1998 Ford Navigator problems

General information about Ford-Navigator
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list

The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV marketed and sold by the Lincoln Motor Company brand of Ford Motor Company since the 1998 model year. Sold primarily in North America, the Navigator is the Lincoln counterpart of the Ford Expedition. It is the heaviest production Lincoln ever built, and is also the Lincoln with the greatest cargo capacity and the first non-limousine Lincoln to offer seating for more than six people.

Lincoln Navigator production was sourced from 1997 to 2009 at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan. Since 2009, production has also been sourced from the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky.

Background

At the end of the 1980s, in the United States, sport-utility vehicles gradually began to transition from dedicated off-road vehicles towards dedicated family vehicles, similar to station wagons. In 1991, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer (SJ) ended its almost unchanged 28-year production run. The vehicle had gained a famous reputation for its high content, featuring the same content as a luxury sedan. A smaller, unibody Grand Cherokee (ZJ) was induced during 1992 that offered new luxury equipment and class-exclusive features. General Motors introduced the Oldsmobile Bravada in 1990 and Ford later introduced the Mercury Mountaineer in 1996, convincing several other manufacturers to introduce mid-size luxury SUVs. As full-size SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban and Ford Expedition are highly profitable vehicles, the Lincoln Navigator was positioned by Ford as a full-sized, luxury SUV.

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Common 1998 Ford Navigator problems

The 1998 Ford Navigator, being one of the original luxury SUVs, has its share of problems that potential buyers should be aware of. The most commonly reported problem is related to the air suspension, which can lead to major issues if someone working on the Navigator fails to turn off the air suspension switch before using a jack or lifting the vehicle. This problem has been reported by 66 people on RepairPal, with an average mileage of 141,966. The only solution that owners felt worked was replacing the air suspension, which costs around $2,350.

Another issue that affects the 1998 Navigator is corrosion on battery cable ends. This problem has been reported by 45 owners, with an average mileage of 120,726. The corrosion can easily migrate under the cable insulation and cause numerous electrical faults and drivability issues. One owner reported that they cleaned the battery cable ends off, and jump-started it. They later replaced the battery, but the damage was already done. Their 2007 Lincoln Navigator began to have electrical problems, and they had to replace the alternator. The owner of a 1999 Navigator reported that there was no solution. They frequently cleaned the battery cables as many experts recommend, and even replaced them on multiple occasions, but couldn't stop the corrosion. Many other owners reported the same problem.

In high dust areas, problems with the EGR system are common. The filter for the EGR solenoid may plug and cause the EGR to activate when it should not; this can cause the engine to stall. The dirty filter should be replaced to correct this concern. This problem affected 13 model years, starting with 1998 and going through 2010. The average mileage that owners noticed a problem was around 134,996. Some of the signs that owners noticed were a jerking motion when they traveled between 45-65 mph, continuously feels like it’s going to stall, the Navigator cuts off while driving, and won’t accelerate past 40 mph. No owners reported a solution for the problem.

In summary, potential buyers of the 1998 Ford Navigator should be aware of the common problems related to the air suspension, battery cable ends, and EGR system. These issues can lead to major problems and high repair costs. It is recommended to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic before purchasing.

Is the Navigator reliable?

The Lincoln Navigator has a 2.5 out of 5 reliability rating from RepairPal, ranking it 5th out of 19 vehicles in the luxury vehicle category.

Are Lincoln Navigators expensive to fix?

The average annual repair cost is $1,089 which means it has poor ownership costs.

How long can a Lincoln Navigator engine last?

Another user with a 2020 model has reached about 90,000 miles without major issues, noting the vehicle's power and comfort. The responses suggest that a Navigator can easily surpass 130,000 to 140,000 miles with proper maintenance.

Is Navigator 4wd or AWD?

The 2023 Lincoln Navigator offers available 4x4 four-wheel drive rather than the Intelligent AWD system that comes optional with other Lincoln models. To get a full review of the new Lincoln SUVs with AWD, meet with the team at our Lincoln dealer in Henderson and take a test-drive for yourself.

1998 Ford Navigator car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Navigator problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Vehicle speed control problems
Structure problems
Tires problems
Service brakes problems
Hydraulic problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1998 Ford Navigator vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1998 Ford Navigator complaints

The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1998 Ford Navigator.

2006-06-19

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2005-12-14
Fire: 1
VIN: 5LMRU27L1WL
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DID ORIGINATE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND IT WAS ORDERED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE SWITCH WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED.

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2005-10-14

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2005-09-25
Fire: 1
VIN: 5LMRU27L0WL
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: ON 9/25/2005 ABOUT 2:30 AM MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT THE TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BY FORD. APPARENTLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ON IT WAS JUST SITTING IN FRONT OF MY TOWNHOUSE VILLA AND IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE. I NOTIFIED FORD COMPANY THEIR REPLY "GET A LAWYER". *NM

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2005-02-23

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2005-02-22
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: WHILE OPENING THE REAR DOOR, THE HINGES BROKE CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE REAR DOOR. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOUND. *JB

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2003-02-10

TIRES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2003-02-10
VIN: PROVIDE
Components: TIRES
Summary: THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION.*JB

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2001-12-06

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
VIN: 5LMPU28L9WL
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,STRUCTURE
Summary: BRAKES DEFECTIVE AND FRAME RUSTED

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1998 Ford Navigator recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1998 Ford Navigator.

2000-06-19

Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.
Consequence: THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1998 Ford Navigator problems:

Top 5 Problems Lincoln Navigator SUV 1998-2002 1st Generation ...

Q&A: Lincoln Navigator Spark Plug Problems - 1998 Lincoln Navigator

https://www.justanswer.com/ford/8tl39-1998-lincoln-navigator-spark-plug.html

Dec 14, 2014 ... I'm told this a common problem with Ford Navigator and Expedition. If this true, why were these vehicles never recalled? Share this ...

Ford Expedition & Lincoln Navigator Air Ride C1725 Common ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcbSPO_5RI

May 5, 2015 ... In this video we go over common faults that cause this code to set and the front end to seem low.

1998 Lincoln Navigator Problems and Complaints - 16 Issues

https://repairpal.com/1998-lincoln-navigator/problems

Turn Off Suspension Switch Before Jacking/Lifting Vehicle With Air Suspension · Corrosion on Battery Cable Ends · Problems With EGR System are Common in High Dust ...