Problems · NHTSA complaints
2017 Lincoln Navigator problems
Owners filed 32 complaints about the 2017 Lincoln Navigator with NHTSA between Dec 2017 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (5).
Complaints
32
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes5
- Back over prevention5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Electrical system4
- Visibility4
- Air bags3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Exterior lighting2
- Structure2
- Suspension2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Lane departure1
- Steering1
- Engine1
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
0
1
1
1
5
4
4
9
6
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 6 |
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
Service brakes
5 reports1 crash
“The vehicle has a severe brake fluid leak. There is a recall for the issue. I called the local Lincoln dealership Ford Mill Lincoln SC and they said there was nothing they could do. I explained to them that there was a safety recall. They refused to fix the vehicle under the recall. The car is very unsafe to drive and the manufacturer is not offering any assistance to fix the defect.”
Back over prevention
5 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact previously received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available, and the rearview camera intermittently displayed a blank or distorted image. The contact stated that when the part for the recall repair became available, the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, after the dealer inspected the rearview camera, no failure was found. The rearview camera was not replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the rearview camera would be replaced as necessary. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
5 reports2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that there was an unknown fluid leaking from the rear of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V236000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 58,000.”
Electrical system
4 reports1 fire
“the rearview camera does not always come on when the vehicle is put in reverse. It appears to be the same issue as the newer Lincoln navigators and other fords for which a recall was just issued. The recall number for Ford is 25S49. The recall needs to include the 2017 navigator as well. You can not see behind the vehicle when the camera malfunctions The vehicle has not been to the dealer for the issue yet when the camera does not work there is a error message”
Visibility
4 reports2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V091000 (Visibility); and the remedy was available, and the vehicle was scheduled for the repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed that the contact that the recall remedy called for the dealer to disconnect the LED light wires. The contact expressed dissatisfaction with the recall remedy, stating that she believed simply disconnecting the LED light wires did not constitute a repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed the recall remedy. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Air bags
3 reports2 crashes
“The contact owned a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while traveling at 40 MPH, the vehicle struck the front passenger side of another vehicle that made an illegal U-turn at a higher rate of speed. The vehicle spun out and came to a stop after crashing into a bus occupied by children. No air bags deployed, and the contact believed the air bags should have deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. Two individuals were injured. The contact was driving and sustained injuries to the head, neck, shoulders, knees, legs, chest, right elbow, right arm, and internal bruising from the seat belt. The other person sustained unknown injuries. Medical attention was required for the injuries sustained. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.”
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.