AI Damage2003 Lincoln Navigator: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Lincoln Navigator filed 127 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 127
- involving a crash
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 30% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 14% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 10% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- Suspension: 38 complaints (30% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 22 complaints (17% of all).
- Structure: 18 complaints (14% of all).
- Air bags: 14 complaints (11% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 13 complaints (10% of all), 2 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 3 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 127 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 38 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 1 | 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 consumer stated that tire or tie rod was so hot that as it rolled into the grass it caught on fire. Tire was retrieved. Problems with rear differential prior to the accident. The vehicle was regularly serviced. The consumer was slightly injured in the accident. Police report filed.
While driving at 45 mph an accident occurred. The other vehicle made a sudden left turn, and consumer's vehicle caught the tail end of the other vehicle. However, the air bag did not deploy.
While driving 50 mph consumer's vehicle was involved in head on collision. Upon impact, dual air bag covers popped open, but they did not deploy.
When backing up in driveway, 2003 lincoln navigator accelerated extremely with wheels "peeling" and car would not brake. Car came to rest after glancing off a tree and ploughing over columns in front of home. Car would not start subsequently.
No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rocker arms, and that the engine lacked adequate compression in cylinders #2 and #3, resulting in engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
Just driving in a 45 mph, when heard loud banging coming from engine. Pulled over and had car towed in for repair. Engine blew out a spark plug.
While attempting to shift, the transmission failed to shift into the park position. The contact stated that the driver had to engage the emergency brake in order to prevent the vehicle from rolling away. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
The contact stated that the air bag warning lamp illuminated. Also, a "check the suspension" message illuminated indicating that the rear shocks failed to work. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who indicated that the passenger side running board switch needed to be replaced.
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 3,004 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Navigator has 44 complaints (31 years in the data). This year has 127, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
- Navigator 1998192 sources
- Navigator 1999132 sources
- Navigator 2000109 sources
- Navigator 200181 sources
- Navigator 200232 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 2003 Lincoln Navigator?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, electrical system, structure. Total complaints: 127. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (8%), knocking, grinding or other noise (6%), smoke, burning smell, fire (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 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 2003 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 2003 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.