1998 Lincoln Navigator

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

1998 Lincoln Navigator
RENDERED 2026-09-17T01:56:33.954Z

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

1998: 192 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1997	0
1998	192
1999	132
2000	109
2001	81
2002	32
2003	127
2004	86
2005	48
2006	60
2007	45
2008	30
2009	10
2010	16
2011	9
2012	12
2013	14
2014	17
2015	21
2016	25
2017	31
2018	51
2019	77
2020	30
2021	31
2022	21
2023	6
2024	16
2025	11
2026	0
2027	0

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

TIRES 26%

26% of complaints: tires — 49 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tread/belt and sidewall.

CRASH INJURY

SUSPENSION 13%

13% of complaints: suspension — 25 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing front and rear.

CRASH INJURY DEATH

Show complaint excerpts

HI MY NAME IS [XXX] I HAVE THIS VIEHICLE SINSE 4-11-01 SINSE THIS DAY I HAVE TAKE THIS VEHICLE LIKE 15 TIMES TO THE MECHANIC AND IS BEEN THE SAME PROBLEM THE HOLD TIME REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEM'S WHEN I BOUHT THIS VIEHICLE LIKE A MONTH LATER I TOOKED...

NHTSA ODI report, 20020904

TIRES SLIPPING ON RIMS, HIGHWAY VIBRATION VEHICLE SINCE FIRST PURCHASED. DEALER VERFIED SLIPPING TIRES AND RELACED TIRES AND WHEELS WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI report, 19990104

STEERING 11%

11% of complaints: steering — 22 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tie rod assembly and linkages.

CRASH INJURY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%

11% of complaints: electrical system — 21 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing fuses and circuit breakers and front underhood.

FIRE

Show complaint excerpts

CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING OR STARTED IN OVER A WEEK. SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP. VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND OUR GARAGE AND FRONT FASCIA RECEIVED FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20140121

Also filed under ENGINE

WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE FRONT WIRING HARNESS, CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI report, 19980608

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10%

10% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 19 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing cruise control and accelerator pedal.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19971020 — power train

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 SHI

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.

Campaign 97V171000 — check if this car was fixed

▮ 1998 — complaint volume: 192

R 19980323 — exterior lighting

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 REQUIR

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

Campaign 98V028000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19980421 — PE (closed 19980721)

TIE ROD END FAILURES

R 19980720 — wheels

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 MOU

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 PRO

Campaign 98V095000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990927 — PE (closed 20000308)

FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING HITCH SEPARATIO

R 20000515 — trailer hitches

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

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

Campaign 00V073000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20050322 — EA (closed 20060802)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

R 20050912 — vehicle speed control

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

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 CONTRO

Campaign 05V388000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20050922 — DP (closed 20060104)

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed