The most-reported Navigator run is 5LMFU28R13L (2003 builds) with 13 complaints, 6.8× the typical run. Electrical system problems make up 19% of reports; 2006 is the worst model year at 2.7 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 71 recall campaigns for Navigator model years 1998–2026.
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 Navigator has 592 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 5% of every Navigator complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5LMFU28R13L•••••• | 2003 | — | — | |
| 5LMPU28L0WL•••••• | 1998 | 1 | 1 | |
| 5LMPU28L4WL•••••• | 1998 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5LMFU28R93L•••••• | 2003 | — | — | |
| 5LMPU28L9WL•••••• | 1998 | — | — | |
| 5LMPU28L8WL•••••• | 1998 | — | 3 | |
| 5LMPU28LXWL•••••• | 1998 | 1 | — | |
| 5LMPU28L5WL•••••• | 1998 | — | — | |
| 5LMFU28R84L•••••• | 2004 | — | — | |
| 5LMPU28L6WL•••••• | 1998 | — | 2 | |
| 5LMPU28L1XL•••••• | 1999 | — | 2 | |
| 5LMPU28L3WL•••••• | 1998 | — | 1 |
Each of the other 580 Navigator runs has 7 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 85 Navigator VINs so far, most often 2024, 2025, 2023 builds.
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 Navigator the gap between build years is 2.5×: a 2006 car draws 2.7 complaints per run, a 2011 one 1.1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | 12 | — | |
| 2024 | 16 | 14 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 | — | |
| 2022 | 21 | 15 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 32 | 23 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 32 | 20 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 83 | 42 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 51 | 36 | — | |
| 2017 | 30 | 23 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 25 | 21 | — | |
| 2015 | 21 | 17 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 17 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 13 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 11 | 10 | — | |
| 2011 | 9 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 12 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 7 | — | |
| 2008 | 26 | 16 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 33 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 52 | 19 | 5 |
Heaviest year here is 2006 at 2.7 complaints per run; lightest is 2023 at 1. The 2025 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 19% of everything Lincoln Navigator owners report: Electrical System, 172 of 1,136 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 35 | |
| Power Train | 12 | 2 | |
| Suspension | 7 | 1 | |
| Tires | 4 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 21 | |
| Engine | 4 | 8 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 14 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 71 recall campaigns on the Lincoln Navigator; the 6 below cover build years 1998 to 2026. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 24V852000 | Equipment:other:labels | 2018–2024 |
| 23V420000 | Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual | 2018–2023 |
| 26V104000 | Electrical System: Integrated Trailer Brake Control | 2022–2026 |
| 26V344000 | Seat Belts:pretensioner | 2018–2022 |
| 05V388000 | Vehicle Speed Control | 1998–2002 |
| 09E012000 | Exterior Lighting | 1998–2002 |
24V852000 was opened in 2024 on cars built from 2018: 6 years on the road before the recall.
The Navigator against its rivals
The Navigator draws 1.9 complaints per production run; the Toyota Sequoia 5.1, the Dodge Durango 4.8 and the GMC Acadia 3.3. That is the lowest rate of the 4.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Navigator | 1,136 | 592 | 6.3% | |
| Toyota Sequoia | 2,696 | 529 | 3.4% | |
| Dodge Durango | 11,502 | 2,416 | 4.9% | |
| GMC Acadia | 5,136 | 1,538 | 2.5% |
How serious were they
Of the 1,136 reports on the Lincoln Navigator, 6.3% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Lincoln Navigator | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 1,136 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 72 (6.3%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 80 (7%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 98 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 18 | 2,728 |
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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 Navigator share of that is 1,136 complaints over 592 runs, 0.1% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Lincoln Navigator VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 1,136 NHTSA complaints from 592 Navigator runs and 71 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Navigator production run has the most complaints?
5LMFU28R13L, a 2003 build, with 13 complaints. The typical Navigator run has 1.9.
Which Navigator years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2006 is heaviest at 2.7 complaints per run and 2023 lightest at 1.
Does the Navigator get more complaints than the Toyota Sequoia?
No: 1.9 complaints per production run for the Navigator against 5.1 for the Toyota Sequoia.
How many Navigator complaints involve a crash?
6.3% of 1,136 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 80 involved a fire.
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