188 of the
1,794 complaints filed about the Lincoln Navigator
are about the engine —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
We purchased a 2018 Lincoln Navigator L in 2022 with 29,489 miles, and it has been great. We are at 64,351 miles, and it is making the cold-start rattling noise. We have called Lincoln for assistance, and they are refusing to help. They stated that there is no help. I took it to Duval Ford, and with other issues such as the water pump and leaks, they quoted 12,000 to fix this truck. They did say they had a payment plan to fix the vehicle. When the soft pull was opened in 2022, our truck did not make noise at that time. I believe Ford should stand by their product, and there are so many videos on YouTube addressing this vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11751102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While operating my 2013 Lincoln Navigator under normal driving conditions, a spark plug ejected from the cylinder head, causing immediate and catastrophic engine failure. The engine lost power and began producing severe mechanical noise, creating a potential safety hazard due to sudden loss of propulsion. Inspection by both an independent mechanic and an authorized Ford dealership confirmed that the spark plug ejection allowed debris to enter the combustion chamber, destroying internal engine components. The vehicle was properly maintained and this failure occurred without warning. This issue appears consistent with known problems involving the Ford 5.4L Triton engine design. Ford Motor Company has refused to escalate or investigate the failure despite documentation. Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center P.O. Box 6248 Dearborn, MI 48126 Re: Goodwill Assistance Request & Notice of Latent Defect Vehicle: 2013 Lincoln Navigator – 5.4L Triton V8 VIN: [XXX] Case Number: To Whom It May Concern, I am the original purchaser and continuous owner of a 2013 Lincoln Navigator equipped with the 5.4L Triton engine. For more than three decades I have exclusively owned Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including multiple Lincoln Navigators, Ford Expeditions, and Ford trucks — all purchased new. I also still own a 1991 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT Convertible acquired new in 1992 and a 1999 Ford pickup currently exceeding 350,000 miles. My history reflects long-standing brand loyalty and confidence in Ford durability. This Navigator has been properly maintained throughout its life. Oil changes were performed approximately every 3,000 miles by both independent mechanics and authorized service facilities. The vehicle currently has approximately 140,000 miles and remains in exceptional cosmetic and interior condition. The vehicle has never been used for towing or severe duty. While operating under normal driving conditions, the check engine light illuminated and the engine imme INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO
NHTSA complaint #11737011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle has experienced repeated mechanical failures involving the engine, cooling system, drivetrain, and electronic systems. Documented failures include the navigation/APIM module, transmission jerking and drivability issues, transmission valve body concerns, cam phaser failure, driveshaft repair, front wheel bearing/IWE failure, coolant leaks from heater core hoses, and engine vibration requiring extensive diagnostic work including a short block engine repair. The vehicle has also experienced multiple overheating incidents despite prior repairs. Overheating occurred in May 2025, December 2025, and February 2026. During these events the engine temperature rose abnormally and coolant had to be added to the reservoir. Drivetrain problems including transmission jerking, vibration, and driveshaft repair also created drivability concerns while operating the vehicle at highway speeds. These issues have been inspected and confirmed by an authorized Lincoln dealership service department. Numerous repairs and diagnostics have been performed including APIM replacement, cam phaser repair, heater hose replacement, wheel bearing/IWE replacement, driveshaft repair, and engine diagnostic work approved through warranty processes. Symptoms prior to failures included overheating, vibration, excessive fan noise, whining while driving, and transmission jerking. The vehicle and components are available for inspection upon request. The repeated overheating events combined with drivetrain and engine failures raise concern that this vehicle may have an underlying safety-related defect that could result in sudden loss of power or engine failure while operating in traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11722940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
problem is when you go to check the oil do you think you’re gonna find a low oil situation and what happens is the oil is actually overfilled however it’s not overfilled because you put too much oil in it. It’s overfilled because gasoline is leaking into the oil pan. So the oil is diluted and it actually doesn’t even seem like oil. It seems like dirty gas. That’s how much gas gets into it. Supposedly this is a known issue after searching it on the Internet, this is known, and it happens with this making my vehicle. The manufacturer should be responsible for fixing it. Supposedly the fix is either changing the fuel pump or fixing the valves or maybe a combination of both either way the consumer should not be stuck with this. This is a design error or defect. It says there’s also a problem with the gasket I feel I should not have to pay to get this fixed. This is a designed defect and they sold the car this way knowing afterwards that there’s an issue with it. My crank case is filled with gas when I pull the dipstick out. It drips like water. If you look at the full line on the dipstick it’s about 1 inch over the full line and the oil is virtually useless. The car also runs an idles rough and it’s constantly idling up and idling down and that’s probably because the gas is leaking into the engine. Please look into this and I appreciate anything you can do. This is definitely a Ford issue. They should be responsible there’s nothing I did to this particles this problem. I maintained my vehicles. I did everything I was supposed to do and this problem arose because it’s defect in the car quite frankly if I would’ve known it, there’s no way I would’ve bought it. I feel the public should know about this and I feel that they should be responsible to fix it. Thank you very much. I appreciate all your help in time. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11721335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Regularly maintained 2020 Lincoln Navigator at 78,000 miles experienced engine failure with no warning. No check engine light until we experienced power issues and engine shuttering. We took the vehicle directly to the mechanic within an hour of check engine light. They changed the oil and said to go to the dealer. Dealer assessed the vehicle as follows: Bottom end failure of the short block which caused a knocking noise. Confirmed metal debris in the engine oil. Seals failed and leakage occurred. Recommend complete engine replacement. This is the same issue occurring in newer models. Recalls and class action lawsuits filed due to this exact issue. This is premature engine failure requiring complete engine replacement on a 5-year-old vehicle. Major safety concern since the engine can seize up at any time. Imagine going 70 miles per hour down the highway and your engine seizes up with semi trucks around you, and your entire family is in the vehicle. This is beyond unacceptable. Now Lincoln expects us to pay $15,000+ for a new engine. Federal and state oversight organizations are created and funded by our taxpayer dollars to stop these problems and hold these manufacturers accountable. Please do something about this failure.
NHTSA complaint #11717154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, the vehicle repeatedly hesitated during gear changes, lost power, and then abruptly jerked back into gear. This occurred intermittently for over a month without any warning messages, creating unpredictable and unsafe driving conditions. As the issue worsened, the vehicle began losing power more frequently. The most serious event occurred at highway speed, where the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion in the middle of active traffic, nearly causing a stall. This created an immediate safety hazard for myself and surrounding drivers. After several seconds, the vehicle violently re-engaged into gear and surged forward. Only at this point did the vehicle display a warning: “Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power.” I scanned the vehicle and retrieved DTC P0734 – Gear 4 Incorrect Ratio, a code associated with internal transmission faults. A dealership inspected the vehicle and reported that the CDF drum had failed. They stated they could not guarantee that replacing the drum would resolve all issues and provided two estimates: $5,600 for a partial internal repair/$8,700 for full transmission replacement. The 10R80 transmission has a documented history of failures, including harsh shifting, slipping, unexpected gear disengagement, and internal component defects. These issues are addressed in multiple Ford Technical Service Bulletins involving P0734, harsh/failed shifts, and failures related to the CDF clutch cylinder/drum. Many vehicles of the same make and model are covered under related recalls or service actions for similar problems; however, my VIN is not included, and Lincoln declined to honor the existing recall. This defect presents a serious safety risk due to: Sudden loss of power while driving, including at highway speeds, Unpredictable re-engagement and violent surging, Loss of propulsion without warning, leading to near-stall conditions. This powertrain malfunction is a known, unsafe, repeat issue among these vehicles equipped w/this transmission.
NHTSA complaint #11716941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving at approximately 65-70 mph on a major interstate, the engine experienced a sudden catastrophic failure without warning. This caused an immediate loss of power and power steering/braking assist, making the vehicle extremely difficult to control in high speed traffic. This sudden stall endangered my life and the lives of nearby motorists. A certified mechanic inspected the engine internals (via borescope) and identified that a valve seat had dropped in the #4 cylinder, causing it to impact and destroy the piston. This 'dropped valve seat' failure is a known defect in Ford/Lincoln 5.4L engines. It occurred despite my meticulous maintenance history and constitutes a latent manufacturing defect that creates an unreasonable safety risk on public highways.
NHTSA complaint #11708469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At about 2:30am after hearing some popping noises I went to the vehicle and saw that the engine under the bonnet was on fire. The fire was seeping out from the sides of the bonnet. The vehicle had been parked since 9:20pm the previous night. I called emergency services including the fire department and the police. It spread very quickly in the Garage where the car was parked and burnt out the garage and the Tesla Plaid parked in the same garage. Firefighters put out the fire with total disintegrated remains. It was just luck that I was awake to catch this at this stage otherwise it would have spread to the house. My 3 children and wife were sleeping. The fire started in the engine of the parked Lincoln Navigator. Visual confirmation of the event is evident.
NHTSA complaint #11701625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
the vehicle's antitheft system automatically triggers. There are two different events here: 1. Anti theft system triggers when the engine is off. When I attempt to start the car, the engine will not activate. By going through a series of locking and unlocking attempts (via key fob, via door locks, via keyless entry) I can eventually get the engine started. This event happens every other day. 2. Anti theft system triggers when the engine is on, while driving on the road. This results in the engine shutting off, and both the steering wheel and brake pedal locking up. I took the vehicle to a Lincoln dealer (Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Louis) and after running diagnostics they suspect the root cause is due to an Apple Air tag that is attached to the key ring of the key I'm using, and the PATS sensor module mounted to the bottom of the lock cylinder could be triggering/sensing a security event as a result. I do not think a reasonable resolution to prevent future issues is to not have an air tag (or similar device) in the vehicle. The anti theft system triggering when the engine off is an inconvenience. However, the anti theft system triggering while the car is in motion is a major safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11685109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Catastrophic engine failure on 2020 Lincoln Navigator at 93,000 miles. Oil contamination in cylinder 6 caused complete compression loss due to piston ring failure. The engine suffers from failed cam phases and excessive carbon build up which are known failure points of this engine. Ford Technical Service Bulletins 20-2423 and 23-2143 document this as a known manufacturing defect for vehicles in my build timeframe, proving Ford was aware of this problem before production. This is premature engine failure requiring complete engine replacement on a 5-year-old vehicle. The failure pattern matches ongoing class-action lawsuits against Ford for EcoBoost engine defects. Safety concern: Catastrophic engine failure without warning while driving creates risk of sudden loss of power and potential accidents. Lincoln customer service has admitted these vehicles have this issue but refused escalation despite documented manufacturing defect and broken multiple callback promises. Request NHTSA investigation into 2020 Lincoln Navigator 3.5L EcoBoost engines for premature piston ring/compression failures related to carbon buildup and failed cam phasers as documented in Ford's own service bulletins.
NHTSA complaint #11683838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Purchased a 2019 Lincoln navigator in 2024 used at a dealership in Orange Park Florida. The vehicle was taken to the same dealership for an oil change, which is a Volkswagen dealership. I started to hear a loud shaking noise after starting it up. I took it to O’Reilly‘s auto parts and had to put on a machine and I also took it to Paul, Clark Ford and Yulee Florida. I was told by both that it was the cam phaser. The vehicle was also leaking coolant, and now the engine has completely blown in the vehicle. It has been sitting at a Lincoln dealership for three weeks with a blown engine due to the cam phaser Echt that was never addressed or corrected by Ford. The vehicle is just sitting. It’s now a boat anchor.
NHTSA complaint #11668674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
About 5 weeks ago, our Navigator's transmission had a mild slip, like it was accidentally put in neutral. Since there was no visible warning sign, check engine light, or clear indicator of transmission issues, we thought it may just be a fluke. Within weeks, the transmission slipping escalated from mild to extreme, causing major safety concerns. When in drive, it would struggle to accelerate, get stuck in the wrong gear, then overcompensate, violently jerking into the correct gear 20+ seconds after it should have. A few times, we narrowly avoided getting rear-ended or rear-ending others. Lincoln service confirmed the 10-speed automatic transmission in the 2019 Navigator is problematic and will likely need a full rebuild, yet there is no transmission recall. They also stated their service department was backed up 4-5 weeks due to transmission repairs. Over the last 2 weeks, we've had a full vehicle diagnostic and repair. The mechanic replaced both leaky transmission coolant lines and completely rebuilt the transmission. He confirmed the check engine light never activated and diagnostic trouble codes never generated. That is an extreme safety problem. According to Lincoln, with leaks and transmission slipping, DTCs should be generated, and check engine lights should come on, but it didn't happen in either case. Please investigate both the transmission failures and the trouble code generation!
NHTSA complaint #11660789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
No warning light on dash. Issues engaging in gears. SUV failed to shift in gear and engine rev up And takes 2 to 10 seconds to catch again before engine engages. No accidents yet. Additionally, during cold start my SUB is making a rattling and ticking sound and the SUV would shake. There were no engine failure or warning lights that came on and the engine doesn’t sound like it’s running correctly.
NHTSA complaint #11655933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in Ford Campaign Number: 21N03. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
NHTSA complaint #11655069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dealership Responsible: Ted Britt Ford of Chantilly Dealership Address: 4175 Auto Park Cir, Chantilly, VA 20151 Complaint Details: I purchased a 2018 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label, and since then, I have experienced multiple serious mechanical failures due to an improperly performed cam phaser repair by Ted Britt Ford of Chantilly in 2020. The dealership’s service department performed a faulty installation, which resulted in: •Missing and broken screws in the cam phaser system •Jerking, rattling, and acceleration issues •Significant engine damage requiring a complete short block replacement As a result of this in negligent repair, In 2024 I had to replace the cam phaser again, along with replacing the short block of the engine due to the extensive damage caused by the dealership’s poor workmanship. In addition to this issue, I have faced multiple other failures, including: •Valve body replacement •Wastegate failure •Rear heat stopped working •Steering column failure These problems have caused frequent breakdowns and safety concerns, making the vehicle unreliable. The constant need for repairs raises serious questions about the quality of Lincoln’s engineering and service network. This issue is not an isolated incident, and I strongly urge NHTSA to investigate potential defects in the 2018 Lincoln Navigator and to hold dealerships accountable for performing unsafe and defective repairs. Requested Action: I request an investigation into the faulty cam phaser repair process and whether similar issues are being reported by other 2018 Lincoln Navigator owners. This could indicate a larger systemic defect or a trend of poor-quality repairs in Ford/Lincoln service centers
NHTSA complaint #11643072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle lunged forward. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was shifting roughly. The contact stated that the vehicle would redline. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that a transmission flush was needed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #11641745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upon a cold start my vehicle was making a rattling and ticking sound and the car would shake. There were no engine failure or warning lights that came on but the engine did not sound like it was running properly and clearly something was wrong. I took the vehicle in and was told that the Variable Cam Timing parts need to be replaced. In doing some research it appears that the VCT on the 2019 Navigator has a recall for the VCT but my VIN was not included on the recall for some reason.
NHTSA complaint #11640041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ANSWERS: 1) VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD CRASHING INTO A GARAGE DOOR AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. 2) CRASHING INTO GARAGE DOOR COULD HAVE CAUSED BODILY INJURY. 3) THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPRODUCED OR CONFIRMED AT THIS TIME. 4) THE VEHICLE/COMPONENT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET. 5) NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR SYMPTOMS. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED [XXX]. 6) THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPED WITH PRE-COLLISION ASSIST WITH AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING THAT DID NOT OPERATE. 7) THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AND I WILL HAVE LINCOLN INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY BEFORE DRIVING IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11630576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.