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.
Safety recalls
Owner complaints by component
- Lane departure2
- Service brakes2
- Electrical system1
- Engine1
- Back over prevention1
- Power train1
- Seat belts1
- Seats1
- Visibility/wiper1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
What owners report most
Lane departure
“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.”
Service brakes
“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.”
Electrical system
“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.”
Engines, transmissions & drive
- 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.
EPA fuel economy by version
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nautilus HEV AWD Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 29 | 31 | 30 | $2,100 | 297 |
| Nautilus AWD Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,600 | 369 |
- 30mpg comb.
- 24mpg comb.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
- Frontal crash
- 5 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 16.9%
- Frontal crash
- 5 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 4 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 16.9%
Maintenance basics
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat 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
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.