2020 Lincoln NAUTILUS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
32,005 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 33 complaints (51.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 27.3% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 24.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 17 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 |
Power Train: 17; Engine: 5; Electrical System: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Wheels: 3; Back Over Prevention: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 27 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 8; 2024: 3; 2025: 9; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11420872 · 2021-06-14 (June 14, 2021)
I’ve only had the car 2 weeks brought brand new from Crest Lincoln on May 28,2020. Every time I try to accelerate the car doesn’t want to move , it sounds like it’s trying to get power. It makes a humming noise then it slowly starts to move and the care jerks and pick up speed. I don’t like it, I’m afraid that when i come to a light and it doesn’t accelerate I might get hit from behind. I contacted the sales person Paul Smith (on vacation) then I spoke to the Sales Manager (Deno Martino) told him my story. He said he believes its the softwa…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11420872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11427694 · 2021-08-04 (August 4, 2021)
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V575000 (Visibility). The dealer was contacted on multiple occasions and informed him that the part was still unavailable. The contact also stated that soon after receiving the recall notice, the back over prevention camera failed to operate. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11427694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11484267 · 2022-09-13 (September 13, 2022)
When accelerating onto the interstate the traction control engages without a warning light. It occurs on dry pavement. The acceleration is not excessive and there is no loss of traction. The traction control disengages when the accelerator pedal is released.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11484267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11503290 · 2023-01-23 (January 23, 2023)
My car won't start when I press the brake and hit the start button, which then flashes green instead of staying green. I have to go through the same steps several times before it will turn on. The menu goes through the entire functions of the engine. For me, I never know if the engine will start or I will be stranded. I thought after two visits to service, it was fixed. Today, it stalled at a green light, and when I powered off and powered back on, the start button started the flashing light, the function menu again. My car wouldn't start and t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11503290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11513492 · 2023-03-23 (March 23, 2023)
We were driving down the highway, when a huge explosion sound occurred. We pulled off at the next safe spot to look what happened. The sunroof had exploded and a huge hole was in the sunroof. Glass shards were everywhere. Thankfully the interior cover was shut. We might not be alive today if it would have been open. Glass in my eyes, crash into other vehicles, use your imagination on how bad this could have turned out. Looking online reveals this is happening a lot. Someone will eventually get killed.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11513492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11521005 · 2023-05-08 (May 8, 2023)
VEHICLE HAS AN ERRATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUE. DDOES NOT RESPOND AT TIMES WHEN IN TRAFFIC AT LOW SPEEDS. DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THIS. WORRIED IF IT WILL RESPOND WHEN ASKED TO DO SO. NO CODES OR OTHER WARNINGS ARE GIVING BY THE VEHICLE. BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 3X AND ONCE THE RESET THE COMPUTER BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS ONLY TO HAVE IT MORPH BACK INTO ITS UNRELIABLE STATE AFTER 2K MILES WERE ADDED. THE DEALER ART HILL FORD CLAIMS THEY ARE BACKED UP WITH WORK AND DONT NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG WHEN DRIVING IT ON A FEW OCCASIONS. BUT AD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11521005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11523075 · 2023-05-21 (May 21, 2023)
According to Lincoln, in their manual, the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus is designed such that it can be recreational towed behind a motorhome. My first experience towing this vehicle resulted in a violet "wobble" that shook a 43 foot motorhome when making a normal left hand turn. A second incident occurred when a dip in the road caused the wobble. In both incidents it was necessary to come to a complete stop and then proceed and the wobble disappeared. This problem has been discussed on RV Forums over the years but I'm not sure if it has been rep…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11528446 · 2023-06-23 (June 23, 2023)
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing in the rain, the back-up camera image was distorted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the failure might be due to a leak. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 40,009.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,009 miles reported. Look up ODI 11528446 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V414000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | Air Bags | Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
Reported: 2020-07-17 (July 17, 2020)
Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V550000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2020-09-10 (September 10, 2020)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.
Consequence: Missing or loose bolts on the start stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission fluid leak and may progress to a loss of transmission function. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S49.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V575000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2020-09-23 (September 23, 2020)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V011000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Reported: 2021-01-15 (January 15, 2021)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
Consequence: If the rear drive unit seizes, there may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level. Axles found to be below the minimum lubricant fill level will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S02.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V442000 · Back Over Prevention:Software
Reported: 2025-06-27 (June 27, 2025)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Consequence: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
NHTSA campaign record ↗