Lincoln Navigator Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Lincoln Navigator options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) 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 Navigator has 273 owner complaints and 89 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Lincoln
- Model
- Navigator
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 273
- Safety recall campaigns
- 89
- Crash-related complaints
- 16
- Fire-related complaints
- 8
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (75 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Lincoln Navigator: 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 NAVIGATOR has 273 NHTSA complaints and 89 recalls on record. 16 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 273 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 89 federal recall campaigns
- 16 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: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
89 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:ELECTRIC:CONTROL MODULE
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:ELECTRIC:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. 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 273 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
273 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.
Placing the vehicle in reverse we backed into a concrete piller and none of the safet sensors allerted us to the object.
On May 26, 2024, I entered into a lease agreement for a Lincoln Navigator vehicle manufactured and warranted by Lincoln Motor Company. This vehicle subsequently developed multiple serious and dangerous safety defects, including uncontrolled and spontaneous seat inflation, failure of seat pump systems, infotainment system failure including loss of backup camera and safety display systems, unexpected closure of side mirrors while driving, and continued seat movement and mechanical activation after the vehicle was powered off. These defects presented a direct and substantial risk to occupant safety. On multiple occasions, uncontrolled seat inflation physically restrained and trapped an occupant, including a minor child, by causing the seat structure to expand while the seatbelt locking mechanism engaged, restricting the occupant’s ability to exit the seat. These events occurred while the vehicle was in operation, including while traveling on a public freeway, creating an immediate and dangerous safety hazard. Lincoln Motor Company and Galpin Ford were repeatedly notified of these safety defects. On January 6, 2025, the vehicle was delivered to Galpin Lincoln, an authorized Lincoln Motor Company repair facility, for emergency repair due to these ongoing and escalating safety failures. Lincoln Motor Company retained possession of the vehicle for approximately eighty-three (83) days. During this time, Lincoln Motor Company admitted in writing that critical seat systems and associated pump mechanisms were not functioning as designed. Lincoln Motor Company further admitted that no repair remedy existed for certain infotainment and software-related system failures due to lack of available corrective software or engineering solution. Despite these admissions & despite exceeding statutory repair period thresholds, Lincoln Motor Company failed to repair myriad safety hazards on our Navigator leaving us with an inoperable vehicle.
The contact owns a 2024 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH on several occasions, the transmission independently shifted into neutral(N). The contact stated that during each failure, the drive(D) button was pressed without depressing the brake pedal first. The contact stated that an undisclosed message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on three occasions; however, the dealers were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,700.
The contact owns a 2024 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle abruptly stopped in the middle of the roadway. During the failure, the message "Check Brake System" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate or identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V488000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 23,000.
The vehicle vibrates, specially over 50MPH. Problem reported 3 times to Lincoln. Lincoln claims they know there is an issue with 2024 navigators drivability, but cannot offer a solution at this time.
Tires keep losing balance. From my initial test drive of this new 2024 Lincoln Navigator L, I have noticed a rough ride and vibrations, especially at highway speeds. Initially, 1 tire was identified as not being able to be road force balanced within spec as the cause of the vibration and that tire was replaced. Within a short period of time, the rough ride and vibration issues reoccurred, and the dealership stated that two additional tires were determined as no longer being able to be road force balanced within spec and needed to be replaced. It was then suggested that all 4 OEM Pirelli tires be replaced with a full new set of Michelin tires. Shortly thereafter, the rough ride and vibration issues cropped again and it was determined that all four Michelin tires would no longer road force balance within spec and they were replaced with an all new set of four Michelin tires. Those tires have now been road forced balanced twice more, with tires needing to be rebalanced. Even though the dealership service departments have tried, no underlying suspension issues have been identified as causing all these tires to need rebalancing. I have even taken my vehicle to an independent tire shop to assess if tires are out of balance, and they verified that they were and performed a road force balance on them, however within a matter of weeks the tires needed to be rebalanced again. In total, in the 4 months that I have had this vehicle, it has been at the dealership service department for more than 25% of the time with no determination as to what the underlying cause of why tires need to be rebalanced so frequently, or fail to the point that they no long rebalance and need to be replaced.
Read 14 more owner reports
When driving with the Cruise control Activated, after the brake has been applied or the cruise control cancel button is pressed, the Forward collision warning and Automatic Emergency Braking system doesn't appear to be active. The sensors do not detect a car in front until either Cruise control is re-engaged, or the Cruise Control system is turned of completely. Dealer has verified that this behavior is similar to another car of same model and year. Dealer has inspected and said that it appears to be designed to work that way, but will talk to senior manufactures technical resources.
From the initial test drive, I have felt an unusual vibration felt in both the steering wheel and seat while driving the vehicle. This vibration becomes more pronounced at higher speeds, especially after 70+ MPH, but still noticeable at lower speeds at 45+ MPH. Tires were initially blamed as the underlying cause, and the original tires were completely replaced within the first month of ownership, but the problems continued. Subsequently, at the 2nd month of ownership, the new set of tires were completely replaced again (this is now the 3rd set of tires), and the problem still persists. Dealership tells me that Lincoln engineers are aware of this situation, and that other owners of the 2024 Lincoln Navigators and 2024 Ford Expeditions have complained about this same concerns. Besides the vibration, the ride quality of the vehicle is terrible, and appears to me that the adaptive suspension is not performing as expected. I had a 2022 Lincoln Navigator which did not have any of these issues, and I know how this vehicle should ride and feel, and I know that this particular vehicle is not handling and riding as designed. Vehicle has less than 3000 miles on it and is on its third set of tires, and the underlying issue has not been identified.
