46 of the
307 complaints filed about the Lincoln Nautilus
are about the electrical system —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was driving abnormally rough and sluggish. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failed telematic control unit. The contact was informed that the telematics control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that there were no available appointments for the next three months. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
NHTSA complaint #11747481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel became inoperable. The contact stated that the instrument cluster intermittently blinked and flickered. The "Adaptive Steering Fault" warning message was displayed, and the steering wheel became misaligned. Additionally, while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power, and the powertrain warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to several dealers, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #11742975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle died in parking lot. The electronics all worked, it just would not start and would not go into any gear. Had to have it towed to dealer for repair. They replaced the PCM but it still would not start. They again replaced the PCM and a fuse. The vehicle started. This is the FOURTH time for the exact same issue. It died twice on the previous owner, once while on the highway. It also died twice for the mechanic while trying to diagnose / test drive the unit for the previous owner. We were lucky it died where it could be towed as it's an all wheel drive unit. It has also had an O2 sensor replaced, and the previous owner suffered wiring issues (replaced the engine bay body harness), sunshade recoil failed, abnormal noise in rear end when turning, etc. All issues were corrected. However, I am uncomfortable that these issues may re-occur. Another failure of the PCM and/or electrical issue could cause the unit to die in a situation that could be life threatening.
NHTSA complaint #11733835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. While the vehicle was parked, the rear hatch unexpectedly opened and struck a building, causing the taillight to crack and leaving scratches and a crack on the bumper. Additionally, the contact stated that the gear shifter failed to shift to drive or reverse while attempting to drive into a driveway. The vehicle was turned off and restarted five times before it operated as intended. On another occasion, the Forward Collision Avoidance warning lights started flashing erroneously. The contact stated that shortly after purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle lost motive power, with an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle shut off. The radio occasionally activated, and the lights would turn on while the vehicle was turned off and unoccupied. The contact also stated that the front windshield and the rear glass had developed large cracks without impact, and that the panoramic sunroof often opened independently while driving at highway speeds. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer and was deemed to be in good operating condition. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,596.
NHTSA complaint #11733300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V953000 (VISIBILITY), 25V337000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT), 26V165000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) and 25V691000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repairs; however, the dealer was unable to complete the APIM recall repair successfully. The contact stated that the vehicle remained with the dealer for approximately 7 weeks. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and advised the contact that the dealer was making every effort to resolve the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11731869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
3rd brake light not working , they have had this issue over several years such as recall on 2025 (25C39) burnt diode in the LED Driver Modules and may cause other lighting failures
NHTSA complaint #11731491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ongoing Electrical Failures (2024 Lincoln Nautilus) This vehicle has experienced repeated and unresolved electrical system failures despite being brought in for service at least seven times. The issues remain ongoing and impact both safety and reliability: 1. Rear driver-side window defect – window reverses and will not remain closed, creating a safety and security concern. Multiple repair attempts have failed to resolve the issue. 2. False reverse braking alerts – system triggers warnings (“Reverse Brake Assist not available”) and audible alarms when no obstacles are present, creating a potential safety hazard. 3. Intermittent display failure – panoramic display screen goes black while driving, reducing driver awareness and functionality. 4. Rear hatch malfunction – requires repeated attempts to open; previously attributed to battery drain, but not permanently resolved. 5. Lighting system failure – exterior and interior approach lighting no longer activates with key fobs, indicating continued electrical system malfunction. 6. Forward Collision Warning – alarms go off when no oncoming vehicles are present. 7. Lane Departure Warning – goes into action when not leaving lanes causing vehicle to correct itself. Despite numerous repair attempts, these defects persist, indicating a systemic electrical issue. In my opinion, this raises serious concerns regarding vehicle safety, reliability, and manufacturer accountability. A permanent resolution has not been provided by Lincoln customer client care and denied Lincoln buy back.
NHTSA complaint #11729214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Good afternoon, I am an owner of a 2002 Lincoln Nautilus. I wanted to report an electrical/battery issue with the vehicle that started a year and a half ago. In the past year and a half I have had 2 battery replacements with the most recent one being changed end of December of 2025 and in early March the battery went again so it's not even 3 months that it lasted. The battery completely dies and each time I have to jump start it in order to have a vehicle to work or take my kids places. As a single mom I do not want to put my safety or my kids safety at risk if I get stranded somewhere at night time with no means of getting it jump started. Upon reading some reviews online, I have noticed a lot of Lincoln owners especially the years of 2022-2023 have complained and reported the same issues with dealerships just changing out their batteries and not looking for the deep problem. I have dropped off the car at the dealership and they do not what's causing the issue. My car warranty has 300 miles left and they told me after my bumper to bumper expires there is not much they can do to cover it. I was wondering if this was ever reported or has there been previous recalls on it. Thank you very much for your time.
