Problems · by component

1998 Lincoln Navigator suspension problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Lincoln Navigator cite suspension, 12% of all 201 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
25
12% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2016Suspension, Wheels, Service brakesODI 10885556
“I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A RODE A DROVE EVERYDAY SOMETHING BROKE ON MY 98 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR . THE GUYS WHO FLIPPED IT BACK OVER SAID THE SUSPENSION BROKE I SCRAPED A GUARDRAIL THEN STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD HEAD ON WITH A TREE I FLIPPED UP ON MY HEADLIGHTS SPUN LIKE THAT THEN ROLLED 50 MORE FEET DOWN THE ROAD IT KNOCKED ME OUT ON IMPACT BUT A FRIEND WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND SEEN THE WHOLE THING I HAD A SEVERE CONCUSSION AND BROKE MY BACK N FOUR PLACES NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE FOR ANYONE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUSPENSION AND AIR SHOCKS NOT WORKING MY SONS ALMOST LOST THEIR MOM BC THE SUSPENSION BROKE IT WAS A VERY WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE ONE OWNER BE FORE ME WHO TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT I ONLY DROVE IT FOR 5 MONTHS ABOUT 20 MILES ADAY TO WORK IN BACK IT WAS NOT LACK OF MAINTENANCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2016Suspension, Air bags, WheelsCrash reportedODI 10860549
“WHEELS ARE NOT SAFE AND VERY DANGEROUS AND RANDOMLY BREAKING OFF ALL SCREWS WHILE DRIVING AND RUINED THE FRAME AND DRIVE SHAFT TRANSMISSION SUSPENSION ETC... HIGHWAY 10 WEST AND VEHICLE BECAME UNSTOPPABLE AS BRAKES ALSO NEW BUT FAILED WITHOUT 4TH WHEEL THIS OCCURRED 1ST ON MORNING AFTER ST PATRICKS DAY 2016 AND THE TIRES WERE GOOD AND WHEELS WERE BOLTED WITH LUGNUT IMPACT DRILL AND MECHANIC SAID THERS A RECALL AND THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS UNAWARE BUT LINCOLN CLAIMS THEY TRIED TO FIX BEFORE IN 1999 BUT ANAHEIM WAS FRAUDULENTLY CLAIMING REPAIRS THAT WERE NEVER COMPLETED BECAUSE THE OWNER ALWAYS ONLY WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED NEW AND THE WARRANTY WAS IN EFFECT 69,863 MILES .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2016Suspension, Power train, WheelsCrash reportedODI 10854253
“THE AIR COMPRESSOR CONTINUES TO FAIL, THIS CAUSES THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP WAY DOWN. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY I AM AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE CAN FLIP OVER WITH MYSELF AND MY BABY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2009Suspension, StructureODI 10286680
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOW TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE SUSPENSION SENSORS FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2009SuspensionODI 10285162
“WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT TIE ROD SEPARATED, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT TIE ROD SEPARATED. (ALL PARTS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER) THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED AT A LOW SPEED. WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE, ALONG WITH THE INNER BINDING, THE REACTION WAS EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE LEFT INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD END WERE REPLACED. THE SWAY BAR LINK HAD BROKEN. (THE RIGHT TIE ROD END AND SWAY BAR LINK WAS REPLACED) *SCC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2003Steering, SuspensionODI 10020173

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 1998 Navigator problem areas