Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Lincoln Navigator problems
Owners filed 201 complaints about the 1998 Lincoln Navigator with NHTSA between Nov 1997 and Apr 2018. The most-cited component is tires (47).
Complaints
201
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
24
Reported by owners
Injuries
26
People reported injured
Deaths
15
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Tires47
- Suspension25
- Electrical system24
- Steering23
- Vehicle speed control19
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Power train16
- Wheels16
- Structure9
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Visibility8
- Air bags7
- Exterior lighting4
- Engine3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
13
27
35
14
21
13
12
20
9
7
6
6
3
2
1
2
1
2
5
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1999 | 27 |
| 2000 | 35 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Tires
47 reports2 crashes
“DT: WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE COMPLETELY SHREDDED, NO EVIDENCE OF A PREVIOUS PUNCTURE. PULLED TO THE RIGHT SIDE SHOULDER OF ROAD ON A BRIDGE AND CALLED FOR TOW TRUCK. TOW TRUCK CAME , REMOVED TIRE AND PLACED THE SPARE ON. THE TIRE IS NOW AT AUTO REPAIR SHOP FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. HAD NOT CONTACTED GENERAL TIRES, BUT WISHED FOR SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE THE TIRES. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A GOODYEAR TIRE. GENERAL TIRE, AMERITRACK, P255/70R16. *AK”
Suspension
25 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SCRAPE ACROSS THE GROUND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED INDEPENDENTLY. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE LUG NUTS ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO DISENGAGE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME, THE DRIVE SHAFT, THE TRANS AXLE, THE TRANSFER CASE, THE REAR AXLE, THE BEARING, AND THE REAR LUG NUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.”
Electrical system
24 reports8 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO GO INTO THE PARK POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.”
Steering
23 reports1 crash
“I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF ROAD THROUGH RIVERSIDE, PA DOING 35 MPH WHEN I EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD EXTREME DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST HIT 3 PEOPLE WALKING ALONGSIDE THE ROAD. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE I DISCOVERED THAT THE INNER TIE ROD HAD BROKEN AND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY TURNED INWARD. THE INNER TIE ROD AND ASSOCIATED MECHANICAL PARTS WERE REPLACED. (OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE). *JB”
Vehicle speed control
19 reports1 crash9 fires1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE PARKED AT A GAS STATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, BUT DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 155,969. UPDATED 09/16/09 *BF UPDATED 09/17/09.*JB”
Engine and engine cooling
17 reports6 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE FIRE HAD ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE AND RULED THE FIRE AS A MECHANICAL FAILURE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND AVAILABLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.