NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner may lock the seat belt in place, preventing it from retracting or extending normally.
This page covers 16 recalls, 46 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Lincoln Navigator.
18 mpg combined
13.1 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
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.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate what 2018 Navigator owners report, with transmission behavior being the most common thread. Owners frequently describe hard or erratic shifts, a sudden clunk followed by shuddering, and moments where the vehicle loses forward propulsion as if it has slipped into neutral. These events tend to catch drivers off guard, especially at road speed. Engine and cooling system issues come up as a secondary pattern, with some owners reporting multiple system failures on the same vehicle over time. Front differential wear is a recurring theme in a smaller subset of reports, with owners describing bearing failures requiring full rebuilds, in at least one case, the same vehicle needed the front differential rebuilt twice, with roughly 70,000 miles between each repair. Electrical issues and a noise near the steering column each appear in isolated reports and don't rise to the level of a clear pattern.
46
Total Complaints
3
Fire-Related
By System
The 2018 Lincoln Navigator has 16 recalls, the most serious involving seatbelt pretensioners that can fire without a crash, leaving the belts locked and unable to retract or extend, and a separate risk that the vehicle can roll away even with the transmission shifted into Park.
On the fuel and fire side, the high-pressure fuel pump on 3.5L V6 models can develop cracked welds that allow fuel or oil to leak near ignition sources. The brake master cylinder can also leak fluid internally into the brake booster, reducing braking force and lengthening stopping distances. The second-row center seat track may be missing reinforcement brackets that keep the seat from shifting in a crash.
Several visibility recalls cover the rearview and 360-degree camera failing to display an image when reversing, with prior repair attempts on some vehicles not fully resolving the issue. The second-row power windows may stop mid-movement and fail to reverse automatically if a finger or other obstruction is caught in the glass. Rounding out the list, the owner's manual omits instructions for adjusting or removing certain third-row head restraints, and the airbag warning label may be missing from the dashboard on some vehicles.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner may lock the seat belt in place, preventing it from retracting or extending normally.
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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 inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver or front passenger seat may lock unexpectedly, preventing the seat belt from retracting or extending.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors at no charge. Contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 for an appointment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software problem prevents the rearview camera image from displaying on the SYNC screen when reversing, which violates Canadian regulations requiring the rearview image to show.
What the fix does
Ford will have a dealership replace the rearview camera and adjust the camera wire retention. Some Transit models will also receive a software update.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On vehicles with a 360-degree camera, a software issue may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying on the SYNC screen when shifting into reverse, which is required by Canadian regulations.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will update the rearview camera software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake master cylinder may develop a leak that allows brake fluid to seep from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
What the fix does
The brake master cylinder will be replaced. If it is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners may malfunction, causing the airbag warning light to turn on and the pretensioners to deploy unexpectedly without a crash.
What the fix does
Dealership will replace the driver and front passenger seatbelt retractors.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners may malfunction, causing the airbag warning light to illuminate and the pretensioners to deploy unexpectedly without a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seatbelt retractors and install an HVAC drain tube if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver or front passenger seat may deploy without warning and lock the seat belt, preventing it from retracting or extending.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as needed and install a missing HVAC drain tube elbow if required.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software problem may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying on the SYNC screen when reversing, failing to meet Canadian regulatory requirements.
What the fix does
Dealership will replace the rearview camera and adjust camera wire retention as needed. Some Transit models will also receive a software update.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera or 360-degree view camera may fail to display an image when you shift into reverse.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the camera and update software and wiring as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The owner's manual lacks instructions for adjusting or removing head restraints in certain seating positions, making these vehicles non-compliant with federal head restraint safety standards.
What the fix does
Ford will mail free owner's manual addendums with instructions for adjusting and removing center-position head restraints.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second row center seat track may be missing reinforcement brackets, allowing the seat to shift during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the second row center seat and replace the seat frame assembly if brackets are missing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high pressure fuel pump assembly has welds that can crack, potentially causing oil or fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and related parts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A roll pin may be missing from the transmission, which could cause the Park function to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your transmission and install the roll pin if it's missing, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second row power window control module may stop responding intermittently, preventing the window from automatically reversing if something like a finger gets pinched.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the second row window control modules as needed, based on build date codes, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
