Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Lincoln Navigator problems

Owners filed 138 complaints about the 1999 Lincoln Navigator with NHTSA between Oct 1998 and Nov 2020. The most-cited component is tires (30).

Complaints
138
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Tires30
  2. Engine and engine cooling22
  3. Suspension13
  4. Electrical system12
  5. Wheels10
  6. Visibility10
  7. Vehicle speed control8
  8. Power train8
  9. Steering7
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  11. Exterior lighting4
  12. Structure4
  13. Latches/locks/linkages3
  14. Seats3

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19981
199921
200018
20019
200210
200312
200416
200514
20063
20075
20084
20095
20108
20112
20120
20132
20141
20152
20161
20170
20183
20190
20201

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Tires

30 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR EQUIPPED WITH NATIONAL A/S COMMANDO TIRES, SIZE: 245/75/16 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS 6,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2013TiresODI 10534876

Engine and engine cooling

22 reports5 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2011Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10426629

Suspension

13 reports1 crash1 fire
“WHILE DRIVING ....... WITHOUT WARNING THE AIR SUSPENSION LINE EXPLODED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNMANAGEABLE ... CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND STRIKE VARIOUS STATIONARY OBJECTS ...... *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2014Suspension, Power train, WheelsCrash reportedODI 10568497

Electrical system

12 reports3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROOF LEAKED WATER ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW POST AND THEN TRAVELED TO THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE WATER CAUSED ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR POWER DOOR LOCK COULD ONLY BE ACCESSED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2016Electrical system, Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10871253

Wheels

10 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE VEHICLES REAR LEFT WHEEL FELL OFF IN JUNE OF 2008. A TIRE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STUD BROKE. THE WHEEL WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, ON OCTOBER 5, 2009 WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE OUT OF A PARKING LOT HE HEARD A NOISE, AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING TO THE RIGHT. WHEN HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HE OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT LEFT WHEEL AND THE ROTOR FELL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V095000 WHEELS: LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS; THEREFORE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 230,000. UPDATED 11/06/09 *BF UPDATED 11/09/09*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2009WheelsODI 10286529

Visibility

10 reports
“SPARK PLUGS FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. *AK COOLANT LEAKED TWICE IN THE PAST. THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REINSTALLED. THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW SQUEAKED. THE TRIM ON THE FRONT DOOR PANEL WAS REMOVED AND REINSTALLED. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE ENGINE HAD RUN ROUGH. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE FAULTY COIL PACK ON THE #4 CYLINDER. THE HEATER HOSE WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE. THE HEATER DID NOT BLOW AIR AND DISPLAYED A BURNING SMELL. *SC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Visibility, StructureODI 10055560
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.