NHTSA complaint #11725508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a serious vehicle safety concern involving my company-leased 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label. The vehicle was damaged while in the custody of the dealership (Tasca Lincoln). The damage was not minor cosmetic damage and involved replacement of a door assembly. The dealership returned the vehicle to me after repair in approximately two (2) days, but I was provided no safety documentation at all, including no written proof of what parts were installed, no proof whether the replacement door was new or used, and no documentation confirming that the vehicle was restored to factory safety standards. This vehicle contains advanced safety systems integrated into the doors and surrounding structure, including side airbags, crash sensors, wiring harnesses, blind spot monitoring, and other electronic safety systems. I requested documentation confirming that these safety systems were properly inspected, calibrated, and functioning correctly after the repair, but I was provided nothing. Because the repair involved a major door replacement and the vehicle was returned in only two days with no verification of airbag, sensor, or safety system calibration, I do not believe the vehicle is safe to operate. I have not been driving the vehicle due to fear that the airbags or crash detection systems may not function properly in an accident. I contacted both the dealership and Ford/Lincoln corporate customer service seeking assistance and safety verification, but neither provided help or documentation, and I have been unable to obtain any proof that the vehicle’s safety systems were properly inspected or calibrated after the repair. Ford Lincoln Corporate had no knowledge of this, until I spoke to them. They denied my claim. This is a company lease vehicle, which creates additional safety and liability concerns. I am requesting NHTSA investigate the repair and the dealership’s failure to provide documentation confirming the vehicle is safe after structural repair.
NHTSA complaint #11718455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MILEAGE: 487,615 27TAWD On [XXX] at [XXX]., the weather was wet from rain. I pushed the reverse button and the car accelerated quickly forward with engine revving. The car kept moving forward while the brake pedal was not responsive for at least 10 times as the car drove through my fence and damaged my neighbor’s garage. The car finally stopped when it hit the garage. Estimate for repairs on vehicle $1485.25. Estimate for damage to wooden fence $2560, neighbor's garage $8000. Engine code scan report on Oct 10, 2025 engine code U3003-16 Battery Voltage Below Threshold. EEC test at dealer on Oct 14, 2025: "no codes in any systems..." Vehicle damage noted. No indicated warning lamps INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11710373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, the entire dashboard and instrument cluster intermittently go completely blank, disabling visibility of speed, gear position, warning lights, turn signals, and other critical information. The failure occurs suddenly and without warning. The cluster then goes through multiple reboot cycles, sometimes several times in a row. In many cases, normal operation does not return until the vehicle is fully shut off and restarted. This creates a serious safety risk, especially at highway speeds or at night. The issue first occurred around 71,000 miles (Oct 2024) and has recurred multiple times. The most recent incident occurred on Oct 31, 2025 at approximately 84,200 miles. The vehicle has been to a Lincoln dealership in Raleigh, NC for four repair attempts (Dec 2024–Oct 2025). Multiple electrical modules have been replaced (battery, fuse junction box, trunk module, telematics module, keyless entry keypad), and Lincoln engineers were consulted, but the defect remains unresolved. No diagnostic trouble codes were stored during the most recent failure. The vehicle is currently covered under a Lincoln ESP PremiumCARE warranty through 2030, and the defect remains intermittent and unresolved.
NHTSA complaint #11700996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side air bag unexpectedly deployed, and the blind spot and cross-traffic system fault messages were displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to be restarted, and no medical attention was required. The contact’s spouse’s arm was struck by the air bag, and the contact stated that both occupants were shaken up by the failure. The contact stated that following the failure, the windows, heating system, and radio became inoperable. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11699939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I know there is a bulletin out from Ford about the PCM , where it says recall on the bottom, yet unannounce. This mimics the issues with the torque converter, the ones that I have in my 2019 lincoln nautilus. About two months ago, I felt a kick. where It thought I had been hit by another car, it was so hard. From that point on, the smoothness of the transmission below 35 miles/hr, was jerky and hesitant, kicking and not accelerating properly. The dealer said that it was the torque converter and that it was very bad. The car is too new to have these types of catastrophic issues. It was $9000 to resolve the issue according to the dealer. I had to go somewhere else. Also the screen has problems where it turns blue, and stops working, where the music playing will also stop and you cannot skip to another song. A hard reboot is the solution, but on a daily basis? I know that other models, the Aviator and Corsair, have the same issues. I have the same problem. When contacting Lincoln dealer for the same issue, they state there is no recall. I really like the Lincoln but there seem to be quite a few problems. Will these be placed in a recall list? The fixes so far have been really expensive.
