2020 Lincoln Navigator problems
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 2020 Lincoln Navigator problems
The 2020 Lincoln Navigator, a full-size luxury SUV, has been reported to have several common problems by its owners. These issues span across various components of the vehicle, including the engine, air suspension, and electronics/infotainment system.
One of the most frequently reported problems is engine issues, which manifest as stalling and knocking sounds.
The Lincoln Navigator has also been plagued by numerous complaints against its electrical system. One common issue is with the SUV’s lift gate, which has been reported to open randomly, even when the vehicle is stationary.
In addition to engine and electrical issues, the Lincoln Navigator has also been reported to have problems with its air suspension. The most-reported problem is with the 2004 Lincoln Navigator for air suspension not working, with an average cost to fix of $2,300 and an average mileage of 88,000 mi.
While the Lincoln Navigator is a high-end, luxury vehicle, its numerous defects have troubled its owners for years. If your Lincoln Navigator has suffered serious issues or defects, it is advisable to seek legal assistance to protect your vehicle from further complications.
In summary, the 2020 Lincoln Navigator has been reported to have several common problems, including engine issues, electrical system defects, and air suspension problems. These issues have been reported by several users across different models of the Lincoln Navigator and have caused inconvenience and safety concerns for owners.
2020 Lincoln Navigator car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Lincoln Navigator problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Engine problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2020 Lincoln Navigator vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2020 Lincoln Navigator complaints
The NHTSA has received 14 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2020 Lincoln Navigator.
2024-07-14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-20
- VIN: 5LMJJ3LT4LE
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: My car has an unknown electrical issue that causes the car battery to completely drain and the car unable to turn on. It first started in August 2023 and after months of time at the dealership, Lincoln has never determined the cause or been able to fix it and it continues to happen. This is unsafe because it leaves me and my family stranded with no operable car.
2024-06-05
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-30
- VIN: 5LMJJ2LT2LE
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Transmission hard shifting when shifting down 3-1 and up 1-3 I see there is a recall for 2020-2024 navigator but mine doesnt show recalls when i looked for it
2024-05-10
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-10
- VIN: 5LMJJ3LT5LE
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while at a complete stop, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted upon pressing the Push to Start button. The contact stated upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked, was sluggish, and made an abnormal crackling sound. The vehicle then responded as needed and the contact continued driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal to come to a stop, the vehicle shut off inadvertently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The dealer test-drove the vehicle and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
2024-01-24
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-31
- VIN: 5LMJJ3LT9LE
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving 50-55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the transmission shifted into neutral(N). The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the transmission fluid was 2-quarts low after driving 100 miles. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring more increasingly. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the engine revved, but the vehicle failed to respond and jerked. The contact stated that the vehicle also experienced hard shifts while attempting to shift into gear. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted into Neutral(N) while the gear shifter was in drive(D), and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the transmission was making abnormal grinding sounds. The contact continued to drive to the dealer however, there was smoke coming from underneath the vehicle and the vehicle lost motive power at the dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was considering buying back the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 45,600.
2024-01-09
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-15
- VIN: 5LMJJ2LT5LE
- Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: When driving, if the accelerator pedal is depressed to merge into the highway or overtake other vehicles, the vehicle abruptly stops accelerating, and the RPM reaches max revs. The vehicle quickly loses momentum until it abruptly slams back into gear, causing a loud bang and startling the driver. This vehicle had a TSB for similar issues that was repaired by our dealer 2 times previously. We have experienced this 2 times since the repair (A total of 4 times). One time, while attempting to accelerate onto a merge lane into traffic, the car stopped accelerating, causing a large 18 wheeler to slam on their brakes to avoid hitting us as we were running out of onramp space. The dealer performed a transmission rebuild after the 3rd time this occurred. The day after we got the car back from service, it happened again. We have video footage of the transmission slipping after the event. The dealer is unable to replicate the condition, and therefore, don't have anything they can fix without a code or system fault- apparently not even the over-revs triggered a fault. I don't trust this vehicle to be safe for my family or other motorists. I have asked for a completely new transmission and other components but am told that without their ability reproduce the issues, there is no repair. They are unable to guarantee the car's safety, but expect for me to take it back. This puts me in an impossible situation - I'm being forced to drive a car that I know is unpredictably unsafe, and am unable to ethically/morally dispose of the vehicle knowing it will be back on the road and driven by someone else. Lincoln needs to do the right thing for their customers, other motorists, and my family. Their solution was to give me an extended warranty - a nice gesture, but clearly not addressing the safety issue at hand. Note: I am unable to upload the email chain with Lincoln because the upload button below does not work. I'm happy to share any communication you need.
2024-01-06
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-25
- VIN: 5LMJJ3TT3LE
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Frequently while traveling at 35 mph to highway speeds, while needing to accelerate slightly to avoid traffic, change lanes, pass, etc. the Navigator needs to downshift. It drops out of gear and seems to fail to find a lower gear resulting in a neutral like gear, loss of power, engine revving sometimes to redline. This was happening frequently during a family Thanksgiving trip in 2023. It is very scary when this happens, especially at interstate speeds in traffic. It is very unsafe!
