2005 Lincoln Navigator
The Verdict
The 2005 Lincoln Navigator has 48 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (19 complaints) and engine (16 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 88/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Lincoln Navigator, consider the 2023 model year which has 87% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2023 has 87% fewer complaints
View the 2023 Lincoln Navigator dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2005 Lincoln Navigator. No spam, no marketing.
Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 75 | 10 | 24 | 11 | 13 |
| 2001 | 48 | 2 | 21 | 14 | 7 |
| 2002 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 1 |
| 2003 | 65 | 5 | 31 | 14 | 12 |
| 2004 | 40 | 6 | 25 | 11 | 4 |
| 2005 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 4 |
| 2006 | 22 | 0 | 7 | 26 | 5 |
| 2007 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 2 |
| 2008 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2012 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2014 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 2016 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 2018 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 13 |
| 2019 | 28 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 17 |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 16 |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 2 |
| 2022 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
Fire inside of the motor, behind the engine computer. Upon researching recalls for Lincoln Navigators I found these other recalls online for possibly the same fire issue: "Ford has issued a recall for some of its 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs due to a potential engine fire risk. Over 65,000 2021-year model vehicles manufactured between December 2020 and April 2021 have been affected." "We've discovered a vehicle safety issue in some 2021 model-year Lincoln Navigator vehicles built from July 30, 2020 to August 31, 2021. Some of these vehicles have experienced an under-hood fire, even while parked and off."
The drivers side door does not latch in the cold temperatures.
THERE WASNT A RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS PER MY VIN NUMBER HOWEVER JUST YESTERDAYMY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE WHICH UPON IMPACT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE DIDNT. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER...
AS I WAS MERGING ON FREEWAY, I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITIES SINCE IT WAS AT RUSH HOUR. AS I PULLED OVER, THE ENGINE WAS BUCKING BUT REGAINED POWER WITH SPORADIC BOUTS OF LOSS DURING MY DRIVE HOME. THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER ONE AND I REPLACED AND TESTED ALL RELATED COMPONENTS AND THEN FOUND OUT IT WAS THE CAM PHASER ISSUE THAT PLAGUES THE TRITON ENGINE. FROM READING OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOTH CONSUMER AND REPAIR SHOP OWNERS, IT IS SIMPLY A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT FROM WHO ELSE, THE FORD CORP. OF COURSE THEY BLAME THE OWNER FOR LACK OF MAINTENANCE.
WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH IN THE LINCOLN, ANOTHER DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF THE NAVIGATOR RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE SEVERE COLLISION. THE FRONT IMPACT DESTROYED THE FRONT END OF THE LINCOLN, AND ALSO CAUSED IT TO SPIN 180 DEGRESS RESULTING IN A SECOND COLLISION WITH THE AT FAULT DRIVER. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURY TO THE DRIVER.
THE SPARK PLUGS ARE RECALL, MY LINCOLN HAS ONLY 68,000 MILES I PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2005, NOW AIR SUSPENSION HAS PROBLEMS TOO HOW CAN I RECEIVE A REFUND ON THE RECALLS AFTER I PAID $1,800.00 IN REPAIRS.
AIR SUSPENSION DOES NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER BELOW 45 DEGREES YOU LOOSE CONTROL AND BOUNCES HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE 2006 LIVED IN FL AND HAD NO PROBLEMS MOVED TO NY AND HAVE PROBLEM EVERY TIME TEMP DROPS BELOW 45 HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS FOR REPAIRS THAT DIDNT WORK CKECKED INTERNET AND FOUND OUT IT A PROBLEM WITH 2003-2006 AND NOBODY CAN FIX INCLUDING FORD
2005 NAVIGATOR HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES, SPARK PLUGS DEFECTED, DEALER WANTS $1,500 TO $2,500 TO REPLACE THEM, WHICH IS DEFECT FROM MANUFACTURE. THESE SPARK PLUGS SHOULD BE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECTS FROM MANUFACTURE, AND THE RECALL ONLY WANTS TO PAY $1,040 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPARK PLUGS, WHY SHOULD I PAY UP FRONT IF THEY ARE MANUFACTURE FAULT AND MY NAVIGATOR ONLY HAS 60,00 MILES NOW AND I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM THE DEALER IN 2005.
