, the Nautilus's issues, like sudden power loss, are serious. The F-150's high complaint volume suggests more frequent repairs, but both vehicles have critical safety concerns.
Key differences
- The Nautilus has 26 complaints per year vs. the F-150's 2,755, a 100x difference in complaint rate.
- Nautilus owners report sudden power loss and screen blackouts; F-150 owners report unintended acceleration and total power loss while driving.
- The Nautilus has 33 recalls; the F-150 has 141, indicating more widespread known issues.
- F-150 has 10 deaths and 714 injuries reported; Nautilus has 0 deaths and 3 injuries.
- Test the 48-inch screen and electrical system for any flickering or blackouts during a test drive.
- Check for any history of powertrain shutdown or transmission shifting into neutral unexpectedly.
- Verify that the shifter properly engages park when the engine is shut off; test multiple times.
- Check for any signs of sudden power loss or ABS system noise, especially after recall repairs.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls on both models.
- For the Nautilus, test all electrical screens and ensure no intermittent blackouts.
- For the F-150, test the park function by shutting off the engine in drive and ensuring it shifts to park.
- Take both vehicles on a highway test drive to check for stalling, shaking, or power loss.
- Review NHTSA complaint databases for the specific model year you are considering.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Lincoln Nautilus | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 9 |
| 2025 | 20 | 320 |
| 2024 | 19 | 597 |
| 2023 | 6 | 1448 |
| 2022 | 8 | 3290 |
| 2021 | 18 | 4938 |
| 2020 | 32 | 2530 |
| 2019 | 96 | 5718 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Lincoln Nautilus or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln Nautilus vs FORD F 150
- Lincoln Nautilus total complaints
- 206
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 27,553
- Lincoln Nautilus total recalls
- 33
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 141
- Lincoln Nautilus avg complaints/year
- 25.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 2755.3
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln Nautilus
- Lincoln Nautilus top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN