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Lincoln NavigatorYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,362 NHTSA owner complaints across 31 model years, the Lincoln Navigator years to avoid are 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003, and the strongest years are 2002, 2008, 2016 and 2017. The Navigator has 69 safety recalls on record.

Lincoln Navigator
Years to avoid'98 '99 '00 '03Use caution: 2001, 2004, 2019Best years'02 '08 '16 '17Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,362Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls691997–2027 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Lincoln Navigator years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Navigator median. Tap a year for its full report.

'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2027Too new–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2026Too new–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2025Too new–/10014 complaints · 7 recalls2024Not rated–/10016 complaints · 7 recalls2023Not rated–/1007 complaints · 8 recalls2022Not rated–/10021 complaints · 14 recalls2021Solid51/10035 complaints · 12 recalls2020Solid53/10032 complaints · 13 recalls2019Caution31/10086 complaints · 10 recalls2018Solid50/10052 complaints · 12 recalls2017Solid60/10032 complaints · 5 recalls2016Best71/10025 complaints · 4 recalls2015Not rated–/10021 complaints · 4 recalls2014Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls2013Not rated–/10014 complaints · 0 recalls2012Not rated–/10012 complaints · 3 recalls2011Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls2010Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls2009Not rated–/10010 complaints · 1 recall2008Solid64/10030 complaints · 2 recalls2007Solid52/10045 complaints · 2 recalls2006Solid44/10060 complaints · 3 recalls2005Solid50/10048 complaints · 0 recalls2004Caution38/10086 complaints · 0 recalls2003Avoid29/100127 complaints · 0 recalls2002Solid54/10032 complaints · 1 recall2001Caution35/10081 complaints · 3 recalls2000Avoid28/100109 complaints · 4 recalls1999Avoid27/100132 complaints · 5 recalls1998Avoid18/100192 complaints · 5 recalls1997Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Lincoln Navigator problems

All model years combined: 1,362 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system19944
Power train17917
Suspension16114
Tires1598
Engine and engine cooling9722
Vehicle speed control9536
Engine8812
Structure8314
Air bags8044
27 other systems57283
69 recalls

Lincoln Navigator recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Front assembly: power adjust26V-691 · 2025–2027 · Oct 20, 2026 · 36,994 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission26V-402 · 2018–2021 · Jun 24, 2026 · 741,195 vehicles45%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel26V-372 · 2019 · Jun 9, 2026 · 2,349 vehicles–Seat belts: pretensioner26V-344 · 2018–2022 · May 27, 2026 · 419,967 vehicles16%Windshield wiper/washer: linkages26V-204 · 2021–2023 · Mar 31, 2026 · 422,613 vehicles57%Back over prevention: software26V-165 · 2022–2025 · Mar 18, 2026 · 254,640 vehicles79%Front assembly: power adjust26V-120 · 2026 · Mar 3, 2026 · 1,189 vehicles84%Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control26V-104 · 2022–2027 · Feb 20, 2026 · 4,381,878 vehicles56%Electric: control module25V-823 · 2025 · Dec 1, 2025 · 679 vehicles73%Exterior lighting25V-831 · 2025 · Dec 1, 2025 · 1,195 vehicles57%Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly25V-729 · 2021–2022 · Oct 24, 2025 · 174,853 vehicles52%Engine25V-628 · 2020 · Sep 19, 2025 · 4,632 vehiclesPark outside

Showing the 12 newest of 69 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

11 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Navigator

  1. Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent DeploymentRQ24015 · 2018 · closed Jul 23, 2025
    Led to recall 25V-197
  2. Seat Belt Pretensioner Inadvertent DeploymentPE23021 · 2019 · closed Jul 29, 2024
    Led to recall 24V-099
  3. Unexpected Transmission DownshiftRQ17010 · 2011–2013 · closed Oct 22, 2019
    Led to recall 19V-075
  4. TIRE VALVE CRACKINGPE08060 · 2008 · closed Apr 9, 2009
    No recall
  5. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · 1997–2004 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  6. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · 1998–2002 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    Led to recall 05V-388
  7. FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYEA05004 · 2001 · closed Jul 6, 2005
    No recall
  8. SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIREPE04078 · 2000 · closed Mar 22, 2005
    Led to recall 05V-017
  9. FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYRQ04011 · 2001 · closed Feb 17, 2005
    No recall
  10. FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING HITCH SEPARATIOPE99060 · 1997–1999 · closed Mar 8, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-073