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2019 Lincoln Nautilus problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
46%
43 of 93 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

46% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 58% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 42%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 43 of 93 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%), and the largest group is filed under power train (28). For comparison, the 2020 scores 60%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
43
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
102
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
8
2 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29 · 28%
POWER TRAIN28 · 27%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER16 · 16%
ENGINE15 · 15%
STEERING8 · 8%
SEAT BELTS5 · 5%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
no data
2019
46%
43 of 102
2020
60%
18 of 33
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2019

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN08/24/2026
The car has started a jerking motion when it is at a stop sign, stop light, or and nu prolonged stoppage of the vehicle. It is worse when I have the auto-stop-start feature turned on. This started roughly 3 months ago.
POWER TRAIN08/24/2026
My 2019 Lincoln Nautilus (equipped with the 8F35 8-speed automatic transmission) has developed a severe, hazardous low-speed transmission shudder and hesitating vibration, primarily occurring under 35 mph. This vehicle has 85,000 miles on it. A certified dealership has diagnosed the vehicle with a failing torque conver…
ENGINE08/20/2026
There is a class action lawsuit regarding the transmission on my vehicle. The transmission is shuddering. My mechanic alerted me of the lawsuit, Lincoln Mercury has not put out a recall, but is aware of the problem. There are no error codes, tried a reset on the transmission. So it is not a software problem, but mecha…

Three of 43 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus (8)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford Mustang, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. At vehicle start-up, the Instrument Panel Cluster Asse…
LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSIST
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The Lane Center Assist system may not adequately detect if a driver has their hands off th…
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion fra…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus

Questions people ask about the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus

Does the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 43 of 93 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (46%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns on the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Lincoln Nautilus years are better?

The 2019 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Lincoln Nautilus years we track (46%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Lincoln Nautilus has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.