Lincoln Navigator Complaints (2003)

127 consumer complaints on file.

#11732915April 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Lincoln Navigator. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 160,000. The contact reset the mileage, and the display showed 247,000. The contact had not contacted any other agencies. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11610921August 26, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the residence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rocker arms, and that the engine lacked adequate compression in cylinders #2 and #3, resulting in engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11489796October 18, 2022
FIRERELATED
The contact owned a 2003 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that fifteen minutes after she parked and turned off the vehicle in the driveway, her brother alerted her that the driver's side front seat had caught fire. The air bags were deployed. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The fire department determined that the cause of the fire was an electrical system failure. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle remained in the driveway and was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. Prior to the failure, the gear shifter and driver's side front seat made grinding noises, and the passenger's side front window made clicking noises while driving. The failure mileage was 120,196.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246739August 27, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RAIN WATER LEAK NEXT TO PASSENGER SIDE BACK REAR POWER WINDOW WHILE PARKED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191091March 23, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAKATA RECALL !!! I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE REVERSE LIGHTS SAME RECALL ISSUE AS THE 2012 NAVIGATOR ALSO THE CAR WHEN IT'S IN PARK WON'T ENGAGE WHEN THE BREAK PEDAL IS APPLIED TO UNLOCK THE GEARING TO REVERSE NUTURAL DRIVE 1ST AND 2ED GEAR IT WON'T HUGE SAFETY WITH THE REVERSE LIGHTS I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OTHER DRIVERS ARE NOT AWARE I'M REVERSING ISSUE STARTED TWO MONTHS AGO AND I STOPPED DRIVING IT BECAUSE I ALMOST GET INTO ACCIDENTS WITH OUT THE REVERSE LIGHTS WONDER IF THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY CONSENT FOR A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073933February 20, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY SUSPENSION HAS AIRBAGS THAT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I KNOW OTHER NAVIGATOR OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WORKED ON BUT NOTHING CHANGES.PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. THE AIRBAGS DO NOT RAISE THE CAR AND IT BOUNCES AROUND WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR IS HARD TO CONTROL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10874720June 16, 2016
ENGINE
COMING HOME FROM A TRIP ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE. COME TO FIND OUT THE # 3 SPARK PLUS EXPLODED DESTROYING THE COIL AND AND THREADS HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG IN. CAUSING THE NEED TO RE TAP THE THREADS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760148August 29, 2015
ENGINE
JUST DRIVING IN A 45 MPH, WHEN HEARD LOUD BANGING COMING FROM ENGINE. PULLED OVER AND HAD CAR TOWED IN FOR REPAIR. ENGINE BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731207June 30, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681107February 4, 2015
SUSPENSION, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. ALSO, A "CHECK THE SUSPENSION" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE REAR SHOCKS FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING BOARD SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668927December 29, 2014
ENGINE
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND CLANKING NOISE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT ENGINE AREA. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WHOLE FAMILY IN THE SUV. WE WERE ABLE TO STILL DRIVE IT TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A "BLOWN-OUT SPARK PLUG". HE SAID THE SPARK PLUG HAD COME OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. HE SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THAT ENGINE AND THERE WAS A SPARK PLUG KIT FOR IT. HE USED THE KIT, AND IT ONLY HELD FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. IT NOW HAS LOST POWER, SHAKES, AND POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE REPAIR KIT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT AMPLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654505November 12, 2014
SUSPENSION, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
THIS IS THE FIFTH (5TH) TIME IN 6 YEARS I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR OF THE AIR SUSPENSION (COMPRESSOR, RIDE HEIGHT) , ALL BUT ONE OF THOSE TIMES WAS TO THE FORD LINCOLN DEALERSHIP. IT IS CLEAR THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THERE ARE 10 SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE 2003 AIR SUSPENSION ALONE, AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET (SEE COMPLAINTS ON EDMUNDS, EVEN FORDS WEBSITE AND SEVERAL CAR FORUMS. THESE ARE OF THE LINCOLN NAVIGATOR ONLY, NOT ITS EQUIVALENT FORD EXPEDITION, WHICH ALSO HAS HOSTS OF COMPLAINTS.) MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS STATE, MUCH LIKE MY EXPERIENCE, THAT THE DEALER CANNOT EVEN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE TO YOU THE DANGER INVOLVED WHEN THE SUSPENSION FAILS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR BOUNCES VIOLENTLY AND BECOMES TOTALLY UNCONTROLLABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654284November 11, 2014
SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY ROOF-MOUNTED DVD PLAYER HAS NEVER WORKED BUT STILL MAKES NOISES WHEN CAR IS CRUNK UP OR SWITCHED OFF, MY BATTERY ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT DEAD (CAR WOULD NOT CRANK), HEADLIGHTS HAVE SHORTS IN THEM...AFTER REPLACING $100 BULBS, I FOUND OUT IF I TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, THE BULB WILL COME BACK ON, CHECK PARK ASSIST LIGHT AND ALARMS COME ON EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE, AND MY SUSPENSION WILL NOT LET THE VEHICLE UP WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604257June 18, 2014
SUSPENSION
I BOUGHT MY USED 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR IN 2008. A YEAR LATER, AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. BOTH IN CITY AND ON HIGHWAY - VARIOUS SPEEDS - BUT THE SCARIEST AND MOST DANGEROUS WAS WHEN IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAYS. CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL SUSPENSION AND DROP EXTREMELY LOW. THE NAVI BOUNCED DANGEROUSLY AND VIOLENTLY EVEN AT VERY REDUCED SPEEDS. IT ALSO CAUSED THE NAVI TO SCRAPE THE GROUND ON A FEW OCCASIONS. HAD IT REPAIRED THREE TIMES @ $500+ AND WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR @ APPX $2000+!! I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NAVI'S. IN ORDER TO SAVE MY TIME, MONEY AND SANITY, I OPTED FOR SPRING-SUSPENSIONS AT A THIRD OF THE COST AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THOSE IN OVER 4 YEARS! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE SPRING-SUSPENSIONS AND STOP THE INSANITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592969May 21, 2014
SUSPENSION
TOTAL AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573745March 20, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD. THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. THE CONTACT RAN TO CATCH VEHICLE AND WAS INJURED FROM A FALL. DRIVER SUFFERED SPRAINED ANGLE, BODY BRUISING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10545137September 24, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A LOUD ROARING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND DETECTED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE AIR LIFT COMPRESSOR. THE NOISE COULD ALSO BE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,319.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486580November 30, 2012
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED TO ADJUST AND COULD NOT BE MOVED FORWARD. THE METAL BAR FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRACTURED AND THE SEAT BECAME LOCKED IN PLACE, WHICH WAS ABNORMALLY FAR FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE METAL BAR ADJUSTER FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482515October 29, 2012
SUSPENSION
MY AIR SUSPENSION WENT OUT THE FIRST TIME IN MARCH OF 2008, IT JUST QUIT WORKING. I THEN PAID $500 TO GET IT REPLACED. THEN AGAIN IN 2011 IT WENT OUT 2 DIFFERENT TIME, IN WHICH THIS TIME I HAD THE COMPRESSOR REBUILT. AND AGAIN IT WENT OUT OF MAY OF 2012. THIS TIME I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPLACED, I ONLY DRIVE THE SUV WHEN I HAVE TO. THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR SUSPENSIONS ON THE 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR THAT FORD SHOULD MAKE THE PART GOOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479439October 9, 2012
AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION
THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT AIRBAG RIDE SUSPENSION BAG EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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