2020 Lincoln Corsair Problems and Top Complaints – Is Your Car A Lemon?

Powertrain, suspension, visibility, and structure issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners

Updated on Author: Brian Jones

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair is a brand-new SUV that’s designed to help owners “chart your course,” according to the automaker. However, customers are scared to go anywhere behind the wheel. It appears that this luxury SUV suffers from a defective powertrain, harsh suspension, poor visibility and shoddy structure.

Click on other model year to view more problems: 2021   2022

Problems with the Powertrain

The powertrain consists of every part that takes the power from the engine and converts it to force that turns the wheels. The major component of this system is the transmission, which seems to be faulty on the Corsair.

Here’s an Edmunds review to reference. “Something I did not pay attention to while test driving is I feel every gear shift. On the highway, I feel like I am gliding on air. However, city/town driving with stop and go traffic acceleration is flawed. When I first got the car with 46 miles on her I felt every shift and stutter when pulling out of a stop. She is improving as we are nearing the break-in mileage but still, for a luxury vehicle one would expect a smoother shift versus the gentle jerk. I tried the various drive modes and excite does shift smoother.  I also feel like I can feel every bump in the road.”

This powertrain is so defective that there is even a recall for it. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V550000 states that there could be missing or loose bolts in the start-stop accumulator endcap that could cause a transmission fluid leak in select models. If this occurs, it could lead to the loss of transmission function and also a car fire. Maybe the Corsair was only meant to “chart a course” to the fire station.

2020 Lincoln Corsair Complaint Summary

Complaint CategoryNumber of Complaints
Electrical System
7
7
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
5
5
Service Brakes
5
5
Unknown Or Other
5
5
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
4
4
Air Bags
2
2
Back Over Prevention
2
2
Engine
2
2
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
2
2
Structure:body
2
2

Suspension Issues

Along with the rough transmission, customers are also complaining about the ride quality. Apparently, it’s not what’s expected for the price.

That is seen in this Edmunds review. “I should have test driven it longer as I find the suspension to be absolutely terrible. You really feel the road in this vehicle and it’s miserable on a bumpy road (my MKC was so smooth).”

It turns out that Lincoln had to issue another recall for the suspension. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V470000 states that there might not be enough clearance between the rear toe link brackets and rear coil springs, which could cause the springs to break. If this happens, the handling will be hindered dramatically. It could also cause a road hazard, either of which is an increased accident risk. At least if the owner charted a course, they would be able to find their way back thanks to the debris left behind like breadcrumbs.

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Problems with the Visibility

There’s very little as important as seeing out of the car that’s being driven. However, when visibility becomes hindered, the drive is anything but enjoyable. 

Here’s an example from an Edmunds review. “When he drove the car and it was raining the wipers didn’t work properly, there was a noise inside that he could not locate. We drove the car for a while just to see if this would go away, but it didn’t.”

This is one condition that Lincoln decided not to issue communications about. Instead of helping owners see clearly, the company has chosen to keep everyone in the dark.

Structural Problems

One final look at the Corsair shows that the structure is anything but what was expected. 

Reference one more Edmunds review to see what’s happening. “This is hard to believe, but when it’s raining or just wet from a car wash and you have to pop the tailgate, water gets in the back and things get wet-the harder it’s raining the worse it is. I have to keep paper towels handy to wipe up!”

In this situation, Lincoln has issued more than one communication. The first, Service Bulletin #SSM 49121, states that customers are dealing with wind noise and a fluttering roof opening panel because the components weren’t adjusted correctly. Additionally, Service Bulletin #TSB 20-2233 discusses corrosion with the aluminum body panels. Imagine how disappointing it is to “chart a course” somewhere special only to show up in a luxury vehicle with rust. How embarrassing this situation could be and something that might be expected with a Ford, but not a Lincoln. Maybe it’s time owners chart their course to a different manufacturer instead.

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Brian Jones

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.

See more posts from Brian Jones
12 COMMENTS
  • Jim M

    2020 Corsair with 70k miles and needs a new transmission!! It’s also been in the shop 5 times to fix a recall on the backup screen. Lincoln sent a letter saying that they don’t have a permanent fix for the backup camera yet. That was 3 months ago. I despise this money pit of a car and will never buy another Lincoln.

