Electrical system and engine issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
When it comes to luxury SUVs, the 2019 Lincoln Navigator is at the top of many owners’ lists. This vehicle is the epitome of what luxury is supposed to be, with the company claiming it’s “Not just a cabin. A sanctuary.” However, beyond the bells and whistles, there is a lot going wrong. Customers are complaining about the electrical system, engine, seat belts and air bags.
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With a high-end vehicle, such as the Navigator, it’s expected that everything should work together seamlessly for a perfect experience. Yet, all customers find is a glitchy system that leads to major disasters.
Here is an example of what can go wrong from an Edmunds review. “Three months ago, my dealer picked up my 2019 Navigator L Black Label for service. While in their possession they crashed it due to an ongoing technical problem and backed it into their building causing over $44,000 in damage to the vehicle. Now, three months later, Ford is unable to provide some of the parts. In particular, the glass for the rear tailgate; the sensors for the cross vehicle detection system, and others. The crash was caused because when one of their employees went to put the car in reverse, it lunged backward apparently at full throttle and crashed through a wall in the dealership, causing over $44,000 in damage to the Navigator. While the dealership has been very helpful, getting the parts from Ford is a problem. Also, since I have had ongoing issues with the vehicle’s computers, I am now scared to drive it.”
Additionally, there is a recall because of the electrical system. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V076000 states that the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly might not function, leading to a blank display. When this cluster doesn’t show up, customers lose access to vital information, such as temperature levels, safety system warnings, fuel level and vehicle speed. Of course, not knowing this information does help customers operate in bliss, with no cares in the world, but it’s not something the officer writing the speeding ticket will agree with.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Power Train | |
| Seat Belts | |
| Electrical System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Air Bags | |
| Back Over Prevention | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking |
If the engine in a vehicle is powerful and dependable, the ride is enjoyable. Yet, that’s not what is being experienced by Lincoln drivers across the country.
Look at this Edmunds review. “After 15 months, nine times in the shop and 45 days without my car, my brand new 2019 Navigator has FINALLY been deemed a lemon. The transmission was slipping and the engine was burning oil. Lincoln told the dealership to put oil in the car and give it back to me!!! Lincoln refused to replace the engine as well as the transmission. Sadly, I absolutely loved my Navigator. It had all the bells and whistles you could ever want but mechanically the car was junk. Please don’t fall into the same trap we did. These are beautiful luxury cars but they are horrible and Lincoln’s customer service is by far worse than the vehicle they built. There is no customer service whatsoever! It was a horrible experience and I’m glad it is finally over. We are one and done for any Lincoln product in the future. As we went through this process we have discovered several other people that have had the same problem.”
It turns out that Lincoln has more engine problems than it can keep up with. Service Bulletin #SSM 49043 stated that the Navigator is excessively using oil, but customers need to wait for a fix. The automaker needs some additional time to figure out how to reprogram the PCM. In the meantime, technicians continue to top off the engine. Wonder if they pay for the blown engine when there isn’t enough oil to keep the motor lubricated? When all else fails, customers can sit in their “sanctuary” while they wait for service.
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Considering how many decades that seat belts have been around for, it’s nearly unheard of for this system to malfunction. But, leave it to Lincoln to find a way to create failure in one of the oldest safety features available.
Check out this NHTSA review. “Restraints Indicator Lamp Warning Light on every time passenger gets in and buckled up. While it motion it will turn on! Dealer couldn’t figure it out.”
So, does this mean that the seat belts will tighten or not? No one knows. Plus, Lincoln isn’t really talking about it. When it comes to the seats, all the company is willing to address is found in Service Bulletin #SSM 47814. This communication says that some vehicles with climate-controlled seats might create a buzzing noise, get too warm or fail to work at all. Nothing like hot buns to make someone feel like they are in a “sanctuary.” To take it a step further, the automaker added some sound effects too.
Another basic safety feature is the air bag. Since Lincoln has already failed to keep people safe, it’s no surprise that this system is compromised too.
One more NHTSA complaint states, “The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle in front stopped suddenly and the contact crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The seatbelt pretensioner failed to operate as intended. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained bruising to her chest from the seat belt. The 2 children received small bruising to the face and left shoulder from the seat belt. The other vehicle injuries were unknown. A police report was filed. Medical attention was contacted. The occupant of the other vehicle received medical attention at the scene of the crash. The vehicle was towed to [dealership] were a diagnostic test was still pending. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.”
In today’s world, everyone needs to be prepared for an accident. Drivers are distracted and it’s easy to cause a collision. What no one wants is there to be a defect on the vehicle that could create that accident, but that’s what’s happening with Lincoln. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V773000 states that some vehicles have a rear suspension toe link fastener that might not have been tightened to the frame. If this separates, it could create an accident. Hopefully, when that collision occurs, the air bags in the “sanctuary” work as intended, but Lincoln’s record leads everyone to believe otherwise. Maybe it is just a cabin after all.
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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