NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel cluster display may go blank at startup and stop working due to incorrect repair from a previous recall, leaving drivers without dashboard information.
This page covers 8 recalls, 88 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus.
21–23 mpg combined
10.2–11.2 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Electrical system complaints lead the field for the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus, with owners frequently describing intermittent power steering loss, the wheel briefly seizing or going heavy, often accompanied by a warning chime and dashboard message before the system recovers on its own. Some owners also report more dramatic electrical events, including complete vehicle shutdowns while driving that required pulling over. The powertrain is the second most-reported area, with multiple owners describing the transmission shuddering, jerking, or harshly engaging during acceleration from a stop, particularly at lower mileage ranges in the 40,000–65,000-mile window. Several of these reports specifically point to behavior consistent with torque converter hesitation, with dashboard warning lights triggering alongside the drivability symptoms.
88
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
By System
The 2019 Lincoln Nautilus has 8 recalls, the most serious involving 16-way power seats that can interfere with the front airbag system, causing it to deploy without warning or fail to deploy in a crash.
Two other airbag-related concerns round out the restraint system issues: on vehicles without Adaptive Front Steering, the driver's airbag cover can break free during deployment and become a projectile inside the cabin. On the driver assistance side, the Lane Center Assist system may not recognize when a driver's hands have left the steering wheel for an extended period, leaving the system active without prompting the driver to take over. Prior repair attempts for this issue did not fully resolve the problem on some vehicles. The instrument cluster can also fail to display on startup, leaving the driver without vehicle speed, fuel level, temperature, or warning indicators. An earlier repair for this instrument cluster issue was also found to be incomplete on certain vehicles. There is also a rearview camera that can show a blank image when reversing, reducing visibility behind the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel cluster display may go blank at startup and stop working due to incorrect repair from a previous recall, leaving drivers without dashboard information.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster software at no cost to restore normal display function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lane center assist system may fail to detect when a driver's hands have been off the steering wheel for an extended time.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the power steering control module software at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image or fail to clear the image after backing up.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The edge of the seat cushion frame may contact and damage the wire harness when using the seat's tilt function, which could cause the airbag to deploy unexpectedly or fail to deploy in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply protective tape to the seat cushion frame edge and inspect and repair or replace the wire harness if damaged, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel cluster may display a blank screen at startup instead of showing vehicle information, failing to meet safety standards for controls and displays.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster at no cost to restore proper display function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Lane Center Assist system may fail to detect when a driver's hands leave the steering wheel for an extended time.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the Power Steering Control Module software at no cost to restore proper hand detection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The adaptive cruise control with lane centering system may fail to detect when you remove your hands from the steering wheel, so you won't receive a warning to grip it.
What the fix does
Ford or Lincoln will mail you instructions to visit a dealer for a software update to the Power Steering Control Module.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The plastic cover on the driver's front air bag module may come loose and detach when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