2024-01-01
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-01
- VIN: 5LMJJ3LT6LE
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Driving vehicle for an approximately 70 miles highway trip, the vehicle was experiencing some hard shifts/poor shift quality prior to overheating. Temperature in vehicle for the transmission was reading 237 degree Fahrenheit when we stopped at a light after exiting the highway. We noted smoke and saw oil on the exhaust, which is a concern for fire. We noted a burning smell as well. Rear hatch of vehicle was sprayed with fluid, which we think is transmission fluid, causing a visibility concern out the rear windshield. The transmission had been previously rebuilt and a prior complaint filed. There were no error messages displayed in the vehicle. I have attempted to contact the dealership but they are closed on 1/1/24. I reached out to Lincoln Concierge and filed a complaint.
2023-12-31
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-01
- VIN: 5LMJJ3LT6LE
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Vehicle set on adaptive cruise control, car accelerated to get back up to set speed and had a hard "clunk" sound. Driver turned off cruise control and attempted to accelerate vehicle. Vehicle tachometer revved up, transmission didn't shift properly, still shifting hard or not shifting at all. Once stopped, driver of vehicle found the back of the car covered in what appeared to be ATF and what appeared to be ATF leaking under the car. Took car to dealership for inspection, transmission rebuilt. Per tech that rebuilt transmission, it overheated. No warning lights came on, the transmission temperature displayed on the vehicle was 215 degrees Fahrenheit at time of incident.
2023-08-21
ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-01
- VIN: 5LMJJ2KT7LE
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Vehicle will abruptly lose power when accelerating to pass. Typically when travelling between 40 and 60 miles an hour and while accelerating to merge or pass. Vehicle basically stalls. Creates extremely dangerous situation.
2023-07-27
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-28
- Crash: 1
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 5LMJJ3TT7LE
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: On June 28, 2023 I was driving my 2020 Lincoln Navigator Black Label and pull over due to smoke coming out from under my car. I turned the car off and went to open up the hook and seen black smoking pouring out of my car. I immediately called 911 and reported my car on fire. My car burned to the ground and Lincoln says there was not recalls. I have loss a significant amount of money on this car that I purchased only 1 year & 3 months ago and my insurance company is only paying me what the most current sales are. I hope something can be done since other Navigators has been recalled due to fires. I would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thank You, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2023-05-02
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-04-25
- VIN: 5LMJJ3LT4LE
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: These tires have become uncontrollable in the rain. At 45 mph in light rain the vehicle slides all over the place. Traction control is going off and the vehicle is near impossible to stop and it slid sideways. I have been driving for 40 years including in the rain with a motorcycle even. I have never experienced anything like this. I asked other lincoln owners on facebook and quickly got a lot of comments on how dangerous they are. Tires came from the Lincoln factory and have 29,000 miles on them with good tread. I dont beleive its a tread depth issue - possibly a tire compound issue. Very dangerous and people will die. This issue is with all 4 tires.
2022-05-01
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-07
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 5LMJJ2TT2LE
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: All windows will fog up when the outside air temperature is below 29 degrees Fahrenheit. The dealer says that it is a known condition, but they are not sure how to resolve it.
2021-11-30
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-12-01
- VIN: 5LMJJ3TT7LE
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the passenger’s side seat would move forward and backward without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to an authorized dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 500.
2021-01-18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-01-10
- VIN: 5LMJJ3LT7LE
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WE'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS. THE APP STARTED SENDING NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT THE CAR GOING INTO DEEP SLEEP AND NEEDING TO CONSERVE BATTERY WITHIN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE. WE WERE UNABLE TO USE REMOTE UNLOCK OR START. JAN 10, IT WAS DEAD AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT AND NEEDED TO BE JUMP STARTED. AFTER THAT, THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE STUCK ONE UP AND ONE DOWN ALL DAY. THE NEXT DAY IT NEEDED TO BE JUMPED AGAIN BUT AFTER THAT TIME, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON, RUNNING BOARDS DID NOT WORK AT ALL. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT CHARGED IT UP. WHEN WE CAME TO RETRIEVE IT, IT WOULDN'T START. IT'S BEEN SEVEN DAYS AND THEY ARE STILL UNABLE TO FIND AN ACTUAL ISSUE.
2020 Lincoln Navigator recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 6 recalls for different components of the 2020 Lincoln Navigator.
2024-02-09
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
- Consequence: Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.
2023-08-25
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator, 2018-2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2022-2023 Ford Transit, and 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. The rearview camera, or 360-degree view camera if equipped, may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
- Consequence: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, and update the software and wiring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023 to Lincoln owners. Ford remedy parts are anticipated 2nd Quarter 2024. Ford's number for this recall is 23S48.
2023-06-09
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
- Consequence: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.
2022-04-14
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
- Consequence: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.
2020-06-23
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
- Consequence: An improperly welded headrest bracket may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began July 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C12.
2020-05-08
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
- Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with camera-only Pre-Collision Assist feature. Vehicles built with the optional radar-plus-camera Pre-Collision Assist system are not affected. Due to incorrect coding of interfacing modules, the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, and the driver cannot access the menu functions necessary to enable the Pre-Collision Assist feature.
- Consequence: If the driver is unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram software for the Body Control Module, Antilock Braking System, Instrument Panel Cluster and Headlamp Control Modules, and reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S20.
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