Electrical and powertrain issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
There aren’t a lot of luxury crossover models to choose from, although the segment continues to grow in popularity. While it was the first model for the company, the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus gained a lot of attention because of the sleek design and promises of high-class travel. Even the automaker claims it comes with “a new generation of technology.” Once the owners spent some time driving it, they found that it does, in fact, come with a lot extra – in the form of problems. This SUV can’t seem to maintain a functional electrical system or responsive powertrain
Owners might be able to overlook some faulty accessories, but it is impossible to ignore when something goes wrong with the powertrain. Luxury vehicles should always shift smoothly for a comfortable ride, but that’s not what happens with the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus.
Another Edmunds reviewer says, “The transmission slips a great deal when trying to shift between 3rd and 4th gears. The vehicle has less than 2000 miles and the local dealer tells me that the transmission is still learning my driving patterns. That is bull because the problem is getting worse. I plan to take it in for servicing in the next week. In my state they get three tries to fix the problem. You must fill a lemon law case within the first year of owning the vehicle or eat it. My guess is that is why the dealer is trying to get me to delay bringing the vehicle in for servicing. Took the vehicle in to have the transmission to service. Dealer found the problem to be in the transmission control software and fixed the problem. However, at about 8,000 mile it is coming back again, but not as bad as before. The transmission has developed a new problem in that it bangs on occasion when shifted into drive. No noticeable pattern to the problem.”
With Service Bulletin #TSB 19-2103, we see that Lincoln is aware of transmission issues. The company discusses how some transmissions create a harsh, bumpy upshift, downshift and engagement concerns. They blame the problem on the PCM software and its parameters for upshift flares, stationary and rolling engagements. It requires a reprogramming of the PCM. It’s a shame that the dealer isn’t taking care of the problem for the reviewer above; leaving them with a malfunctioning luxury automobile. For the price paid to get behind the wheel of this Lincoln model, owners require much more than they are receiving. If they wanted Ford quality, that’s what they would have purchased instead.
TRANSMISSION JERKS DURING AUTOMATIC SHIFTING AND AT SLOW SPEEDS ACCELERATES FORWARD. DEALER SAYS FORD IS AWARE AND THEY CAN’T REPAIR. OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE.
I HAVE CAR IN REVERSE , AFTER BACKING UP I PUT IT IN DRIVE AN FEEL AND HEAR A BIG CLUNK NOISE
MY 2019 NAUTILUS IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.7 LITER ENGINE. WHEN ACCELERATING HARD TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY OR PASSING ANOTHER MOTOR VEHICLE. THERES A STRONG ODOR OF VEHICLE EXHAUST. THE ROTTEN EGG SMELL TAKES OVER THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE FORCING YOU TO PUT DOWN ALL THE WINDOWS TO REMOVE IT.
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| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Power Train | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Engine | |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | |
| Steering | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Seat Belts | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Vehicle Speed Control |
To compete in the luxury SUV market, the vehicle must contain the latest technologies and gadgets. Aside from that, everything must work well. Otherwise, owners have simply wasted their money.
One Edmunds reviewer is quite upset about the electrical system in the Nautilus. The review states, “The wireless charging system has no cut off. I purchased a new LG L6 phone specifically because it offers wireless charging. After about a 2 hour drive the alarm on the phone went off indicating a high temperature. And wow was it ever hot. If we did not have the door to the pocket open we would never have noticed and perhaps the Lion battery would have exploded. The pocket is unusable if the phone is on the charger. The glass is facing up and nothing should be put on it. This was not thought out too well by the designers.”
It’s clear that the electrical problems go beyond inconvenience in this vehicle. There have been two recalls related to the defects. The first one, labeled with NHTSA Campaign Number 19V076000, states that the instrument cluster might not start-up or will go blank. This prevents drivers from seeing vehicle speed, temperature levels, safety system warnings and fuel data. To repair this, the automaker must reprogram the Panel Cluster Assembly.
