AI Damage1998 Lincoln Navigator: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Lincoln Navigator filed 192 complaints with NHTSA, most often about tires and suspension. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 192
- involving a crash
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Tires 25% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 13% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 8% of all complaints
- Tires: 48 complaints (25% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 25 complaints (13% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Steering: 22 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 21 complaints (11% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 18 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 5.4 L · petrol · 8 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 192 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 48 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 25 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact in place. A police report was filed. The contact suffered a mild concussion and a whiplash, but did not require medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was filed.
The guys who flipped it back over said the suspension broke I scraped a guardrail then straight across the road head on with a tree I flipped up on my headlights spun like that then rolled 50 more feet down the road it knocked me out on impact but a friend was in front of me and seen the whole thing I had a severe…
While driving and picking up my girlfriend, we were scared by the sudden acceleration of my vehicle. We hit another car causing our heads to hit the dash board. The car wouldn't stop so after we hit a car while on breaks, I through car in park and that just made car engine roar even louder causing engine to go into…
Tl contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. While the vehicle was parked on a decline in a parking lot the vehicle rolled out of the parking lot into the street and crashed into another vehicle that was at a traffic light. Slight damage was done to the other vehicle.
Updated 5/5/09 the consumer stated the air bag did not deploy. Updated 05/06/09.
During frontal collision air bag failed to deploy resulting in facial injuries, attorney for client. Nlm
During a front collision at 40 mph, neither airbag deployed. Consumer suffered neck injury. Damage to vehicle unknown at this time.
While traveling on interstate and without prior warning there was a noise and vibration . He was able to pull over to shoulder, saw that right tire tread separated. Firestone, bridgestone, 24575r16, dueler at. Dealership was aware of problem.
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 2,118 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Navigator has 44 complaints (31 years in the data). This year has 192, above average.
What to check before buying
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
- Navigator 1999132 sources
- Navigator 2000109 sources
- Navigator 200181 sources
- Navigator 200232 sources
- Navigator 2003127 sources
- Navigator 200486 sources
- Navigator 200548 sources
- Navigator 200660 sources
- Navigator 200745 sources
- Navigator 200830 sources
- Navigator 200910 sources
- Navigator 201016 sources
- Navigator 20119 sources
- Navigator 201212 sources
- Navigator 201314 sources
- Navigator 201417 sources
- Navigator 201521 sources
- Navigator 2016105 sources
- Navigator 201799 sources
- Navigator 2018194 sources
- Navigator 2019224 sources
- Navigator 2020225 sources
- Navigator 2021180 sources
- Navigator 2022207 sources
- Navigator 2023156 sources
- Navigator 2024113 sources
- Navigator 2025183 sources
- Navigator 202669 sources
- Navigator 202711 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Lincoln Navigator?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: tires, suspension, steering. Total complaints: 192. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (13%), vibration (8%), tires: bulges, blowouts (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Lincoln Navigator?
NHTSA lists 0 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 1998 Lincoln Navigator 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 1998 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 2026-11-05.