Lincoln Navigator Years to Avoid
Avoid: 2018, 2019 · Best: 2008, 2010, 2014 — based on 408 NHTSA complaints across 18 model years (2008–2025), severity-weighted and adjusted for time on the road.
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 408 NHTSA complaints, the Lincoln Navigator years to avoid are 2018 and 2019 — the worst logged up to 3× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate, driven by transmission failures. Updated November 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of November 2026 · How we rate model years
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict | Problems & recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 30 | 15 | 2 | BEST | — |
| 2009 | 10 | 4 | 1 | N/A | — |
| 2010 | 16 | 11 | 0 | BEST | — |
| 2011 | 9 | 4 | 0 | N/A | — |
| 2012 | 12 | 6 | 3 | N/A | — |
| 2013 | 13 | 9 | 0 | N/A | — |
| 2014 | 17 | 11 | 0 | BEST | — |
| 2015 | 21 | 11 | 4 | SOLID | 2015 Navigator problems → |
| 2016 | 25 | 10 | 4 | SOLID | 2016 Navigator problems → |
| 2017 | 30 | 17 | 5 | CAUTION | 2017 Navigator problems → |
| 2018 | 48 | 30 | 12 | AVOID | 2018 Navigator problems → |
| 2019 | 68 | 38 | 10 | AVOID | 2019 Navigator problems → |
| 2020 | 28 | 21 | 13 | CAUTION | 2020 Navigator problems → |
| 2021 | 29 | 19 | 12 | CAUTION | 2021 Navigator problems → |
| 2022 | 20 | 11 | 14 | CAUTION | 2022 Navigator problems → |
| 2023 | 6 | 1 | 8 | N/A | 2023 Navigator problems → |
| 2024 | 15 | 7 | 7 | CAUTION | 2024 Navigator problems → |
| 2025 | 11 | 4 | 6 | N/A | 2025 Navigator problems → |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Lincoln Navigator. Full methodology.
Navigator problems by model year
Each year has its own page with the complaint components, NHTSA recall campaigns, service-bulletin count, a comparison with the year before and after, and what to check on a used one.
Common Lincoln Navigator problems
Across the federal record, the most-reported problem areas on the Lincoln Navigator are transmission, brakes, electrical. The confirmed and owner-reported issues below include owner mileage and repair-cost ranges where available.
Transmission electronics malfunction and downshift
· Lincoln Navigator 2012–2019Corroborated by 19 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 42 transmission complaints across 2012–2019, typically 16,000–140,000 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $1,267–$1,500.
Brake system failure and fluid loss
· Lincoln Navigator 2012–2017Corroborated by 7 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 19 brakes complaints across 2012–2017.
Infotainment and backup camera failure
· Lincoln Navigator 2019–2024Corroborated by 6 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 16 electrical complaints across 2019–2024, typically 43,200 miles.
Why these years stand out
2018 Lincoln Navigator: 48 owner complaints on federal record, 30 of them severe, plus 12 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Lincoln Navigator.
2019 Lincoln Navigator: 68 owner complaints on federal record, 38 of them severe, plus 10 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Lincoln Navigator.
Know what to pay for the right Lincoln Navigator — then negotiate it
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FAQ
What years of the Lincoln Navigator should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Lincoln Navigator years to avoid are 2018 and 2019 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by transmission issues. See the year-by-year table for the full picture.
What are the best years for the Lincoln Navigator?
The 2008, 2010 and 2014 Lincoln Navigator show the cleanest federal records among years with enough time on the road to judge — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates for the model.
How is the Lincoln Navigator verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Lincoln Navigator's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Lincoln Navigator before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Lincoln Navigator reliable?
The Lincoln Navigator's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 408 NHTSA owner complaints, 2018 and 2019 rate "avoid", while 2008, 2010 and 2014 show the cleanest federal records — see the year-by-year verdicts above.
What are the most common problems with the Lincoln Navigator?
The most-reported problem area for the Lincoln Navigator is transmission, followed by brakes and electrical. Confirmed failures include transmission electronics malfunction and downshift, brake system failure and fluid loss, infotainment and backup camera failure. See the common-problems section above for owner-reported mileage and repair costs where available.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Lincoln Navigator across every model year on record. Retrieved November 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered; a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Lincoln Navigator, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verify the flagged years in NHTSA's public database:
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.