  • Donald L

    Had my Cosair for 3 years and only problem was rear camera, no big issue, turn off engine if camera screen is blue and restart, works fine for a few months. wonderful ride and great gas mileage handles real good

  • ROBERT E

    The ride is very uncomfortable due to the road noise and air noise. I have asked my dealer about it and he says there is nothing that can be done. I would think that Lincoln would make a better vehicle for all the money that I payed. I am ready to get rid of this and go to another brand.

  • Toni

    Transmission going bad on a 2020 Lincoln Corsair

  • Mary K

    I have a 2020 Corsair, I have not had any problems with my suv. I have had it on two 1800 mile trips . It now has 14,000 miles on it. Pleased as of right now. Who know what could happen tomorrow with all the things folks are saying they have problems with.

  • MARVIN F

    2020 LINCOLN CORSAIR: ELECRICAL PROBLEMS AND HAD TO USE TRICKLE CHARGER. BATTERY REPLACED ONCE BY FACTORY. NO MATTER HOW MUCH DRIVING, THE ELECTRIC CUTS OFF AND CANNOT OPEN ANY DOOR BUT DRIVER’S. TOLD BY DEALER TO DRIVE CAR MORE OFTEN BUT OVERNIGHT THE BATTERY GETS DRAINED. ALSO….LAST WEEK FOUND HATCH OPENED BY ITSELF IN GARAGE. SPOKE WITH LINCOLN CONCIERGE SERVICE AND THEY ADVISED “TAKE CAR TO DIFFERENT DEALER”…… PLANNING TO HAVE CAR SERVICED NEXT WEEK BY NEW DEALER. ALSO CONTACTED THE MAIN LINCOLN SERVICE RECENTLY AND THEY PROMISED TO SPEAK WITH NEW DEALER.

  • Dena G

    I love my Corsair but quite honestly I’ve had problem after problem none of which “really” affected its ride but it’s multi and continuous problems concerns me especially for the money. It made a rubbing or dragging sound when turning 2 times I took it in couldn’t find problem then a recall the RDU had to be replaced 2 different times only after putting all new tires on first to see if that fixed it! I finally get it back and now engine coolant over temperature and white smoke rolling out of exhaust DONT SOUND GOOD!!! Computer won’t say the issue now they are having to tear into the motor. Mind you I just got vehicle back when engine problem occurred. Lemon or just my bad luck?

  • John P

    I have had no issues with our Lincoln Corsair, the ride is great, like you are driving on a cloud very quite and the acceleration is awesome. This is our third Lincoln, the MKS and MKZ are very quite to traded them in for the Corsair I am getting old . I give our car 5 for ride

  • Raphael G

    We have had no issues at all with our Lincoln Corsair, the ride is great, like you are driving on a cloud very quite and the acceleration is awesome. This is our third Lincoln. I give our car 5 stars

  • Lynn N

    I’ve had my Cosair since November 2020. The back break pads fell off. The front break pads are now bad and they won’t have parts until the end of the month. It needs new tires already. I’ve also had several issues where the hatch won’t open and service acts like I’m making it up. The screen has went black several times as well. I hate this car and I’m trading it in ASAP!

  • Mark G

    We had multiple problems with our Corsair. The first day we pick up the car, the rear hatch jammed and wouldn’t open. We returned to the dealer and had to get a loaner. The car was ready the next day.
    We had a recall done for anti lock brake system. Had to get a loaner, with the car ready the next day.
    We also had a recall for the rear suspension clearance issue. It took over 7 months before the parts were available. We traded the car before the service was performed. We had several long trips planned and did not want an unreliable car.
    There were also several gremlins that kept coming up. A tail light developed a leak and had to be replaced. ( again, requiring a loaner). The driver seat control for forward/reverse kept shorting out. We also has several times the front and rear brake controls would stop functioning and send a dash message to say auto braking would not function.
    It was time to cut our loses and find a reliable SUV!

  • Gary H

    We also have a bad vibration in passenger seat . Not very quiet ride noisy inside. Foot keeps sliding off Gass pedal. Shld b able to adjust it.

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