NHTSA complaint #11679985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering and losing motive power. The contact stated that the message "Engine Overheating" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the 12-Volt battery and the EGR system had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V378000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #11661466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Since 2023 there has been an ongoing issue with my vehicle. When Im in public parking lots and I am accessing the trunk. I’ve witnessed my trunk literally shutting down or closing as Im accessing the trunk. Ive recorded this safety concern and Ive reported it to the dealership and manufacturer. The last time this serious issue occurred was last Friday, May 9, 2025. I was loading the trunk with my purchases as the trunk began closing. Whatever is causing this to occur. Ive noticed that the safety feature that signals the trunk to stop closing when it detects an object in the way becomes disabled. The trunk does not stop closing when Im underneath it. Ive witnessed my trunk sporadically closing at least four to five times on Friday. I was able to record one time that it closed as I said it kept happening sporadically. On the same day, I called the dealership and left a message with one of the contact people. As of today, May 13, 2025. I haven’t not gotten a response. This is a safety and security issue that needs to not only be addressed but resolved. And I am not getting help with either of the two.
NHTSA complaint #11660662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased my vehicle in October 2024, and on Jan 2025 I begin experiencing jerking, misfiring, car not accelerating and unable to reverse. I reached out to multiple car dealers and they were unable to diagnose the problem. Today, January 21st I took my vehicle of less than a year to Ourisman Lincoln and was informed I needed to replace my 2019 Lincoln Transmission. This is devastating, as I’m unable to afford 9K dollar repair on a vehicle with only 59K miles.
NHTSA complaint #11655934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When vehicle is started, intermittently, rear view camera does not come on for approximately 45-60 seconds later. The screen remains completely black then appears to reboot The camera issue happens about once every two weeks
NHTSA complaint #11649750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I bought the 2021Lincoln Nautilus in Aug 2024 with only 54000miles. I was leaving the dealership and driving home with my suv & noticed that the suv was slightly trembling. Since then, I realized that my vehicle would tremble once I put gas in it, and this would happen at any gas station. Secondly, once I pump my gas, the truck does not cut on at first. I have to attempt cranking it two times before I can leave the premise. I’ve realized that my truck burns fuel quickly as well. Thirdly, my 2021 Lincoln Nautilus will hesitate and jerk when I accelerate leaving from traffic lights. This also happens when I leave my driveway in the mornings. Fourth, the display has frozen quite a few times, and it began the second week of me having my vehicle. Even if I cut the truck off, wait, then on, the display may not go off, or it would glitch and freeze before working properly; this also happens in the mist of me driving; this has happened since Sept 2024. Fourth, the connect to my radio will glitch horribly that it has connected and disconnected my phone approximately 8xs in a 30 min span/drive; this occurred the end of November. My check engine light came on in October, and I took it to Autozone immediately, especially since I had been having problems with the truck since I bought it. The results read “small leak in emission evaporative system.” I scheduled an appointment with my dealerships that is located in Savannah, TN. Although I have a powertrain warranty, they informed me that if it was related to internal problems, then warranty could be used, but I would have to pay for the diagnostic exam which was $250. Although I told them about the transmission possibly slicking, the small leak in the fuel tank, and my display blacking out before my appt, they informed me that they charged per complaint. Therefore, after 3 hrs of being there, they only could inform me that my purge valve wasn’t closing, and they would check the engine and put on the $611 valve at my next appt.
NHTSA complaint #11634165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There have been consistent issues with the car due to the electrical system. The car has purchased 3/24/23 as used. The car has been in for maintenance and repairs 5 times since June 6, 2024 at the cost of $3,744.88. The car has cut off while driving. One time it happened on a a major thoroughfare at rush hour. The engine light came on. When the car stopped, it wouldn’t restart. It was towed to Lithia Springs Ford. The fuel pump and driver module was replaced for $1,706.10 on 7/12/24. On 8/21/24, all the lights came on the dashboard. The car was diagnosed and the GSM was replaced as well as the repair connector C219, Power Relay at the cost of $967.83. 9/9/24, the check engine light came on and the car was diagnosed and the purge value assembly and was replaced at the cost of $543.67. Presently, the car is in for repair again for replacement of the fuse panel, with the estimated cost of between $700-$800.
NHTSA complaint #11615436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rear hatch does not open. You can not manually open it from outside or inside. My wife had a flat on the highway and could not change her tire as she could not access it. The hatch as failed on the button on the dash, the remote key fob and the foot opener under bumper. This is so dangerous for safety to exit the car from inside and well as getting to spare tire.
NHTSA complaint #11607491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.