2019 Lincoln Nautilus Problems and Top Complaints – Is Your Car A Lemon?

Updated on December 30th, 2022 Author: Brian Jones

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

NHTSA Complaints for the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus

Problems with the Transmission

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.

Here are some actual complaints logged with the NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus Transmission Problems:

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

Problems with the Electrical System

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.

Here are some actual complaints logged with the NHTSA about the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus Electrical Problems:

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

Your Lemon Law Legal Rights

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.

About the Author:

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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