I bought new 2024 Lincoln Navigator in March 2025. From day 1, the vehicle rattles and vibrates above 40mph. The vibrations are high pitched and lead to whole car shimmering. I had all four tires and wheels replaced by the dealership. The vibrations are significantly intense when compared to normal road feedback. The vibrations lead to excessive fatigue and tiredness over long distances travel. Lincoln has issued service bulletin and no fix has been found so far.
When driving with automatic brights, occasionally when it automatically switches to dim, the dim lights will shine only about 10 feet in front of the car. When it does this, it shines so bright directly in front of the car, the brights won't come back on. It is also a very harsh demarcation so that it is completely dark beyond 10 feet and to the sides. You can shut the car off and back on and it corrects it. This happened on my way to work in the dark right before I hit standing water in the road under a narrow bridge. It nearly caused me to have an accident. The dealership fixed this issue once and recorded that they replaced some melted wiring and connectors. It is happening again and has been reported to the dealership and to Lincoln Customer Service.
The vehicle has a vibration at interstate speeds 70-85 mph. The dealership has rebalanced the tires that came on the car, installed new tires and road forced balanced, replaced transfer case, rear drive shaft, but different size tires on car, and done another road force balance on the 2nd set of new tires that were put on car. FSE told dealership to give the car back to us and there was noting else they will do even though vibration still remains. Dealership put in it's service notes that the condition still remains, but was told to give customer back the vehicle. We have put less than 700 miles on the car and dealership has put close to 1100 or so miles on it test driving after repairs each time. This vibration could cause bearings, gears, and drive train failure that could result in potential death at highway speeds. Upon investigating this problem I found this to be a issue with the 2024 Lincoln Navigator throughout the US. I have requested Lincoln buy the vehicle back and was told they would not. My case number with the Lincoln customer service is [XXX] . Teresa 888-214-2155 ext.77992 is the representative. I would ask the NHTSA to investigate this problem for us consumers out here. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Drivers side rear quarter panel glass shattered out of no where. Was at a dead stop in 90 degree traffic in florida, heard a loud bang, and window broke. You can see the window flexed out from the break. I think this was a faulty window due breaking out of no where with no impacts.
ANSWERS: 1) VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD CRASHING INTO A GARAGE DOOR AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. 2) CRASHING INTO GARAGE DOOR COULD HAVE CAUSED BODILY INJURY. 3) THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPRODUCED OR CONFIRMED AT THIS TIME. 4) THE VEHICLE/COMPONENT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET. 5) NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR SYMPTOMS. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED [XXX]. 6) THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPED WITH PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WITH AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING THAT DID NOT OPERATE. 7) THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AND I WILL HAVE LINCOLN INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BEFORE DRIVING IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The lane keeping system on the Lincoln Navigator L is very heavily “right handed”and hugs the right line while cruise control is active. The lane centering over corrects and bounces off of the center line and right hand side lanes on two lane highways. This caused me to strike a mailbox and chase $7k worth damage to repair. The dealership and Lincoln customer service has been inattentive to my concerns despite the repeated professional complaints. I believe the radar and sensors are out of collaboration and require techinical support
Back CAMERA sometimes becomes blurry while driving reverse.
The contact owns a 2023 Lincoln Navigator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V165000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
When the car starts the head lights run through a series of motion checks, they go left, right down and then back up. We run into an issue every few weeks where the headlights stay in the down position. This happened with our car and a loaner we received from the dealership. I do have video of the issue. That shows the lights stuck down, when you restart the car the lights run the motion checks and come back up as they should. When the lights stay in the down position they only illuminate about 30' in front of the car.
We buy used 2023 Lincoln Navigator with only 2937 miles and the running boards opens and close by it self and the most dangerous that the car doesn’t start whenever it wants I have 3 times already it just doesn’t start so I don’t know what to do
Upon starting, my 2023 Lincoln Navigator Reserve L has a significant delay when booting the back up camera and infotainment system and renders the vehicle safety systems unusable. Sometimes the back up camera freezes and locks the screen, sometimes it doesn't turn on at all. Often, the infotainment screen doesn't launch at all. I have multiple videos of evidence but this website won't allow me to submit them, only pictures.
The contact rented a 2023 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the electronic systems became inoperable. The backup camera was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called for Roadside Assistance. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 43,200. The VIN was not available.
Showing 20 of 273 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Lincoln Navigator
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 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 Navigator, 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 Navigator has 273 complaints on record across 10 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 Navigator has 89 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. 16 of the Lincoln Navigator's 273 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 Navigator vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Lincoln Navigator 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 Navigator 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
Check a Lincoln Navigator by state
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 Navigator.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Lincoln Navigator reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Lincoln Navigator reliable?
Poor. The Lincoln Navigator has 273 NHTSA owner complaints and 89 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 Navigator years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (75 complaints), 2018 (52 complaints), 2021 (32 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 Navigator problems?
Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (69 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (47 complaints); ENGINE (39 complaints).
Does the Lincoln Navigator have recalls?
Yes — 89 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Lincoln Navigator. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.