AI Damage2006 Lincoln Navigator: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Lincoln Navigator filed 60 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 60
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 27% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 22% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 15% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 10% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- Suspension: 16 complaints (27% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 13 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 9 complaints (15% of all).
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (12% of all).
- Air bags: 6 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 1 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 60 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 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 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 passenger air bag deployed, but the driver side air bag did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the ann collision repair center who repaired the front end, radiator support, and the hood of the vehicle.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries to the back and legs that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 189,000.
Tl contact owns a 2006 lincoln navigator. On july 17, 2009, while driving approximately 23 mph, the contact felt the steering pull to the right. She attempted to keep it centered and then heard a loud noise. The front passenger side of the vehicle instantly collapsed and she crashed into a parked vehicle.
Further internet search has revealed (on edmunds) 2006 lincoln navigator brake failure. My entire family could have been seriously injured in this incident.
The air bags deployed and flames were noticed under the hood. The vehicle exploded five times. The fire department extinguished the fire and the vehicle was towed. A police report was filed. The cause of the fire was undetermined. The driver of the other vehicle sustained injuries to her face.
Fuel gauge says zero miles to empty and will not take any gas more than a few gallons before kicking pump off. Gauge shows it's over heating but if you turn ignition off and turn right back on it resets and is fine.
The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign and attempting to move forward, the accelerator pedal was depressed however, the vehicle hesitated. The check engine warning light then illuminated. The contact also stated that while attempting to park the vehicle on another occasion the vehicle stalled.
The suspension on this suv is extremely dangerous I have replaced the suspension airbags oh rings compressors multiple times and each time it turns cold and I live in arizona the car drops and on able to drive it due to extreme violent shaking to wear the car seems like it's going to roll over something needs to be…
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 4,840 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Navigator has 44 complaints (31 years in the data). This year has 60, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
- Navigator 1998192 sources
- Navigator 1999132 sources
- Navigator 2000109 sources
- Navigator 200181 sources
- Navigator 200232 sources
- Navigator 2003127 sources
- Navigator 200486 sources
- Navigator 200548 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 2006 Lincoln Navigator?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, engine and cooling, engine. Total complaints: 60. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (17%), warning lights, check engine (8%), fuel system, fuel smell (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 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 2006 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 2006 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.