In the second recall, labeled with NHTSA Campaign Number 19V031000, we see another failure, this time with the hands-off wheel alerts. It turns out that the Lane Center Assist can’t accurately tell if the driver has taken their hands off the wheel. This just proves that the new round of technology isn’t what the consumer wants if it doesn’t work correctly. Paying a premium price used to give customers the reliability and peace of mind that they paid for. Today, it simply means more recalls and trouble.
WHILE STOPPED AT A DRIVE THRU TODAY THE CAR STARTED GIVING OFF MULTIPLE WARNINGS OF SAFETY FAILURES–BLIND SPOT MONITORING, CAMERA, LANE KEEP, HILL ASSIST, AND AUTO HOLD. THE FINAL WARNING WAS A POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE A QUICK TWO MINUTE TRIP HOME AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.
WITH LESS THAN 700 MILES ON THE NEW CAR, MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLACK. I TOOK IT TO THE SELLING DEALER WHO KEPT IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND SAID THEY COULDN’T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. I WAS INFORMED WHEN THEY RETURNED MY CAR THAT WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED THE CAR MY ISSUE WAS NOT THERE. WE RECEIVED SEVERAL TEXT MESSAGE WARNING FROM LINCOLN
19C03 RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON 4/22/19 AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS GONE BLANK 7 TIMES OVER THE PAST 30 DAYS AND HAS BEEN IN THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. I AM TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX. SOMETIMES THE SCREEN IS BLANK ON START UP AND SOMETIMES IT GOES BLANK WHILE DRIVING. IN EVERY CASE AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES THE SCREEN WILL BEGIN TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. THERE IS NO PATTERN AS TO WHEN THIS ISSUE WILL OCCUR SO IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT IS BLANK. THIS HAPPENED ON MAY 1,6,7,15,17,19,AND 21.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. HOPEFULLY LINCOLN WILL HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED SOON.
STARTED CAR AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BLACKED OUT. RESTATING CAR DID NOT CORRECT IT SO HAD NO VISIBILITY TO ANYTHING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Lincoln pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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2019 Lincoln Nautilus transmission issues have been through the ringer very frustrating.
2019 Lincoln Nautilus jerking/hesitation between zero-40mpg. Started at 70k miles.
Dealership quoted 4200 to repair.
It’s obvious that Lincoln has a problem and I’ve read a ton of consumer complaints.
Lincoln should issue a recall for this issue.
Our Lincoln Nautilus has a problem of coming to a complete stop when I exit my sloping driveway. I have been told by Tower Ford that it can’t see the road in front of me and decides to stop going forward. This also happened to me on a steep hill in town. It came to a complete stop in traffic. So scary.
My 2019 Lincoln Nautilus problems (purchased): I have had the display/instrument panel gone blank many times over the last 2-3 years. Once the vehicle completely shut off in the middle of an intersection and I had to coast to safety. I had just left the dealership the day before for a tune up/inspection. I waited a while and it started and did not have the problem again until now (that was approx. 6 months ago). This time I was at a work appt and came out and hit the start button and NOTHING. Dead. I was only out of the car 10 minutes to meet an appraiser. Waited a bit and hit start again and still nothing. Meanwhile the entire car dash/display is turning on and off and giving me notices that its shutting down to save power, etc… I call AAA hoping for a jump or tow. As I am on the phone with the AAA tow lady – the car starts trying to start itself. I am not touching ANYTHING. No foot on the brake, no finger on the start button. It just keeps starting over and over and over. The AAA lady could not believe it… I said this car has a mind of its own and its trying to start itself. Anyway, then the car starts smoking under the hood. Like BAD… like a grill on fire. So I jump out and run and call 911 but by the time the fire truck came the fire was out. They opened the hood and all you could smell was burnt plastic. I apologized to them and they left and the car got towed to the dealership. That was on 11/2/23 and they wont have anyone touch it until they can get a master mechanic to look at it. I am in a rental car waiting for an opening for the Master Mechanic. Has anyone every had an issue like this? It was scary. I do want to say that I have kept up on regular tune ups, oil changes and inspections.
