Skip to content

2021 Lincoln Navigator Recalls, Complaints & Specs

12 safety recalls list the 2021 Lincoln Navigator, and owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

12
safety recalls
33
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
17–18
MPG combined (EPA)

12 safety recalls for the 2021 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 26V402000 Reported 741,195 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed…

  2. Pretensioner (seat belts)

    NHTSA 26V344000 Reported 419,967 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is…

  3. Linkages (visibility)

    NHTSA 26V204000 Reported 422,613 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2022-2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, and F-600 SD vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

  4. Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)

    NHTSA 25V729000 Reported 174,853 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…

  5. Fuel pump (fuel system)

    NHTSA 25V455000 Reported 850,318 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July…

  6. Software (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 25V442000 Reported 200,237 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024…

    Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is…

  7. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 24V852000 Reported 27,678 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…

    Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

  8. Camera (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 23V598000 Reported 177,402 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator, 2018-2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2022-2023 Ford Transit, and 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. The rearview camera, or 360-degree view camera if equipped, may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, and update the software and wiring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023 to Lincoln owners. Ford vehicle owners notification…

  9. Owners/service/other manual (equipment)

    NHTSA 23V420000 Reported 691,133 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail…

    Remedy: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may…

  10. Engine Park outside

    NHTSA 22V346000 Reported 66,221 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground…

  11. Linkages (visibility)

    NHTSA 22V250000 Reported 652,996 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd…

  12. Air bags: side impact and air bags: side/window

    NHTSA 21V805000 Reported 777 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…

33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 Lincoln Navigator have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 36,333 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 10 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“My husband secured our infant into the car seat and attached the seat to the base installed in the car. He then drove our child. When he removed the car seat it was discovered the right side of the se”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 24, 2026 · Carry handle, shell, base

“I am reporting a serious intermittent transmission and loss-of-propulsion problem with my 2021 Lincoln Navigator, VIN 5LMJJ3LT6MEL05416. While driving, including at highway speeds, the transmission wi”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 29, 2026 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator (Navigator 2WD, Navigator 4WD, Navigator L 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined17–18 mpg
City / Highway16 / 20–22
FuelRegular
EPA classStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine6 cyl, 3.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S10)

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 2021 Lincoln Navigator

How do I know if my 2021 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. 12 campaigns currently list the 2021 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 21V805000).

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.