1998 Lincoln NAVIGATOR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
153 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
98,060 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 153 complaints (12.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 7.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 4.6% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 3.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 19 |
| Tires | 18 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 7 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 19; Tires: 18; Electrical System: 12; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Tires:Sidewall: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 13
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 89 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 35 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 35; 2001: 14; 2002: 21; 2003: 13; 2004: 12; 2005: 16; 2006: 8; 2007: 5; 2008: 6; 2009: 6; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 5; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10117365 · 2005-05-06 (May 6, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. ALSO, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. DRIVER COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. DRIVER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LIFTED THE HOOD. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE 3RD CYLINDER SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, RIPPING THE CABLE AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION COIL. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158547 · 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SURGED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE THEN STOPPED. AN AUTO PARTS STORE CHECKED THE COMPUTER FOR CODES, AND FOUND ONE FOR THE AIR SENSOR. THE COMPUTER WAS RESET, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. UPDATED 06/12/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127595 · 2005-07-06 (July 6, 2005)
HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS A RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 97V171000). COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATOR THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS MODEL , BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264004 · 2009-04-02 (April 2, 2009)
I HAVE A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR THAT IS EXHIBITING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON CERTAIN VEHICLES BUT FORD IS TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. I'M WONDERING HOW THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED IN THE RECALL THAT IS NOW EXHIBITING THE SAME ISSUES, IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? IT IS FORD CAMPAIGN # 97S86. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10264004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043648 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
STEERING LINKAGE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 66,872 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087559 · 2004-08-10 (August 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TURNED OPPOSITE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED TIE ROD POPPED OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002677 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
SPARK PLUGS!! I HAVE A 98 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, I JUST HAD A 60,000 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED ON IT 3,000 MILES AGO. THE TRUCK WAS SPUTTERING AND STALLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME IT WAS A HOSE EGR/PCV, I CAN'T REALLY RECALL WHICH. THEY REPLACED THE HOSE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE. I DEPLOY TO KOREA IN SEP 02', AND I GET A CALL FROM MY WIFE THE TRUCK IS DOING THE SAME THING. SO SHE TAKES IT TO A DIFFERENT LINCOLN DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORM HER THAT A SPARK PLUG IS RUSTED AND FROZEN IN THE HEAD ASSY. THEY ALSO INFORM HER THAT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010996 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, HAD IT CHECKED AT DEALER NOTHING FOUND. VEHICLE HAS A ROUGH IDLE, STALLS AT IDLE AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156160 · 2006-04-26 (April 26, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE TREMBLED AND GEARS WOULD NOT CHANGE WHEN THE SPEED REACHED 40 MPH. THERE WAS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL THAT ACCOMPANIED THE SHAKING. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED 75 MPH, THE SHAKING STOPPED. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SPEED WAS LOWERED, THE SHAKING BEGAN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN CORRECTLY. ALTHOUGH THE CHILD LOCKS HAVE BEEN DEACTIVATED, …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187905 · 2007-04-03 (April 3, 2007)
1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE BATTERY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH CHARGE TO START THE ENGINE AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ID FLASHING. CUSTOMER BELIEVES PROBLEMS ARE LINKED**CC THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY AIRBAG MODULE CAUSED BY DECREASED BATTERY VOLTAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187905 at NHTSA ↗