Short answer
Among Lincoln Navigator model years through 2024, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 4 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2022 has the most (14). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Lincoln Navigator: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 28 (2000–2027)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 62
- Fewest recalls
- 2003, 2004, 2005 and 4 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2022 (14)
- Most recalled system
- Back over prevention (17)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2015, 2016, 2017 and 6 more years
Lincoln Navigator Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 5 stars | Exterior lighting, Seats |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 6 | 5 stars | Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags |
| 2024 | 7 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
| 2023 | 8 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Equipment, Exterior lighting |
| 2022 | 14 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2021 | 12 | 5 stars | Visibility, Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2020 | 13 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2019 | 10 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2018 | 12 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Equipment, Power train |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Visibility, Back over prevention |
| 2016 | 4 | 5 stars | Visibility, Back over prevention, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2015 | 4 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Visibility |
| 2014 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2013 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2012 | 3 | 4 stars | Exterior lighting, Power train, Seats |
| 2011 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2010 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2008 | 2 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages, Tires |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2006 | 3 | Not rated | Power train, Tires, Visibility |
| 2005 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2004 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2003 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2002 | 1 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control |
| 2001 | 3 | Not rated | Seat belts, Vehicle speed control, Visibility |
| 2000 | 4 | Not rated | Vehicle speed control, Trailer hitches, Visibility |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20271 recall
- 20262 recalls
- 20256 recalls
- 20247 recalls
- 20238 recalls
- 202214 recalls
- 202112 recalls
- 202013 recalls
- 201910 recalls
- 201812 recalls
- 20175 recalls
- 20164 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20140 recalls
- 20130 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20110 recalls
- 20100 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20082 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20063 recalls
- 20050 recalls
- 20040 recalls
- 20030 recalls
- 20021 recall
- 20013 recalls
- 20004 recalls
Lincoln Navigator: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Lincoln Navigator recalls are back over prevention (17), visibility (17), equipment (13), seat belts (12) and exterior lighting (11). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 12 of these 28 model years, and 2015, 2016, 2017 and 6 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Lincoln Navigator Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Lincoln Navigator?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 4 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Lincoln Navigator model years have the most recalls?
2022 has the most, with 14 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Navigator", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy