2018 Lincoln NAVIGATOR

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Lincoln NAVIGATOR has 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: starting at 20,000 miles i started asking the dealer to check the transmission on my vehicle. very often the transmission shifts very hard to the point you hear and you feel like someone hit your car ( usually from 1st to 3rd gear ) and also when you shift it to reverse it slips. dealer keeps saying. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

17 complaints

27%

• STARTING AT 20,000 MILES I STARTED ASKING THE DEALER TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VEHICLE. VERY OFTEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD TO THE POINT YOU HEAR AND YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOUR CAR ( USUALLY FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR ) AND ALSO WHEN YOU SHIFT IT TO REVERSE IT SLIPS. DEALER KEEPS SAYING
• The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while the vehicle was in park and the key was not in the ignition while opening the front driver side door the vehicle started moving forward independently and down a hill. The contact jumped into the seat and depressed the brake pedal in
• Transmission will randomly stop shifting or jolt. Poses a safety concern when you have to accelerate or slow down to merge, switch lanes, cross an intersection, etc. This is a common problem with this year and model that everyone is complaining about.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“STARTING AT 20,000 MILES I STARTED ASKING THE DEALER TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VEHICLE. VERY OFTEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD TO THE POINT YOU HEAR AND YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOUR CAR ( USUALLY FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR ) AND ALSO WHEN YOU SHIFT IT TO REVERSE IT SLIPS. DEALER KEEPS SAYING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

11 complaints

17%

• The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that there was a loud rattle, rough idle, and loss of power during acceleration after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that there was a cold start rattle on the eco-boost engine related to the cam ph
• The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered and made abnormal rattling and knocking sounds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was a design failure and was caused by oil no
• The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact received notification of Manufacturer Recall Number: 21B10 (CAM Phaser PCM Reprogram). The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer performed the recall repair. After the recall repair, the engine was rattling durin

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that there was a loud rattle, rough idle, and loss of power during acceleration after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that there was a cold start rattle on the eco-boost engine related to the cam ph”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

13%

• BACK LIFTGATE OPENS RANDOMENLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO PARTS INVOLVED AND HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY. SEEMS TO BE WHEN YOU SHUT ONE OF THE FRONT DOORS FIRMLY AND LOCK THE CAR W KEYFOB TWICE. I SUSPECT THE AIR PRESSURE FROM SHUTTING DOOR AND KEYFOB ACTION CAUSE THIS. BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. CAR WAS STAT
• The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle shuddered and made abnormal rattling and knocking sounds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was a design failure and was caused by oil no
• The side mirrors, which are power adjusted, either will not properly adjust to the same setting when they first fold out when you start the car, or they will start moving when you start driving. This happens nearly every time the car is started. I have talked to fellow Ford F-150 owners who have the

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“BACK LIFTGATE OPENS RANDOMENLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO PARTS INVOLVED AND HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY. SEEMS TO BE WHEN YOU SHUT ONE OF THE FRONT DOORS FIRMLY AND LOCK THE CAR W KEYFOB TWICE. I SUSPECT THE AIR PRESSURE FROM SHUTTING DOOR AND KEYFOB ACTION CAUSE THIS. BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. CAR WAS STAT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

• I OWN A 2018 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE AC STOPPED WORKING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT LINCOLN HAD A DRIED OF VEHICLES WHICH HAD THE WRONG REFRIGERANT PUT IN FROM THE FACTORY. TODAY IS THE 22ND STRAIGHT DAY WITHOUT MY TRUCK BECAUSE THERE ARE SUPPOSEDLY NO P
• THE ALARM GOES OFF IF YOU LOCK THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU ARE IN IT WITH THE KEY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE AND YOU LOCK THE DOOR. THIS CAUSES THE ALARM TO GO OFF, THUS DRAWING ATTENTION TO YOU IN THE VEHICLE.THIS LEAVES YOU IN A VERY VULNERABLE POSITION. YOU ARE IN A VERY EXPENSIVE VEHI
• The contact owned a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving at 40-45 MPH, she was advised to veer to the side of the road as there was a fire underneath the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that she smelled a strong gas odor. The contact veer

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“I OWN A 2018 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE AC STOPPED WORKING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT LINCOLN HAD A DRIED OF VEHICLES WHICH HAD THE WRONG REFRIGERANT PUT IN FROM THE FACTORY. TODAY IS THE 22ND STRAIGHT DAY WITHOUT MY TRUCK BECAUSE THERE ARE SUPPOSEDLY NO P”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

5 complaints

• STARTED VEHICLE AND WENT TO ADJUST STEERING WHEEL I PUSHED THE DOWN BUTTON TO LOWER AND STEERING WHEEL DROPPED. STEERING WHEEL IS NO LONGER ABLE TO ADJUST UP OR DOWN ONLY FORWARD AND BACKWARD. WHEN PUSHING THE UP/DOWN BUTTON A GRINDING SOUND OCCURS. WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE AND WILL P
• The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a clunking noise coming from the steering column while turning the steering wheel in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty a
• 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 p

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“STARTED VEHICLE AND WENT TO ADJUST STEERING WHEEL I PUSHED THE DOWN BUTTON TO LOWER AND STEERING WHEEL DROPPED. STEERING WHEEL IS NO LONGER ABLE TO ADJUST UP OR DOWN ONLY FORWARD AND BACKWARD. WHEN PUSHING THE UP/DOWN BUTTON A GRINDING SOUND OCCURS. WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE AND WILL P”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 64 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: STARTING AT 20,000 MILES I STARTED ASKING THE DEALER TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VEHICLE. VERY OFTEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD TO THE POINT YOU HEAR AND YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOUR CAR ( USUALLY FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR ) AND ALSO WHEN YOU SHIFT IT TO REVERSE IT SLIPS. DEALER KEEPS SAYING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: The contact owns a 2018 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that there was a loud rattle, rough idle, and loss of power during acceleration after starting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that there was a cold start rattle on the eco-boost engine related to the cam ph
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: BACK LIFTGATE OPENS RANDOMENLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO PARTS INVOLVED AND HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY. SEEMS TO BE WHEN YOU SHUT ONE OF THE FRONT DOORS FIRMLY AND LOCK THE CAR W KEYFOB TWICE. I SUSPECT THE AIR PRESSURE FROM SHUTTING DOOR AND KEYFOB ACTION CAUSE THIS. BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. CAR WAS STAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I OWN A 2018 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE AC STOPPED WORKING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT LINCOLN HAD A DRIED OF VEHICLES WHICH HAD THE WRONG REFRIGERANT PUT IN FROM THE FACTORY. TODAY IS THE 22ND STRAIGHT DAY WITHOUT MY TRUCK BECAUSE THERE ARE SUPPOSEDLY NO P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)