Lincoln Nautilus Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Lincoln Nautilus options? We analyzed 8 model years (2019–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Lincoln Nautilus has 232 owner complaints and 33 safety recalls across model years 2019–2026. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2023 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Lincoln
- Model
- Nautilus
- Model years analyzed
- 2019–2026 (8 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 232
- Safety recall campaigns
- 33
- Crash-related complaints
- 11
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (102 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2023 (7 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Lincoln Nautilus: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe LINCOLN NAUTILUS has 232 NHTSA complaints and 33 recalls on record. 11 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 232 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 33 federal recall campaigns
- 11 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
33 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE TETHER ANCHOR
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2019–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 232 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
232 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Both of the front doors have developed loud popping noises while opening and closing. A temporary fix was done by Lincoln on the passenger front door (at my expense) and the driver door is not having the same issue. Vehicle not under warranty now, so cost to me will be >$4000. Based on discussions with Lincoln body shop personnel and web search, this is a problem that has occurred with other Ford Vehicles, particularly the Escape. IF not fixed, web says internal spot welds on the door check bracket can break, causing a loud popping noise when the door opens, potential window track damage, or the door check separating from the door frame. So the door could fall off in extreme cases..... Body shop personnel say (anonymously) they're seeing lots of Lincoln Nautilus with this issue.
Both front doors were replaced under warranty, as the point where the hinge stop attached to the doors, was making a loud cracking sound. The dealer found that the internal metal of the doors was seperating. Our car was fixed at 48,000 miles, but in online forums, there are many people reporting this, and either have more than 50,000 miles or the dealers are saying it's not covered. Also now that we have our doors replaced, I'm skeptical that the paint will not last as long as the factory applied paint.
Unsure which individual or multiple system components failing. All occurred within 5 miles of home. Driving to destination noted that vehicle was acting or responding weird but did not show signs of any failure reported to daughter while speaking to her on the hands free system in vehicle but did not really pay much attention to what was happening because it did not affect the driving at that time. Approx. 1hr later left destination to head home and vehicle decided it had a mind of its own and would not respond to most physical commands ie, braking, slowing down, etc. and was actually increasing in speed. attempted to change the vehicle shifter to park, push the engine on / off button, depress brakes but no response to any of the commands. At this point so not to hurt anyone else drove into a fenced field and back out eventually hitting a tree head on. Prior to this occurring there was reporting to dealership of hard shifting but nothing else and dealership wrote off to the adaptive learning of the transmission. Vehicle was inspected by the Lincoln rep with assistance from the dealership / svc dept. and was deemed nothing was found to be wrong with car per the data box of vehicle, BUT the dealership noted in the finding in emails that the black box was only scanned for the day the Lincoln rep was at vehicle NOT the day the vehicle was in accident. as noted above the vehicle did appear o not be responding correctly driving the destination that day but it was minor not something that would have caused concern at that time BUT again on the way back home is when the incident occurred and was on phone at that time panicking on what to do hence ended up driving off road and ending up stopping due running into the tree.
The driver’s side front door inner sheet metal housing has suffered a severe structural failure where the door check-arm brackets mount to the vehicle frame. Under completely normal vehicle operation, the thin-gauge metal has cracked, buckled, and completely torn away from the inner door assembly. This creates an immediate safety hazard as the door can no longer be safely controlled, dampening its swing. A certified independent collision center evaluated the damage and officially recommended a total door shell replacement, explicitly warning that localized spot-weld patching is structurally insufficient to restore safety due to metal fatigue. Lincoln Client Services was formally contacted regarding this defect but refused assistance or goodwill coverage, citing a minor calendar expiration of the factory warranty. If left unaddressed by the manufacturer, this stamping defect risks the door catching wind, overextending, or failing to latch and secure properly while the vehicle is in motion, presenting a direct risk to occupants and nearby traffic.
Drivers side door hinge has completely broken away from interior side panel. This is a know manufacturing defect due to the weight of the door on this vehicle. We called dealership on 5/4/2026 after discovering issue, spoke with the service manager who advised us to bring vehicle to the dealership. On 5/5/2026 the vehicle was brought to Tasca Collision Center a service team member took extensive pictures of damage, stated how the repair would go forth which has since not happened. Tasca and Lincoln have refused to make repair stating that the vehicle was out of warranty effective 5/4/2026. This is also a safety issue in the advent of a side crash.
Spot welds in both front doors are failing. How would these cars do in a side impact with failing spot welds? The drivers door has approximately a 4" tear/crack around the broken spot welds.
Read 14 more owner reports
Lincoln Nautilus door hinge and check strap area of the driver's door has a significant crack which could lead to door failure in the event of a crash. Manufacture has issued a CSP (Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56. Year models 2022-2024. Mine is a 2022 but the VIN does not fall in the range of known defects. Mfg. refused repair based on the VIN, but all other criteria have been met. Dealer acknowledges the defect.
