RecallMyCar

2012 Lincoln Navigator Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2012 Lincoln Navigator, and owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
12
owner complaints to NHTSA
15–16
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2012 Lincoln Navigator

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 16V248000 Reported 153,581 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…

  2. Back up lights (exterior lighting) and power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

    NHTSA 12V190000 Reported 10,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 “lamps,…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 11, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at…

  3. Mid/rear assembly (seats)

    NHTSA 12V034000 Reported 569 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator vehicles, manufactured from november 19, 2011, through december 2, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 202, "head restraints." these vehicles may have inadequate welds on the head restraint support…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on february 21, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at…

12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2012 Lincoln Navigator have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 48,228 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 3 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Belts dislodged on all tires. Tires have 70% tread left. My mechanic said it is manufacturing defect of Tires. SUV started shaking badly on highway”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 30, 2024 · Tires

“Vehicle randomly downshifts at speed causing sudden and jarring loss of speed. Vehicle will eventually and intermittently flash a service wrench error, speedometer stops working, and displays "000 Mil”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 1, 2022 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2012 Lincoln Navigator (Navigator 2WD FFV, Navigator 4WD FFV). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–16 mpg
City / Highway13–14 / 18–20
FuelGasoline or E85
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine8 cyl, 5.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Compare Lincoln Navigator model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Lincoln Navigator model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1997 Lincoln Navigator20
1998 Lincoln Navigator5192
1999 Lincoln Navigator5132
2000 Lincoln Navigator4109
2001 Lincoln Navigator381
2002 Lincoln Navigator132
2003 Lincoln Navigator0127
2004 Lincoln Navigator086
2005 Lincoln Navigator048
2006 Lincoln Navigator360
2007 Lincoln Navigator245
2008 Lincoln Navigator230
2009 Lincoln Navigator110
2010 Lincoln Navigator016
2011 Lincoln Navigator09
2012 Lincoln Navigator312
2013 Lincoln Navigator014
2014 Lincoln Navigator017
2015 Lincoln Navigator421
2016 Lincoln Navigator425
2017 Lincoln Navigator531
2018 Lincoln Navigator1252
2019 Lincoln Navigator1083
2020 Lincoln Navigator1332
2021 Lincoln Navigator1233
2022 Lincoln Navigator1421
2023 Lincoln Navigator87
2024 Lincoln Navigator716
2025 Lincoln Navigator612
2026 Lincoln Navigator20
2027 Lincoln Navigator10

Checking a specific 2012 Lincoln Navigator

How do I know if my 2012 Lincoln Navigator has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Lincoln Navigator; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lincoln dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 12V034000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Lincoln models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.