Model year record

1998 Lincoln Navigator

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 240 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V388000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
4,500,000
Reported to NHTSA
2005-09-07
Owners notified
2005-09-12

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Safety risk

A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V073000

Trailer hitches

Component
Trailer hitches
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
565,800
Reported to NHTSA
2000-03-07
Owners notified
2000-05-15

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.

Safety risk

THE TRAILER HITCH COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V095000

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Component
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
1,520,000
Reported to NHTSA
1998-05-13
Owners notified
1998-07-20

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES AND LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE.

Safety risk

THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE RECEIVING TWO NOTIFICATIONS. THE FIRST NOTIFICATION, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY 1998, WILL PROVIDE AN INTERIM REPAIR PROCEDURE UNTIL PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS INTERIM PROCEDURE CAN BE COMPLETED BY OWNERS OR THEIR DEALERS. IT SPECIFIES THAT THE LUG NUT TORQUE MUST BE VERIFIED TO BE 100 LBS. THEN THE LUG NUTS NEED TO BE TIGHTENED AN ADDITIONAL 1/8 TO 1/4 TURN MORE. THERE WILL BE A SECOND OWNER NOTIFICATION, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JULY 20, 1998, UNDER WHICH DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEEL STUDS AND REPLACE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V028000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
571,800
Reported to NHTSA
1998-02-10
Owners notified
1998-03-23

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Safety risk

IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V171000

Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)

Component
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
866,000
Reported to NHTSA
1997-10-07
Owners notified
1997-10-20

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK."

Safety risk

THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Tires2368,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt2238,000 mi
Electrical system12118,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly1291,537 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs10
Engine and engine cooling: engine8118,000 mi
Suspension: front8
Tires: sidewall877,000 mi
Vehicle speed control897,502 mi
Suspension769,291 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control798,000 mi
Steering: linkages666,872 mi
Power train5100,000 mi
Suspension: rear5124,233 mi
Wheels569,291 mi
Air bags4140,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling4119,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip4
Suspension: rear: springs: air suspension system450,000 mi
Engine3165,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline3
Power train: automatic transmission3
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)3
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)3113,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components3
Steering3
Unknown or other3
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal3
Visibility: power window devices and controls3
Air bags: frontal2
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood2
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers2
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift2
Exterior lighting: turn signal2
Structure: body2
Structure: body: door298,120 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel1102,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1
Electrical system: ignition1
Electrical system: starter assembly155,040 mi
Electrical system: wiring1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly1
Equipment1167,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1
Exterior lighting1
Fuel system, other1150,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch1
Power train: driveline: differential unit1
Power train: driveline: driveshaft1
Seat belts1140,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler1
Service brakes169,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1
Steering: rack and pinion1
Structure1124,233 mi
Structure: body: bumpers166,872 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1
Structure: body: hood1
Suspension: front: springs: air suspension system166,872 mi
Suspension: front: springs: torsion bar138,216 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire1
Vehicle speed control: linkages1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior1
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly1
Visibility: windshield1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor160,000 mi

The 1999 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.