The sheet metal around both front door hinges are cracking. Just as the Ford Escape did.
Good afternoon, I am an owner of a 2002 Lincoln Nautilus. I wanted to report an electrical/battery issue with the vehicle that started a year and a half ago. In the past year and a half I have had 2 battery replacements with the most recent one being changed end of December of 2025 and in early March the battery went again so it's not even 3 months that it lasted. The battery completely dies and each time I have to jump start it in order to have a vehicle to work or take my kids places. As a single mom I do not want to put my safety or my kids safety at risk if I get stranded somewhere at night time with no means of getting it jump started. Upon reading some reviews online, I have noticed a lot of Lincoln owners especially the years of 2022-2023 have complained and reported the same issues with dealerships just changing out their batteries and not looking for the deep problem. I have dropped off the car at the dealership and they do not what's causing the issue. My car warranty has 300 miles left and they told me after my bumper to bumper expires there is not much they can do to cover it. I was wondering if this was ever reported or has there been previous recalls on it. Thank you very much for your time.
The transmission jerks at low speeds between 10mph-60mph. Has been duplicated at Lincoln dealership. A torque converter was replaced , but did not correct problem. I know that there is a class action suit for this problem for 2019-2021 it needs to add the 2022 suv also. Lincoln paid for parts , I paid labor . Total repair was 2200$
The contact owns a 2022 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while another person was driving approximately 15-50 MPH, the vehicle sputtered and jerked. The vehicle was driven to the workplace, and the contact attempted to test-drive the vehicle. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive, there was delay while responding, with a clunking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into gear the following day. The contact stated that upon shifting to reverse, the vehicle jerked forward, and upon shifting to park(P), there was a delay before the vehicle responded. There was a delay after shifting out of park(P). There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where several internal diagnostic trouble codes were found. The dealer determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided because the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 149,200.
There is a class action lawsuit for the 2019-2021 Nautilus with the 8F35 transmission, which is the same transmission that my 2022 Nautilus has. Ford has also issued multiple technical service bulletins (25-2154, 21-2389) regarding the 8F35 transmission. My transmission has had a catastrophic failure and began slipping out of gear while driving on the highway. The vehicle lost power several times while driving. The wrench light came on. I was able to make it to the dealership where they are quoting me for a total replacement of the transmission. One week prior, I brought the vehicle in to reprogram the PCM due to a recall alert I got from the Lincoln app. I was experiencing jerking and shuddering prior to the PCM reprogram, then within days of the reprogramming, the transmission completely failed.
Submitted by: [XXX] Dealership: Joe Rizza Ford of Orland Park Vehicle: 2021 Lincoln Nautilus VIN: [XXX] Date: 04/04/25 Overview: Vehicle VIN [XXX] has shown persistent signs of remote system manipulation, unauthorized firmware behavior, and OTA event spoofing. These symptoms have manifested in repeated diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) across key modules, backdated OTA logging activity, and anomalous file sizes inconsistent with Ford’s documented OTA campaigns. Additionally, the vehicle owner has experienced personal harm attributed to the manipulation: numbness in the back, significant financial and mental distress, and deterioration in relationships with family members, which all correlate with the suspected interference and systemic issues. Key Findings: RFA (Remote Function Actuator) Module Behavior: Repeated DTCs across antennas #2, #3, #4, #6, #8, #11, and #12. Frequent B1B59:87 (BLE Low Energy Module fault) — indicates repeated Bluetooth stack failure or interference. U200F:00 Control Module Output Power C faults consistently recorded. GWM (Gateway Module A) and TCU (Telematics Control Unit) Logs: Software package inconsistencies including large firmware blocks (176 MB to 764 MB). Mismatched "Current Software" vs. "Available Software" versions. Cloud/server-pushed updates logged without dealership-initiated campaign. Confirmed campaign expired for firmware block logged on January 27, 2025, raising further questions on the legitimacy of update triggers. OTAM (Over-The-Air Manager) Log Red Flags: Entries showing timestamps such as January 3, 2000 and January 1, 2018. Consent flags spoofed: "sourceOfConsent='User(1)'" Trigger expiration hours preset to "336" (14-day OTA window, commonly used in timed malware execution) Absence of release notes or authorized campaign identifiers. Pattern Confirmation: Activity spikes on: [XXX], [XXX], and [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Rear passenger side seat belt buckle sits so low in the seat that it is almost impossible for some passengers (elderly or children) to buckle it. Lincoln and Ford and everyone else do not make a seat belt extender that fits it.
During an emergency break, when applying full force to the break, and the vehicle is traveling at 20 or less mph, the vehicle cannot come to a full stop. Automatic Emergency Braking and pre-collision warning failed to engage. When pressing the break with full force, loud noise of all the break pads grinding can be heard. Under the same condition, pre-collision warning would sometimes be activated and sometimes doesn't. When using the car's auto parking feature, multiple sensors would have delayed warnings, and the car will not break when getting dangerously close to objects. The vehicle has been examed multiple times by the dealer regarding increased break distance and occasion grinding noise when breaking (regardless of the speed), no problem was found and the vehicle is therefore determined to be safe to drive.
