AI Damage2023 Lincoln Navigator: common problems
Owners of the 2023 Lincoln Navigator filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and backover prevention. The maker issued 149 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 149
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 57% of all complaints
- 2 Backover prevention 29% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 14% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (57% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 50.
- Backover prevention: 2 complaints (29% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Structure: 1 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 9.
- Engine: 1 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (14% 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.
- 3.5 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 10-speed
Drive: RWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 50 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Lane departure | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My son was getting into the front passenger door after school today and went he stepped up on the auto running boards it closed on his foot crushing his foot in between the vehicle and running board. The running board would not release.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V165000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the remedy was not yet available.
When the car starts the head lights run through a series of motion checks, they go left, right down and then back up. We run into an issue every few weeks where the headlights stay in the down position. This happened with our car and a loaner we received from the dealership. I do have video of the issue.
Upon starting, my 2023 Lincoln Navigator Reserve L has a significant delay when booting the back up camera and infotainment system and renders the vehicle safety systems unusable. Sometimes the back up camera freezes and locks the screen, sometimes it doesn't turn on at all.
The backup camera was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called for Roadside Assistance. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 43,200. The VIN was not available.
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 1,591 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 24% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Navigator has 26 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Reason for update
update the Model section to remove Aviator 10R80, update theParts list to add 3.3L to W520514-S440, and add L1MZ-7Z490-G valve body separator plate for Aviator
- 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…
- For 2020-2026 Aviator/Corsair and 2018-2026 Navigator vehicles, if diagnostics in Workshop Manual (WSM)…
For 2020-2026 Aviator/Corsair and 2018-2026 Navigator vehicles, if diagnostics in Workshop Manual (WSM) Section 501-10A > Front Seats > Diagnosis and Testing lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion extension…
- Reason For Update
update the Model section to remove Aviator 10R80, update the Parts list to add 3.3L to W520514-S440, and add L1MZ-7Z490-G valve body separator plate for Aviator. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above…
- For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion…
For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service part W709919-S901 if the J-clip is…
- Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a condition where certain devices built on…
Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a condition where certain devices built on the Android OS platform (including Voxx rear seat entertainment system) indicate they are connected to the…
- NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 26E04 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150, Maverick, Mustang,…
NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 26E04 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150, Maverick, Mustang, Ranger, Expedition, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Bronco, Navigator, and Aviator Vehicles Powertrain Control Module…
- 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…
- Some 2021-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an "Updating SYNC" message on the vehicle center…
Some 2021-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an "Updating SYNC" message on the vehicle center display screen after an over the air (OTA) update. The message can be cleared from the center display screen and…
- Some 2018-2024 Expedition and 2018-2027 Navigator vehicles equipped with a rear seat entertainment…
Some 2018-2024 Expedition and 2018-2027 Navigator vehicles equipped with a rear seat entertainment system/Lincoln Play may experience various system concerns. Rear seat entertainment systems are not on a controller…
- Reason For Update
update the parts list to correct the claim quantity of the part number JB3Z-4B496-B from 3 to 6. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh…
- Quality improvements include
Shows trailer brake settings when pressing the brake pedal -Updates the off-road screen to show wider steering wheel turns.
NHTSA lists 149 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 2023 Lincoln Navigator?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, backover prevention, structure. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rear-view camera (14%), headlights and tail lights (14%), infotainment or screen glitches (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2023 Lincoln Navigator?
NHTSA lists 149 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 2023 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 2023 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.