The most-reported Nautilus run is 5LMPJ8K42SJ (2025 builds) with 7 complaints, 5× the typical run. Power train problems make up 25% of reports; 2019 is the worst model year at 1.5 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 23 recall campaigns for Nautilus model years 2019–2025.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Lincoln Nautilus has 169 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 11% of every Nautilus complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5LMPJ8K42SJ•••••• | 2025 | — | — | |
| 2LMPJ8L93KB•••••• | 2019 | 1 | — | |
| 2LMPJ8L98KB•••••• | 2019 | — | — | |
| 2LMPJ8LP1KB•••••• | 2019 | — | — | |
| 2LMPJ6K97KB•••••• | 2019 | — | — | |
| 2LMPJ8L9XKB•••••• | 2019 | — | — | |
| 2LMPJ8LP9KB•••••• | 2019 | — | — | |
| 5LMPJ8JAXRJ•••••• | 2024 | — | — | |
| 5LMPJ8K44SJ•••••• | 2025 | — | — | |
| 2LMPJ8KP8LB•••••• | 2020 | — | — | |
| 2LMPJ8K93KB•••••• | 2019 | — | — | |
| 2LMPJ8L95KB•••••• | 2019 | — | — |
Each of the other 157 Nautilus runs has 3 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 140 Nautilus VINs so far, most often 2026, 2024, 2019 builds; 5 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Lincoln Nautilus the gap between build years is 1.4×: a 2019 car draws 1.5 complaints per run, a 2021 one 1.1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 5 | — | |
| 2025 | 22 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 22 | 17 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 14 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 24 | 21 | — | |
| 2020 | 33 | 25 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 102 | 66 | 2 |
Heaviest year here is 2025 at 1.6 complaints per run; lightest is 2022 at 1. The 2026 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 25% of everything Lincoln Nautilus owners report: Power Train, 57 of 231 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 1 | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 | — | |
| Engine | 1 | — | |
| Structure | — | — | |
| Service Brakes | 2 | — | |
| Steering | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 23 recall campaigns on the Lincoln Nautilus; the 6 below cover build years 2021 to 2025. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 25V315000 | Back Over Prevention:software | 2021–2023 |
| 26V165000 | Back Over Prevention:software | 2024–2025 |
| 25V518000 | Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 2024–2025 |
| 25V343000 | Electrical System | 2024–2025 |
| 24V953000 | Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 2024–2025 |
| 24V635000 | Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical | 2021–2022 |
25V315000 was opened in 2025 on cars built from 2021: 4 years on the road before the recall.
The Nautilus against its rivals
The Nautilus draws 1.4 complaints per production run; the Tesla Model Y 5.5, the Mazda CX-5 2.7 and the Kia Telluride 4.9. That is the lowest rate of the 4.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Nautilus | 231 | 169 | 3.5% | |
| Tesla Model Y | 677 | 124 | 20.2% | |
| Mazda CX-5 | 2,107 | 772 | 5% | |
| Kia Telluride | 2,001 | 405 | 1.9% |
How serious were they
Of the 231 reports on the Lincoln Nautilus, 3.5% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.
| Outcome | Lincoln Nautilus | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 231 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 8 (3.5%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 0 (0%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 40% below the all-vehicle rate.
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Lincoln Nautilus share of that is 231 complaints over 169 runs, 0.02% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Lincoln Nautilus VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 231 NHTSA complaints from 169 Nautilus runs and 23 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Nautilus production run has the most complaints?
5LMPJ8K42SJ, a 2025 build, with 7 complaints. The typical Nautilus run has 1.4.
Which Nautilus years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2025 is heaviest at 1.6 complaints per run and 2022 lightest at 1.
Does the Nautilus get more complaints than the Tesla Model Y?
No: 1.4 complaints per production run for the Nautilus against 5.5 for the Tesla Model Y.
How many Nautilus complaints involve a crash?
3.5% of 231 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 0 involved a fire.
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