Home › Cars › Lincoln › Navigator
Lincoln Navigator: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lincoln Navigator problems by model year, from 370 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.
Worst years to avoid: 2020 (75%, 21 drivetrain complaints), 2018 (56%, 27 drivetrain complaints) and 2019 (55%, 32 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 6 Lincoln Navigator 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.
Best years on this measure: 2016 (13%) and 2017 (15%). 2016 and 2017 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (15%) to 2018 (56%), up 41 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (32 of 100 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.
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 Navigator year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Navigator | too few to score | – | 4 | 16 | – | 0 |
| 2011 Navigator | too few to score | – | 3 | 9 | – | 0 |
| 2012 Navigator | too few to score | – | 5 | 12 | – | 3 |
| 2013 Navigator | too few to score | – | 8 | 14 | – | 0 |
| 2014 Navigator | too few to score | – | 9 | 17 | – | 0 |
| 2015 Navigator | too few to score | – | 8 | 21 | – | 4 |
| 2016 Navigator | no elevated signal | 13% | 3 | 25 | 6/6 | 4 |
| 2017 Navigator | no elevated signal | 15% | 4 | 31 | 5/6 | 5 |
| 2018 Navigator | high | 56% | 27 | 52 | 2/6 | 12 |
| 2019 Navigator | high | 55% | 32 | 80 | 3/6 | 10 |
| 2020 Navigator | very high | 75% | 21 | 32 | 1/6 | 13 |
| 2021 Navigator | high | 41% | 13 | 33 | 4/6 | 12 |
| 2022 Navigator | too few to score | – | 5 | 21 | – | 14 |
| 2023 Navigator | too few to score | – | 1 | 7 | – | 8 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lincoln Navigator years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lincoln Navigator engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the Lincoln Navigator involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2018 | 18V213000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018 |
| Jun 2018 | 18V392000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018 |
| May 2022 | 22V346000 | engine | 2021 |
| Jul 2025 | 25V455000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2021 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V628000 | engine | 2020 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V402000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2018–2021 |
24 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2018 | 18V058000 | visibility: power window devices and controls | 2018 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V805000 | seats: mid/rear assembly | 2018 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V076000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V773000 | suspension: rear | 2019 |
| May 2020 | 20V262000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2020 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V366000 | seats: mid/rear assembly | 2020 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V805000 | air bags: sensor: side impact | 2021 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V150000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist | 2016–2017 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V250000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2020–2021 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V648000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor | 2016–2017 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V420000 | equipment: other: owners/service/other manual | 2018–2021 |
| Aug 2023 | 23V598000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2021 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V099000 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2018–2020 |
| Nov 2024 | 24V852000 | equipment: other: labels | 2018–2021 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V091000 | visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior | 2016–2017 |
| Apr 2025 | 25V236000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 2017–2018 |
| May 2025 | 25V197000 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2018–2020 |
| May 2025 | 25V346000 | electrical system: body control module: software | 2020 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V442000 | back over prevention: software | 2020–2021 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V572000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2016–2017 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V729000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2021 |
| Mar 2026 | 26V204000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2021 |
| May 2026 | 26V344000 | seat belts: pretensioner | 2018–2021 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V372000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lincoln Navigator
- 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 Navigator
What are the worst years for the Lincoln Navigator?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lincoln Navigator years are the 2020 (75% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2018 (56% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2019 (55% of relevant complaints, high). 4 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lincoln Navigator?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Lincoln Navigator years are the 2016 (13%) and the 2017 (15%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Lincoln Navigator have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 100 of 218 relevant NHTSA complaints (46%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Is the Lincoln Navigator reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 6 Lincoln Navigator years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 46% 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 Navigator?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lincoln Navigator years we track, out of 30 in total: 25V455000 (Jul 2025, 2021), 25V628000 (Sep 2025, 2020), 26V402000 (Jun 2026, 2018–2021), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
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.