Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 2 NHTSA variants

2026 Lincoln NautilusRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints for the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus. Most complaints involve lane departure (2) and service brakes (2). The EPA rates it 24–30 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
24–30mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
0campaigns
NHTSA
Owner complaints
13
Top: lane departure
Fuel cost / yr
$2,100est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

NHTSA campaigns for this model year
0 recalls found in NHTSA data for the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus as of Nov 8, 2026.
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

13 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2025 – Oct 2026
  1. Lane departure2
  2. Service brakes2
  3. Electrical system1
  4. Engine1
  5. Back over prevention1
  6. Power train1
  7. Seat belts1
  8. Seats1
  9. Visibility/wiper1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Nautilus model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2019103
202034
202127
202216
20237
202436
202531
202613
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Lane departure

2 reports
“The Lane keeping assistance has failed multiple times when the car enters an intersection and the lines on the road are broken by a gap due to a turn. To situations occurred where the car aggressively entered oncoming traffic lane and I quickly directed the car back to the correct lane. Lane keeping assistance seems to be very touchy. How’s you’re going down the road you can fill the car moving from side to side if the lanes happen to have lines painted in and out the car almost seems to follow them exactly. The car does not allow for minor changes in the painted lines. There’s a shuttering when accelerating at all times I believe this is a torque converter issue. Ford service the vehicle at 10,000 miles and said there was an update that the car .Ford service the vehicle at 10,000 miles and said there was a update that the car needed, but it made no change to any of these problems.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2026Power train, Lane departureODI 11764408

Service brakes

2 reports
“Since day one from the purchase of this vehicle, I have been experiencing seatbelt issues. This car was purchased for my work. It’s a commercial Livery vehicle, but I am suffering each day with complaints from riders and every time it goes to the dealership I am losing time and income. I have lost my confidence in this car. This car was bought for peace of mind but all I have ever experienced is nuisance, hassle, loss of time, suffering, [XXX] complaints and complete loss of confidence. I did not expect this from a new vehicle. The seat belts constantly twist, fail to retain proper tension/positioning, and rattle heavily against the trim. The authorized Lincoln dealership service department has verbally confirmed to me that this issue cannot be repaired because it is an inherent vehicle design flaw as agreed by service Director Chris Fallon. A permanent design defect in a critical safety restraint system substantially impairs both the safety and the market value of this vehicle, making it completely unfit for purpose. The car has been to the garage 3 times for this issue and still it’s unresolved. The dealership has confirmed it is unrepairable.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2026Seat belts, Seats, Service brakesODI 11762714

Electrical system

1 report
“Vehicle infotainment screen locks up/freezes constantly while operating the vehicle . This includes the back-up camera as well, making it unreliable and/or unusable. There are no warning lamps or messages, just a hard freeze that only gets resolved once vehicle is shut off and restarted. That fix is only temporary and has not resolved the issue long-term. The other issue is excessive hesitation when pressing the gas pedal. The car is reluctant to drive forward. Both of these issues are severe safety problems that should get resolved immediately. The dealer service department does not see this as urgent, so the car has not been evaluated by a certified technician yet, due to extensive wait times for a courtesy vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Back over preventionODI 11768946
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl turbo hybrid · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic 8-spd
Drive
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 8, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Nautilus HEV AWD
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
293130$2,100297
Nautilus AWD
Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
212924$2,600369
  • Nautilus HEV AWD
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    29 city · 31 hwy · $2,100/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Nautilus AWD
    Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 8, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
LINCOLN NAUTILUS SUV N/A AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.9%
Overall
5 / 5
LINCOLN NAUTILUS FHEV SUV HEV AWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 8, 2026Vehicle 21448Vehicle 21449
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2026 Nautilus questions

How many recalls does the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus have?

0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Nov 8, 2026.

What are the most common 2026 Lincoln Nautilus problems?

Owners filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are lane departure (2), service brakes (2), electrical system (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus get?

The EPA rates the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus at 24–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 8, 2026