Lincoln Navigator Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Lincoln Navigator across 25 model years. The 2019 model year has the most (24). The words owners use most often: “automatic transmission” (6% of reports).
- 178power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 13mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 7related recalls
- $4,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 49%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 11 of 178 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Lincoln Navigator at $4,400, and half of them between $1,750 and $7,200.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 81 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 178 complaints, 13 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 8 an injury.
Lincoln Navigator power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Navigator | 4 | 25% | 1,700 |
| 2022 Navigator | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2021 Navigator | 6 | 18% | — |
| 2020 Navigator | 18 | 56% | 100,000 |
| 2019 Navigator | 24 | 29% | 42,500 |
| 2018 Navigator | 20 | 38% | 79,000 |
| 2017 Navigator | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2016 Navigator | 2 | 8% | 69,000 |
| 2015 Navigator | 5 | 24% | 66,500 |
| 2014 Navigator | 7 | 41% | 90,000 |
| 2013 Navigator | 6 | 43% | 71,500 |
| 2012 Navigator | 5 | 42% | 30,000 |
| 2011 Navigator | 2 | 22% | 117,000 |
| 2010 Navigator | 2 | 13% | 90,000 |
| 2008 Navigator | 2 | 7% | 39,174 |
| 2007 Navigator | 2 | 4% | 16,529 |
| 2006 Navigator | 6 | 10% | 6,250 |
| 2005 Navigator | 5 | 10% | 2,824 |
| 2004 Navigator | 4 | 5% | 163,000 |
| 2003 Navigator | 13 | 10% | 55,000 |
| 2002 Navigator | 2 | 6% | 73,321 |
| 2001 Navigator | 7 | 9% | 76,000 |
| 2000 Navigator | 10 | 9% | 86,000 |
| 1999 Navigator | 8 | 6% | 63,650 |
| 1998 Navigator | 16 | 8% | 113,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (7)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
Power train:axle assembly
Model years: 2023
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front axle pinion may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to fracture.
Risk: A fractured pinion can result in a loss of 4-wheel drive and may cause the front wheels to lock up, increasng the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front axle pinion gear set. If there is a broken front axle pinion, the entire axle assembly will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S07.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2018
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
Risk: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2012
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Risk: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.
Exterior lighting:back up lights; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Model years: 2012
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 âlamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.â these vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.
Risk: If this condition exists, the transmission may not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse ârâ position and the vehicleâs transmission does go in reverse, the ârâ may not illuminate on the dashboard of the f-150, expedition, or navigator models and/or the backup lamp on the rear of the f-150, expedition, navigator, or mustang vehicles may not illuminate. These conditions increase the risk of a crash or a pedestrian being struck due to the vehicleâs not signaling it is in reverse.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 11, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2006
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with an incorrectly manufactured automatic transmission parking pawl guide plate.
Risk: This could cause the parking lock system not to engage, after the transmission is placed in the park ("p") position. If the vehicle was parked on an incline, and the parking brake was not engaged, this could result in a vehicle rollaway condition.
Fix: Dealers will repair and replace the automatic transmission guide plate. The recall began on november 18, 2005. Owners may contact lincoln at 1-800-248-0186.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Model years: 1998
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
How do you have a problem with a Parking issue transmission or automatically going into parking on neutral when I was driving it started like three years ago with a little knocking sound every time I used to shift The dealer always told me that the hard shifting was something normal every time I…
Vehicle: 2019 Lincoln Navigator (equipped with 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission). Incident Description: While operating the vehicle in normal traffic conditions, the transmission experiences severe internal hydraulic failure, resulting in a violent jolt/jerk. Immediately following this event…
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Navigator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair…
On August 31, 2026, at approximately 11:07 a.m., the vehicle had been parked and was stationary with the engine running. After remaining stationary for a short period of time, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly moved backward rapidly on its own. I did not intentionally command the vehicle to…
The dealership said the Cam Phasers were bad, and I saw that there was a NHTSA report on it. The manufacturer paid a percentage of the cost to fix, but not the entire thing. This is a vehicle that an elderly woman purchased before her husband passed and now runs her grand kids around in. Although…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Lincoln Navigators have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 178 owner complaints about power train for the Lincoln Navigator. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Lincoln Navigator power train?
Yes: 7 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Lincoln Navigator?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,400 (half paid between $1,750 and $7,200), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Lincoln Navigator?
The most frequent phrase is “automatic transmission”, in 11 of 178 complaints.
Other Lincoln Navigator problems
- Electrical System problems (199)
- Suspension problems (161)
- Tires problems (159)
See all Lincoln Navigator problems.