NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 14 recalls, 27 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2020 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
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2020 Lincoln Navigator centers on the transmission. Owners frequently report harsh or delayed shifting, hesitation under acceleration, and a shuddering or shaking sensation that typically begins around 28–30 mph and is felt through the floorboard. Several owners describe the transmission unexpectedly dropping into neutral or losing power on the highway, requiring them to coast to the shoulder. Some report these symptoms persisting even after major repair attempts, including full transmission replacements. Engine complaints appear in a smaller number of reports, with owners describing sudden power loss and rough running, sometimes without a prior warning light. A couple of reports mention headlight and taillight housings accumulating water due to failed seals, eventually causing the lights to stop working.
27
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
By System
The 2020 Lincoln Navigator has 14 recalls, the most serious being a fire risk in the engine compartment that can occur even while the vehicle is parked and turned off, traced to a short circuit in the battery junction box.
Two separate restraint concerns appear across multiple recalls: the front seatbelt pretensioners can lock up without warning, leaving the belt unable to retract or extend and reducing its ability to hold an occupant in a crash; and the attachment bracket for the left second-row headrest may not be fully welded, allowing it to shift in a crash instead of supporting the occupant's head. The owner's manual also lacks instructions for adjusting or removing certain third-row head restraints, which could lead to improper positioning.
On the driver assistance side, some vehicles left the factory with the camera-based automatic emergency braking system non-functional, and vehicles that received an incorrect software repair under a prior recall may also have lost their forward collision warning and automatic braking features. Rear visibility has its own cluster of concerns: the rearview camera can display a blank image when shifting into reverse, and wiper arms can break and leave the windshield uncleared in wet conditions. Rounding out the list, an airbag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.
At a glance
What can fail
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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 →
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
A short circuit in the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while the vehicle is driving or parked.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box as needed, remove a ground wire, and install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper on certain models.
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 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 error in the body control module prevents Pre-Collision Assist features, including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, from working properly in certain 2020 Expedition and Navigator vehicles that received a previous repair.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the body control module software at no cost to restore Pre-Collision Assist functionality.
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 engine compartment can catch fire in some vehicles, even when parked with the ignition off. The cause is still being investigated.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions. The repair procedure is being developed and will be communicated when ready.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield wiper arms can break, causing the windshield wipers to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bracket securing the second-row left head restraint may not be fully welded, which could cause the head restraint to shift during a crash.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a Ford or Lincoln dealer for inspection and replacement of the second-row seat structure if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bracket holding the driver's second-row seat headrest may not be properly welded to the seat frame, which could cause the headrest to fail during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Pre-Collision Assist feature using only a camera is not enabled due to incorrect software coding in control modules. Drivers cannot access the menu to turn on this feature.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram software in multiple control modules and reset the tire pressure monitor system at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
