1998 Lincoln Navigator: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 192 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is tires (25% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 192 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. While attempting to place the vehicle in park, the gear shifter failed to engage. The contact stated that the vehicle would roll forward or backwards, depending on if the vehicle was on an incline or a decline. The contact was concerned about the rollaway possibilities with the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 72,126.”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2018
“Tl* the contact owned a 1998 lincoln navigator. While driving 40 mph, the contact crashed into the front of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact in place. A police report was filed. The contact suffered a mild concussion and a whiplash, but did not require medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2016
“Wheels are not safe and very dangerous and randomly breaking off all screws while driving and ruined the frame and drive shaft transmission suspension etc... Highway 10 west and vehicle became unstoppable as brakes also new but failed without 4th wheel this occurred 1st on morning after st patricks day 2016 and the tires were good and wheels were bolted with lugnut impact drill and mechanic said thers a recall and the original owner was unaware but lincoln claims they tried to fix before in 1999 but anaheim was fraudulently claiming repairs that were never completed because the owner always only went to the dealer where purchased new and the warranty was in effect 69,863 miles .”Owner report · Wheels · Mar 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. The contact stated that the gear indicator on the instrument cluster failed to display the desired gear selection. In addition, the gear lever would not shift into the park position properly. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 97v171000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. The contact stated that the gear shift failed to go into the park position. In addition, the contact stated that the ignition key failed to disengage from the ignition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 187,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2015
“Started with the light in vehicle staying on for hours at a time causing a loud noise under hood. While driving and picking up my girlfriend, we were scared by the sudden acceleration of my vehicle. We hit another car causing our heads to hit the dash board. The car wouldn't stop so after we hit a car while on breaks, I through car in park and that just made car engine roar even louder causing engine to go into danger mood. Turned car off and started back up it was still roaring but then calm down to normal. *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2015
“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”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. The contact stated that after adding fuel to the vehicle smoke emitted from the engine compartment followed by a thermal event. The failure was not diagnosed nor was it repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. ..updated 07-17-13 *bf the consumer stated after pumping gas a strange clicking noise was heard on the driver's side. The drivere turned the vehicle on and off with the same result. Smoke then emerged from the hood. A fire started on the passenger's side. A thump was heard and the vehicle began to leak fluids.. The fire went out. The vehicle was towed to dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. Updated 07/24/2013 *js”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2013
“Spark plug blew out at 45 mph w/o warning. Took to dealership and got back next day. 2 days later, engine light on, was told by same dealership that I had faulty vacuum hoses. More money spent. Now ABS light is on after changing all front end brake components. Also dash lights stay on even with all other lights are off. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to roll forward after shifting into park. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 97v171000 (power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication -prndl). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 170,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Nov 2011
When filing, owners marked a crash in 14 of these complaints and injuries in 26 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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 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)
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1998 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Navigator by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Lincoln Navigator reliable?
NHTSA has 192 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 1998 Lincoln Navigator. The most complained-about area is tires (25% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1998 Lincoln Navigator problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 98,060 miles or less.
Does the 1998 Lincoln Navigator have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.