NHTSA (USA)Critical
This page covers 11 recalls, 65 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2019 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
Seat belts and the powertrain draw the most complaints from 2019 Navigator owners. On the seat belt side, owners frequently report that belts fail to retract properly or lock up unexpectedly, with some describing the retractor mechanism as sluggish or unresponsive. Powertrain complaints center on the transmission, where owners describe hard downshifts, abrupt engagement, and in some cases a complete loss of normal drivability, several note the harsh shifting tends to appear after the vehicle has been driven for roughly 15 minutes or more. Engine complaints round out the top three, with owners reporting stalling, rough running, and unexpected power loss. A smaller but consistent thread involves the backup camera working only intermittently, with owners describing it as unreliable rather than fully inoperative.
65
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2019 Lincoln Navigator has 11 recalls, the most serious involving rear suspension toe links that can separate from the frame and cause a sudden loss of vehicle control, and a transmission defect that can lock the vehicle into park while moving.
The transmission issue deserves particular attention: the park pawl can engage unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion, damaging the park system and potentially allowing the vehicle to roll away. On the suspension side, rear toe links that pull free from the frame alter wheel alignment instantly, making the vehicle difficult to steer or control.
Three recalls address the front seatbelt pretensioners in the driver and passenger seats. In each case, the pretensioner can lock the belt in place, preventing it from retracting or extending normally. A belt stuck in that condition cannot properly restrain an occupant in a crash. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for some vehicles, meaning a second repair was required.
A cluster of recalls covers the instrument cluster going blank at startup. When the display fails to come on, the driver loses access to speed, fuel level, temperature readings, warning lights, and gear selection indicators. As with the seatbelt issue, an earlier repair attempt proved incomplete for some vehicles, and a follow-up fix is needed.
The rearview camera can also fail to display an image when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, reducing visibility of obstacles and pedestrians behind the vehicle.
Two lower-severity recalls round out the list. The owner's manual on vehicles with third-row seating lacks instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints, which can lead to improper positioning. Separately
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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 →
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission park pawl may lock while the vehicle is moving, damaging the park system.
What the fix does
Dealers will update transmission software and replace any damaged transmission parts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel cluster screen may not display when the vehicle starts due to a software problem, preventing you from seeing gear selection, speed, warning lights, and warning messages.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will update the instrument panel cluster software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The instrument panel display may go blank at startup and stop working due to an earlier repair done incorrectly, leaving drivers without critical gauges and controls.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel cluster software at no cost to restore the display and its functions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner may lock the seat belt in place, preventing it from retracting or extending normally.
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
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 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
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 fasteners connecting the rear suspension toe link to the frame may not be tight enough, which could allow the toe link to separate from the frame.
What the fix does
Dealers will tighten the rear toe link fasteners, check and adjust rear toe alignment, and inspect and replace rear tires if they show abnormal wear.
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.
