FaultScore

FaultScore report

2009 Lincoln Navigator problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2009 Lincoln Navigator with NHTSA between 2010 and 2021. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 17 of 27 worst.

C

FaultScore 47/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Lincoln Navigator.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

66,057 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

38%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 8 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 64 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 8
Against the median year of the Lincoln Navigator. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 64
38% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2009 compares with every other Lincoln Navigator

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2009 Lincoln Navigator

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 3 30.0%

Median failure at 93,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 3 30.0%

Median failure at 56,750 miles

Other & Unspecified 2 20.0%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

Tires 1 10.0%

Median failure at 24,000 miles

Brakes 1 10.0%

Median failure at 31,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 25.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 12.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 12.5%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 4 50.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Sep 2010 peak 3 Apr 2021

Recalls on the 2009 Lincoln Navigator

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 2009196 89 units in Canada

Lights And Instruments

On certain vehicles, the brake lamp switch may have been incorrectly installed during vehicle assembly. This may cause a delay in brake stop lamp illumination when the brake pedal is depressed. In situations of light brake pedal application, the stop lamps may not illuminate. Failure of the brake lamps to illuminate when the brakes are applied may result in the following road users being unaware of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury or death. Correction: Dealers will remove the brake lamp switch and re-install it correctly.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 23,000 miles Austin, TX 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

WHILE UNLOADING THE BACK OF MY TRUCK, I WAS BURNED BY THE TAIL PIPE THAT PROTRUDES FROM THE BACK RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THE BURN IS A 1/2 ROUND SHAPE ON MY RIGHT LEG. TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND LINCOLN DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IS HOW IT WAS DESIGNED FOR MY MODEL YEAR AND NO FIX WAS AVAILABLE. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO LINCOLN BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM AS OF THIS WRITING.

NHTSA complaint #10410348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newcastle, WA 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MY SON,[XXX], GOT A SECOND DEGREE (I'M A PHYSICIAN) BURN ON HIS RIGHT LATERAL CALF BY THE TAIL PIPE WHEN HE WAS STANDING AT THE BACK END OF OUR 09 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SUV. THE TAIL PIPE IS POINTS BACKWARDS AND, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T PROTRUDE, IT IS JUST FLUSH WITH THE REAR BUMPER, THUS WHEN HE WAS LEANING IN TO GRAB HIS TENNIS GEAR HIS RIGHT CALF TOUCHED THE TAIL PIPE. HE NOW HAS A "CRESCENT MOON" SHAPED BURN WOUND WITH SOME BLISTERING ON HIS RIGHT CALF THAT WE ARE WORKING TO PREVENT FROM GETTING INFECTED. THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THERE'S NO PLASTIC CAP OR A SHORTER TAIL PIPE THAT THEY CAN INSTALL TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10356064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Foley, AL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DOES NOT GIVE ME ANY INFO ON ANY VIN NUMBER IS PUT IN. GET THE 4 COLORED BLOCKS CIRCLING AND THEN STATES LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS VEHICLE? NHTSA OFFERS MORE SAFETY INFORMATION BASED ON A VEHICLE'S YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. CHECK SAFETY RATINGS, RECOMMENDED TECHNOLOGIES AND OTHER SAFETY ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #11414250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN BRAKING WHILE MOVING (AT ANY SPEED), THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGINS BRAKING AT ITS NORMAL PRESSURE POINT AND THEN SINKS TO THE FLOOR WITH REDUCED BRAKING EFFECT. SUNNYVALE LINCOLN HAS CHECKED THE WHOLE SYSTEM FOR LEAKS AND BLED SOME VERY TINY AIR BUBBLES OUT OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER ABOUT FOUR DAYS. THEY REPLACED THE HCU LINES BECAUSE SOME VERY MINOR "WETNESS" WAS FOUND AT THE CONNECTORS AND BLED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AGAIN. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN AFTER ABOUT FOUR DAYS. WE HAVE DONE THREE CYCLES OF THE BLEEDING NOW AND THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY FOR FOUR DAYS. SUNNYVALE LINCOLN IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE NAVIGATOR ONLY HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS PERMANENTLY RESOLVED. THESE SYMPTOMS SOUND VERY SIMILAR TO THE F-150 BRAKE INVESTIGATION. THE NAVIGATOR USES THE F-150 BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10840311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Lynnwood, WA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY GETS STUCK IN PARK AND IS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. I READ SOMETHING ABOUT THE BREAK SWITCH RECALL BUT AFTER CALLING FORD THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS VIN SPECIFIC AND MY VEHICLE WASN'T A PART OF IT. MAKES NO SENSE TO ME IF MY VEHICLE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL ENTAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10819366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,000 miles Sylmar, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN AIR CONDITION IS SET BELOW 72, PASSENGER FRONT SIDE IS MAKING LOUD CLICKING NOISE FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE THEN GOES AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10730441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 94,700 miles Sylmar, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. IF ATTEMPTED, WINDOW WILL MAKE CRACKING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10730442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,500 miles Sylmar, CA

ENGINE

WHEN DRIVING FROM UP GRADE AT ABOUT 1200 RPM, THERE IS A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE

NHTSA complaint #10730434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,114 miles SAN Antonio, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HORN FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE HORN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,114.

NHTSA complaint #10487980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,000 miles Austin, TX 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

WHILE UNLOADING THE BACK OF MY TRUCK, I WAS BURNED BY THE TAIL PIPE THAT PROTRUDES FROM THE BACK RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THE BURN IS A 1/2 ROUND SHAPE ON MY RIGHT LEG. TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND LINCOLN DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IS HOW IT WAS DESIGNED FOR MY MODEL YEAR AND NO FIX WAS AVAILABLE. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO LINCOLN BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM AS OF THIS WRITING.

NHTSA complaint #10410348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Racine, WI

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS AN 18 INCH INSTEAD OF 20 INCH LIKE THE OTHER TIRES. THE CONTACT HAD A TIRE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNBALANCED BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE SPARE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

NHTSA complaint #10360453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newcastle, WA 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

MY SON,[XXX], GOT A SECOND DEGREE (I'M A PHYSICIAN) BURN ON HIS RIGHT LATERAL CALF BY THE TAIL PIPE WHEN HE WAS STANDING AT THE BACK END OF OUR 09 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SUV. THE TAIL PIPE IS POINTS BACKWARDS AND, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T PROTRUDE, IT IS JUST FLUSH WITH THE REAR BUMPER, THUS WHEN HE WAS LEANING IN TO GRAB HIS TENNIS GEAR HIS RIGHT CALF TOUCHED THE TAIL PIPE. HE NOW HAS A "CRESCENT MOON" SHAPED BURN WOUND WITH SOME BLISTERING ON HIS RIGHT CALF THAT WE ARE WORKING TO PREVENT FROM GETTING INFECTED. THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THERE'S NO PLASTIC CAP OR A SHORTER TAIL PIPE THAT THEY CAN INSTALL TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10356064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.