1998 Lincoln Navigator Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Navigator years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 192 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Lincoln Navigator. That is the most of any Navigator model year in the database (31 years). The most reported problem area is tires (48 complaints, 25%), typically at around 54,000 miles. Complaints mention 14 crashes, 22 fires, 26 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 192owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 14complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Lincoln Navigator problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 48 | 25% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 25 | 13% | 69,146 | — | — |
| Steering | 22 | 11% | 83,850 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 21 | 11% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 9% | 97,751 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 16 | 8% | 124,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 16 | 8% | 113,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 15 | 8% | 97,146 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 4% | 98,120 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 4% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 3% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 2% | 165,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 2% | 167,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 69,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Lincoln Navigator recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: A fire at the switch could occur.
Fix: By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the significant risk of fire. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 06v286)
Trailer hitches
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly to the frame attaching bolts could lose the clamp load.
Risk: The trailer hitch could then separate from the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the trailer hitch mounting bolts and nut plates.
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.
Risk: This can result in the loosening of lug nuts, stud fatigue failure, and the potential for a wheel separation from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in may 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available. This interim procedure can be completed by owners or their dealers. It specifies that the lug nut torque must be verified to be 100 lbs. Then the lug nuts need to be tightened an additional 1/8 to 1/4 turn more. There will be a second owner notification, which is expected to begin july 20, 1998, under which dealers will inspect the wheel studs and replace the wheel lug nuts.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may be confused by the aiming instructions provided in the owner guides causing the headlamps to be improperly aimed.
Fix: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park."
Risk: The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.
Fix: Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
- Engine compartment fires (EA05005) — opened Mar 22, 2005, closed Aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V388000.
- Factory installed towing hitch separatio (PE99060) — opened Sep 27, 1999, closed Mar 8, 2000, led to recall 00V073000.
- Tie rod end failures (PE98024) — opened Apr 21, 1998, closed Jul 21, 1998.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. While attempting to place the vehicle in park, the gear shifter failed to engage. The contact stated that the vehicle would roll forward or backwards, depending on if the vehicle was on an incline or a decline. The contact was concerned about the…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. While driving approximately 65 mph, the rear of the vehicle independently swayed from side to side without warning. In addition, the contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond and the rear of the vehicle began to scrape…
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 lincoln navigator. While driving 40 mph, the contact crashed into the front of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact in place. A police report was filed. The contact suffered a mild concussion and a whiplash, but…
I was driving about 40 mph on a rode a drove everyday something broke on my 98 lincoln navigator . The guys who flipped it back over said the suspension broke i scraped a guardrail then straight across the road head on with a tree i flipped up on my headlights spun like that then rolled 50 more…
Wheels are not safe and very dangerous and randomly breaking off all screws while driving and ruined the frame and drive shaft transmission suspension etc... Highway 10 west and vehicle became unstoppable as brakes also new but failed without 4th wheel this occurred 1st on morning after st patricks…
Other Lincoln Navigator years
← 1997 Navigator · 1999 Navigator →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Navigator | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 Navigator | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 Navigator | 13 | 6 |
| 2024 Navigator | 16 | 7 |
| 2023 Navigator | 7 | 8 |
| 2022 Navigator | 21 | 14 |
| 2021 Navigator | 33 | 12 |
| 2020 Navigator | 32 | 13 |
| 2019 Navigator | 84 | 10 |
| 2018 Navigator | 52 | 12 |
| 2017 Navigator | 32 | 5 |
| 2016 Navigator | 25 | 4 |
| 2015 Navigator | 21 | 4 |
| 2014 Navigator | 17 | 0 |
| 2013 Navigator | 14 | 0 |
| 2012 Navigator | 12 | 3 |
| 2011 Navigator | 9 | 0 |
| 2010 Navigator | 16 | 0 |
| 2009 Navigator | 10 | 1 |
| 2008 Navigator | 30 | 2 |
| 2007 Navigator | 45 | 2 |
| 2006 Navigator | 60 | 3 |
| 2005 Navigator | 48 | 0 |
| 2004 Navigator | 86 | 0 |
| 2003 Navigator | 127 | 0 |
| 2002 Navigator | 32 | 1 |
| 2001 Navigator | 81 | 3 |
| 2000 Navigator | 109 | 4 |
| 1999 Navigator | 132 | 5 |
| 1998 | 192 | 5 |
| 1997 Navigator | 0 | 2 |
See all Lincoln Navigator problems by year, every Lincoln model, or the Lincoln VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Lincoln Navigator?
Owners most often report tires, suspension, steering problems. The top one, tires, accounts for 48 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Lincoln Navigator?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Lincoln Navigator a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Navigator model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.