AI Damage2021 Lincoln Nautilus: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus filed 27 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and powertrain. The maker issued 133 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 27
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 133
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 33% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 30% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
- 6 Backover prevention 7% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 7% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- Structure: 9 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Powertrain: 8 complaints (30% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 27.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 46.
- Engine: 3 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.7 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 27 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 0 | 27 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 46 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| Communication | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There were no injuries. No air bags were deployed. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the contact was unaware of the diagnostic results, or the repairs performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
Drivers front door inner sheet metal structure has failed/torn at the hinge and check arm mounting points under normal operating conditions.. safety hazard. Dealership and Lincoln will not take full responsibility after known structural defect exists
Both front doors on my 2021 Nautilus Reserve have structural stress cracks in the sheet metal surrounding the check-arm bracket, along the edge of the recessed mount and under the weatherstrip. I first noticed cracking and popping when opening and closing the doors on 8/1/2026 at about 84,000 miles.
Transmission was shuddering when it shifted gears. It would lose power and jerk between each gear. We paid for diagnostic at the dealership and they diagnosed as torque converter shudder under 2 separate TSB's. Dealership offered to fix at a cost of $6400.
The door broke and cracked the window when I opened the door to get in the car
Vehicle would not accelerate properly and lurch forward when the gas pedal was pressed over 25%. The issue was taken to the shop and not found. The issue progressed and was taken to the shop a second time. The issue was found from a misfire code on cylinder #6. Vehicle is currently being repaired.
The electronics all worked, it just would not start and would not go into any gear. Had to have it towed to dealer for repair. They replaced the PCM but it still would not start. They again replaced the PCM and a fuse. The vehicle started. This is the FOURTH time for the exact same issue.
The contact stated that while shifted to reverse(R) and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and then suddenly jerked backwards. The contact stated that the vehicle almost jumped into gear.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,125 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 46% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Nautilus has 29 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 27, about average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Reason for update
Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display screen after welcome animation. The…
- This article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing…
This article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing Expedition and Navigator. One time use parts for Corsair and Bronco Sport were also added to the parts list…
- Reasons for update
update the Parts list to add a note to clarify the application of the part numbers W520102-S442 and 4S4Z-3N324-AA "FWD Only". Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following…
- Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto…
Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System" message in the instrument panel cluster…
- Quality improvements include
Enhanced system performance, disk usage limits and memory monitoring
- Reason for update
update the Parts list to correct a part description " Loctite 638", update the claim quantity for the drain/fill plug, update the claim quantity of the wheel hub bolts (Corsair) and limited the parts list for…
- Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center…
Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display after welcome animation. The rear-view camera will still function when…
- Some 2021-2023 Nautilus vehicles may exhibit inoperative phone as a key and no communication with the…
Some 2021-2023 Nautilus vehicles may exhibit inoperative phone as a key and no communication with the remote function actuator (RFA) module. There may also be diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U0214 stored in various…
- Reason for update
To add a Step to reprogram the all-wheel drive (AWD) module for Bronco Sport vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: Shudder chatter condition…
- This article updates TSB 25-2154. Reasons for update
*Parts List *Service Procedure to replace the output planetary carrier assembly *Added 2023-2024 model year vehicles Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions…
- Certain 2021 - 2022 Model Year Various Vehicles Engine Valve Inspection Test This submission includes
Technical Instructions Updated wording and description with additional photo.
- "25S49 Recall Remedy
Infotainment software update to address frozen screens"
NHTSA lists 133 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 27. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (19%), hesitation when accelerating (11%), transmission slipping (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus?
NHTSA lists 133 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Lincoln Nautilus from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.