We have a 2019 Nautilus and it jerks severely when shifting gears. We carried it to the dealership for a “update “ and for it to “relearn “ the driving habits, I call BS, the shifting is worse now than ever. I’m very dissatisfied with the Lincoln.
My 2019 lincoln nautilus has had jerky transmission since I bought it Novemer 2018. I thought it had to learn my driving habits and then smooth out. Instead it has gotten worse this year.
What should I do?
My boss had a 2019 or 2020 Navigator, and she ended up filing Lemon law because there were so many issues with it. They finally took her car back after her throwing a bitch fit. I have a nautilus and I’m ready to be done with it. The transmission shifts when it shouldn’t, it goes into low when I try to accelerate, and I was stuck in a lane while everyone was trying to just get around me…how embarrassing. And this is after we had the engine already replace at $6000 because it was out of warranty due to mileage. This car just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I’m so ready to move on!!
Anyone having an issue with the touch screen being jumpy and staying on climate control and not the Home Screen
I leased this car brand new in 2019 and just bought out in cash- the lease in April 2022.
I’ve had nothing but problems with it. From the display screen going black, transmission slipping into reverse on the highway, slipping into park at the red light. Car pulling while I drive, the hatch back slamming down while putting groceries in the back, collision alarm malfunctioning, radio not working, voice command not working, and the latest is on May 15th- car shaking, overheating, smelling rotten eggs/fireworks, had to be towed to shop.
Dates of service:
10/18/2019 Miles 8104 Oil change
03/10/2020 Miles 11,831
08/12/2020 Miles 14,570
08/14/2020 Miles 14,647
10/14/2020 Miles 15,409
12/04/2020 Miles 15,957
11/19/2021 Miles 22,527
01/13/2022 Miles 23,491
05/15/2022 Miles 25,614
Does lincoln nautilis have rear shock problem
The All Wheel Drive (AWS) system. Today I loaded up my 2019 Lincoln Nautilus V6 2.7T Twin Turbo SUV at my Storage Unit. Upon exiting the facility, a snow plow had plowed a snow bank across my exit path. It did not seem like that big a snow bank, so I thought I could get a running start and punch right through it. Bad idea. When I hit the snow pile the front wheels got stuck and everything came to a halt. I put it in reverse and the rear wheels spun a bit then a warning light on the dash said ” rear wheel drive disabled”. The car wouldn’t move. I tried to rock it back and forth, but the rear wheels would spin for a short while then the warning light would come on again. If I waited about 5 minuets the rear wheels would re-ingage and the cycle repeated. I got out and looked. It really was not that much snow. I called the Lincoln Roadside Assist and amazingly a tow truck appeared in about 20 minuets and got me unstuck. The back of the SUV was loaded down with stuff from my storage unit and I thought the weight over the rear wheels would get me out, but the first timed I needed the 4 wheel drive to save me, it disengaged. I don’t get it. I could have bought the Front Wheel Drive version of this car and saved a lot of money. Tomorrow, I’m going to the Dealer service dept and see what they say. I’m glad my lease will be up in 12 months so I can move on. Thanks.
Been having problems with our 2019 Natilus since month or less after purchasing it in October 23 2019. Started with roughness with transmission when changing gears or when in driving normally. This subsided gradually then the missing ot delay in changing gears started Ns still continues presently. Have taken it in for the 4th time. At Lincoln Ford dealership now. Second time within 2 weeks. Really tired of it. I believe Lincoln know what is going on with vechile but in denial. Not a happy customer. First time I have had any thing like this with a Lincoln or any other vechile after purchasing. Mileage is only little over 7000 miles. Less thN 2000 when problem started. Too much money invested