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Lincoln Nautilus: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lincoln Nautilus problems by model year, from 178 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2020 (60%, 18 drivetrain complaints) and 2019 (46%, 43 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 2 Lincoln Nautilus years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Lincoln Nautilus year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2019 (46%).
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (43 of 61 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Lincoln Nautilus year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Nautilus | high | 46% | 43 | 102 | 2/2 | 8 |
| 2020 Nautilus | very high | 60% | 18 | 33 | 1/2 | 5 |
| 2021 Nautilus | too few to score | – | 11 | 23 | – | 2 |
| 2022 Nautilus | too few to score | – | 4 | 13 | – | 2 |
| 2023 Nautilus | too few to score | – | 1 | 7 | – | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lincoln Nautilus years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lincoln Nautilus transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Lincoln Nautilus involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2020 | 20V550000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2019–2020 |
| Jan 2021 | 21V011000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2020 |
8 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2018 | 18V806000 | air bags: frontal | 2019 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V031000 | lane departure: lane keep: steering assist | 2019 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V076000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V414000 | seats: front assembly: power adjust | 2019–2020 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V575000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2020 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V442000 | back over prevention: software | 2019–2020 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V372000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V377000 | lane departure: lane keep: steering assist | 2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lincoln Nautilus
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Lincoln Nautilus
What are the worst years for the Lincoln Nautilus?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lincoln Nautilus years are the 2020 (60% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2019 (46% of relevant complaints, high). 2 of 2 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lincoln Nautilus?
No Lincoln Nautilus year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2019 (46%).
Does the Lincoln Nautilus have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 2 scored years, 61 of 123 relevant NHTSA complaints (50%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2019 and 2020.
Is the Lincoln Nautilus reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 2 Lincoln Nautilus years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 50% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Lincoln Nautilus?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lincoln Nautilus years we track, out of 10 in total: 20V550000 (Sep 2020, 2019–2020), 21V011000 (Jan 2021, 2020). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.