The Lemon IndexLincoln Navigator reliability.
Is it reliable? About average. About as many complaints as the average car.
About average · 2000–2007
20001st generation
Engines & versions
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Lincoln Navigator videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2004.
Only 4 Lincoln Navigator years have enough complaints and sales to score, too few for best and worst lists. 2004 drew somewhat fewer complaints than the average car.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/lincoln-navigator/" title="Lincoln Navigator reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="307" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/lincoln-navigator/">Lemon Index</a> (Lincoln Navigator reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the Lincoln Navigator.
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Quick answers.
Is the Lincoln Navigator reliable?
About average. It draws about as many complaints as the average car. Fewest complaints: 2004.
Is the Lincoln Navigator a good car?
It is about average, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2000-2007: Lemon Index 105; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2004 drew the fewest complaints and 2003 the most.
What are the best Lincoln Navigator years to buy?
Only 4 Lincoln Navigator years have enough data to score, so we don't list best years. 2004 drew the fewest complaints (somewhat fewer complaints than the average car).
What Lincoln Navigator years should you stay away from?
Only 4 Lincoln Navigator years have enough data to score, too few to single out years to avoid.
How many recalls does the Lincoln Navigator have?
125 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2022 (14), 2020 (13), 2018 (12). Each year's page lists them, and every Lincoln Navigator recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Lincoln Navigator problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name electrical, tires and transmission & drivetrain most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 148 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 62 | tires (52%) | 7 | — | 13 |
| 2001 | 113 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 38 | tires (29%) | 6 | — | 12 |
| 2002 | – | too few complaints to score | 10 | engine (30%) | 4 | — | 12–13 |
| 2003 | 174 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 55 | visibility (24%) | 1 | — | 13 |
| 2004 | 81 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 25 | electrical (20%) | 0 | — | 13 |
| 2005 | – | too few complaints to score | 16 | suspension (19%) | 0 | — | 13 |
| 2006 | – | too few complaints to score | 14 | transmission & drivetrain (36%) | 3 | — | 13 |
| 2007 | – | too few complaints to score | 15 | service brakes, hydraulic (33%) | 2 | — | 14 |
| 2008 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 9 | transmission & drivetrain (22%) | 2 | — | 14 |
| 2009 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 4 | engine (50%) | 1 | — | 16 |
| 2010 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 4 | parking brake (25%) | 0 | — | 16 |
| 2011 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 1 | speed control (100%) | 0 | — | 13–16 |
| 2012 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 1 | suspension (100%) | 3 | ★★★★☆ | 15–16 |
| 2013 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 5 | body structure (40%) | 0 | ★★★★☆ | 15–16 |
| 2014 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 1 | lights (100%) | 0 | ★★★★☆ | 15–16 |
| 2015 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 3 | fuel system (33%) | 4 | ★★★★★ | 16–18 |
| 2016 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 5 | brakes (40%) | 4 | ★★★★★ | 16–18 |
| 2017 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 3 | airbags (67%) | 5 | ★★★★★ | 16–17 |
| 2018 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 12 | engine (25%) | 12 | ★★★★★ | 18–19 |
| 2019 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 11 | seat belts (27%) | 10 | ★★★★★ | 18–19 |
| 2020 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 7 | electrical (29%) | 13 | ★★★★★ | 18–19 |
| 2021 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 17 | engine (35%) | 12 | ★★★★★ | 17–18 |
| 2022 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 14 | electrical (50%) | 14 | — | 18–19 |
| 2023 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 7 | electrical (57%) | 8 | — | 17–19 |
| 2024 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 16 | suspension (31%) | 7 | — | 18 |
| 2025 | – | too few complaints to score | 13 | electrical (23%) | 7 | ★★★★★ | 17 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: en.wikipedia.org. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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