AIR SUSPENSION DOES NOT WORK / INFLATE WHEN CAR IS COLD, THERE SOMETIMES NO WARNING THAT THE SHOCKS ARE DOWN AND COULD MAKE DRIVING DANGEROUS . MAKING CAR UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN THE CAR WILL ROLL OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN TERRAIN PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL NAVIGATORS SINCE 2003 OR OLDER WITH AIR SUSPESION SHOCK DOES NOT INFLATE WHEN STATIONARY / DOES NOT INFLATE WHEN IN MOTION TIRE RUBS ON FENDER WALL MAKING TURNS, THERE IS COMPLETELY NO SHOCK ABSORPTION WHEN CAR IS ON FREEWAY OR ON SURFACE WHICH MAKES CEHICLES VERY UNSTABLE AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS IF DRIVEN BY INEXPERIENCED OR EXPERIENCED DRIVERS
ENGINE STARTS TO KNOCK AN SHAKE VERY LOUDLY WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM SIMPLY DRIVING 45MPH OR IT COMPLETELY LLOSES ALL POWER AS I'M DRIVING AN A LOUD POPPIG EXPLOSIONS COMING FROM THE EXHUAST AN THEY ARE LOUD ENOUGH WERE PEOPLE HEHHAVE PULLED UP NEXT TO ME TO LET ME KNOW AN AFRAID THE CAR MAY BLOW UP. AIR SUSPENSION DOSE NOT COME ON WHEN IT'S COLD AN DRIVES VERY POORLY AN MISLEADING TO OTHER DRIVERS AN LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR POSSIBLE DUI BECAUSE THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AN JUMPY. THE RADIO CUTS IN AN OUT AS I DRIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. SO I TOOK IT TO GALPIN LINCOLN IN VAN NUYS, CA ON ROSCOE BLVD AN SEPULVEDA AN THEY JUST FOUND ONE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDING REPLACED AN WANTED ME TO $2,500 FOR LABOR ALONE TO COMPLETELY OPEN UP MY ENGINE AN SEE IF IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE TIMING CHAIN AN REALINE THE CAMSHAFTS BUT THEY ARE NOT CERTAIN THAT'S ACTUALLY THE PROBLEM WITH MY NAVIGATOR BECAUSE THEY CAN COMPLETELY DO ALL THAT AN COME UP TO BE FINE AN BE SOMETHING ELSE BUT UNLESS I PAY $2,500 FOR LABOR TO JUST SEE IF IT IS AN HAVE THE CHANCE IT COULD NOT BE I STILL LOSE THOSE $2,500 BECAUSE IT'S A NON REFUNDABLE. WHERE AM I GOING TO COME UP WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY NOT ALONE WHY AM I HAVING TO PAY THAT FIRST TO SEE IF IT'S A MAYBE THE REASON OF ALL MY CAR PROBLEMS. HONESTLY THAT IS RIDICULOUS AN NOT GOING TO PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY ON A MAYBE ANSWER NOT A 100 PERCENT WE ARE SURE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO GIVE AN HEAVEN FORBID MY CAR DOES BLOW UP WITH MY SON'S IN THE CAR DRIVING IT JUST BECAUSE I NEEDED TO PAY THAT AMOUNT ON A MAYBE ANSWER IS UN CALLED FOR.
HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES RECENTLY TWICE IN ONE WEEK.DRIVING AND MY TRUCK SHUTS OFF,STEERING LOCKS UP AND NO POWER.THE WARNING INDICATOR TELLS ME. "CHECK THROTTLE COMPUTER SYSTEM,I SHUT OFF TRUCK AND AFTER A COUPLE TIMES IT STARTS BACK UP... *TR
2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CURRENTLY WITH 97000 MILES. MAJOR FRAME RUST IN FRONT END,RADIATOR SUPPORTS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH. HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT RADIATORS DROPPING DUE TO FRAME ROTTING. MAIN SECTION OF TRUCK FRAME HAS A HOLE IN IT DUE TO RUST AS WELL. FRAME INTEGRITY IS COMPROMISED AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
I STARTED MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AS I PROCEEDED DRIVE 1/4 WAY,HAD TO STOP,BUT COULD NOT PUT THE VEHICLE IN ANY POSITION AFTER THAT,IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD,COULD NOT MOVE THE TRUCK FROM THAT POSITION. *TR
THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILS TO WORK WHEN COLD. ITS VERY BOUNCY AND HARD TO DRIVE SAFELY. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEIGHT SENSORS. I'VE SPENT OVER $5000 ON REPAIRS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. IT STILL ISN'T FIXED. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
OUR 05 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WE JUST PURCHASED ABOUT 7-8 MONTHS AGO. THE RETRACTABLE RUNNING BOARDS BROKE ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR IN THE SWIVELING BUSHING AREA. THE STRUCTURE CRACKED AND WOULD NOT HOLD IT UP. I GOT TOLD THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS AND ITS $3,000.00 FOR A NEW RUNNING BOARD. I AM SUPER UPSET, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE'S DAYCARE, AND WHILE ONE OF THE CHILDREN STEPPED UP ON IT, IT BROKE; THEREFORE THEY FELL ON THE GROUND TWISTING THEIR ANKLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND $3K ON A NEW RUNNING BOARD. I THINK ITS INSANE THAT THERE IS NOT REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THIS. I CANT GET THE KIDS IN AND OUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE NOW. I AM SO UPSET. WHY HASN'T SOMEONE FIXED THIS. SOUNDS LIKE IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM IN THIS YEAR RANGE. NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO FIX THEM. *TR
AIR SUSPENSION FAILURE. *TR
I HAVE NO SUSPENSION SYSTEM OR MONEY TO FIX. SEEMS LIKE WHEN ONE THING BREAK ON THE LINCOLN NAVIGATOR EVERYTHING QUIT WORKING. WINDOW GRIND, NO SUSPENSION,SHIFT BREAKS UP. ENGINES MAKE WEIRD GEARING SOUND. DRINKS GAS WITH NO END TO IT. AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE, MULTIPLE CD PLAYER QUIT, DVD PLAYER QUIT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE IN TRAFFIC, THE THROTTLE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,875.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES, LINE SIZE 255/70/R18. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES CONTINUOUSLY FLATTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TIRES HAD BEEN DISCONTINUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
48 total