When vehicle is started, intermittently, rear view camera does not come on for approximately 45-60 seconds later. The screen remains completely black then appears to reboot The camera issue happens about once every two weeks
The backup camera freezes to a single still frame and does not show the accurate view of the rear of the vehicle while backing. Since the camera is frozen to a still frame, any moving object that moves to the rear of the backing vehicle would not be visible in the image that the driver sees on screen. This is extremely dangerous in parking lots where both pedestrian and vehicle traffic are present. This vehicle's rear back up camera can not be trusted in the mall or school parking lot. The entire infotainment screen, where many of the safety features can be found, also goes blank with a black or blue screen. This has been to the Lincoln dealership multiple time and no fix has been found. This is a KNOWN DANGER that has not been addressed and now in the NHTSA hands.
when connected to apple carPlay GPS is very unreliable and sometimes it stops following the car in seconds sending changing directions in seconds which sometimes if am not careful makes my driving very unsafe when traveling to an address i dont know since the GPS not working properly with the car SYNc4.0 infotainment system.
Purchased vehicle 7/29/23 While driving 8/19, vehicle auto-shifted from drive into neutral and the check engine light appeared. I was in the process of accelerating from the on ramp & moving to the left lane. Attempts to return the vehicle to drive were unsuccessful & I coasted to the right shoulder of the highway. The brakes were functional. Once stopped, the vehicle functioned as if it were in accessory mode (radio & power windows working). I was unable to move the vehicle out of neutral to park gear. More lights & error messages flashed on the driver display (I have a video). The on/off button & the light at the neutral gear were flashing. I was able to engage the parking brake & remained in the vehicle on the narrow shoulder on the side of the highway. Tow operator arrived & was able to engage the park gear; however, it would not move back into neutral for him to begin the process to move it onto the rollback for the tow. Attempts were made to disconnect/reconnect the battery & to use the vehicle procedures for a low battery which were unsuccessful. There is an emergency release up under the dash; however, to reach the compartment it's in, the driver's door must be completely open & the operator must be on or near the ground. Due to the speed of the vehicles passing (est 60-70mph, most did not move over to the other lane), it was not safe for him to get into the position necessary to get to the compartment. He therefore had to pull the vehicle up on the rollback without being able to get the vehicle into neutral. At times during his attempts, the engine made a clicking noise and smelled as if something was burning. Fortunately, he was able to deliver it to the dealer where service staff were able to release the emergency cord to move the vehicle to neutral to get it off the rollback. As it was being moved, the engine started clicking again. The dealer's service team plans to look at it 8/21/23.
My 2023 Nautilus is currently at the dealership I purchased from.Shults Lincoln. Steering column, tilt and telescopic adjustments. While driving vehicle the tilt and telescopic moves on its on. This has happened mulitudes of times. The most danderous event occured while my wife was driving and the telescopic feature pinned my wife in the seat. She had no control of steering the vehicle when the this happened. She was in a S turn and it could of been a bad accident, thank God there was no oncoming traffic. She had no control of steering when it telescoped all the way out. She came ever so close of rolling the vehicle. Yesterday 8/16/2023 it happened at the dealership with the salesman and service manager driving the vehicle. This was at the dealership where I purchsed. On 8/14/23 it had a new top steering column cover replaced at Family Ford/Lincoln dealership. They are in Marietta Ohio. I purchased at Shults Lincoln in Wexford PA.. There is no warning lights or caution before this steering column moves on its own. This has been going on sine July 20, 2023. Within the last week the battery has drained completely on 3 different times. 1500 miles registered and I had to jump start the vehicle. Shults Lincoln picked up the vehicle yesterday. This problem is going to get someone seriouly hurt. Its happened well over a dozen times. Its done it twice in one drive.
Showing 20 of 232 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Lincoln Nautilus
These pages show model-year patterns across 8 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Lincoln Nautilus, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Lincoln Nautilus has 232 complaints on record across 8 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Lincoln Nautilus has 33 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 11 of the Lincoln Nautilus's 232 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Lincoln Nautilus vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Lincoln Nautilus vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Lincoln Nautilus has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Lincoln Nautilus.
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Lincoln Nautilus reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Lincoln Nautilus reliable?
Poor. The Lincoln Nautilus has 232 NHTSA owner complaints and 33 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Lincoln Nautilus years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (102 complaints), 2020 (33 complaints), 2021 (23 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Lincoln Nautilus problems?
Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (58 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (45 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (42 complaints).
Does the Lincoln Nautilus have recalls?
Yes — 33 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Lincoln Nautilus. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.