⌘K
Home›Lincoln›Navigator›2020
Lincoln · Midsize / large SUV

2020 Lincoln Navigator

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
35 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical13
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA31
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA19 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Navigator 2WD, is EPA-rated at 19 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 31 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Navigator 2WDGasRWD3.5L 6-cyl turbo162219$3,300
Navigator 4WDGas4WD (part-time)3.5L 6-cyl turbo162118$3,450
Navigator L 2WDGasRWD3.5L 6-cyl turbo162118$3,450

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42267, 42271, 42268.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

Compare coverage →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (13)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Power Train

26S48
741,195 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.RiskPark system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable
NHTSA campaign 26V402000reported Jun 24, 2026Ford Motor Company
▲high

Seat Belts

26S34
419,967 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.RiskSeat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls w
NHTSA campaign 26V344000reported May 27, 2026Ford Motor Company
!critical

Engine

22S36/22S48
Park outside4,632 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. A short circuit within the battery junction box can cause an engine fire while driving or parked.RiskA vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.FixOwners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at
NHTSA campaign 25V628000reported Sep 19, 2025Ford Motor Company
○minor

Back Over Prevention

25S72
200,237 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.RiskA rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
NHTSA campaign 25V442000reported Jun 27, 2025Ford Motor Company
○minor

Electrical System

25S56
556 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Expedition and Navigator vehicles that were repaired incorrectly under recall 20V262. The Pre-Collision Assist features, such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, are not functional due to a software error.RiskInoperative pre-collision assist features that fail to perform as expected can increase the risk of a crash or injury.FixDealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S56.
NHTSA campaign 25V346000reported May 23, 2025Ford Motor Company
▲high

Seat Belts

25S31
112,951 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.RiskSeat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.
NHTSA campaign 25V197000reported May 23, 2025Ford Motor Company
○minor

Equipment

24C39
27,678 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."RiskWithout a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.FixFord will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
NHTSA campaign 24V852000reported Nov 8, 2024Ford Motor Company
▲high

Seat Belts

24S06
77,574 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.RiskSeat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.
NHTSA campaign 24V099000reported Feb 9, 2024Ford Motor Company
○minor

Back Over Prevention

23S48
177,402 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator, 2018-2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2022-2023 Ford Transit, and 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. The rearview camera, or 360-degree view camera if equipped, may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.RiskLoss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace the rearview camera, and update the software and wiring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023 to Lincoln owners. Ford vehicle owners notification letters were mailed March 4, 2024. Ford remedy parts are anticipated 2nd Quarter 2024. Ford's number for this recall is 23S48.
NHTSA campaign 23V598000reported Aug 25, 2023Ford Motor Company
▲high

Equipment

23C20
691,133 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."RiskWithout instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.FixFord will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.
NHTSA campaign 23V420000reported Jun 9, 2023Ford Motor Company
▲high

Visibility

22S26
652,996 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.RiskInoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.
NHTSA campaign 22V250000reported Apr 14, 2022Ford Motor Company
▲high

Seats

20C12
2,620 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."RiskAn improperly welded headrest bracket may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began July 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C12.
NHTSA campaign 20V366000reported Jun 23, 2020Ford Motor Company
▲high

Electrical System

20S20
25,081 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with camera-only Pre-Collision Assist feature. Vehicles built with the optional radar-plus-camera Pre-Collision Assist system are not affected. Due to incorrect coding of interfacing modules, the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, and the driver cannot access the menu functions necessary to enable the Pre-Collision Assist feature.RiskIf the driver is unaware that the Pre-Collision Assist feature is not enabled, they may rely on a system that is not functional, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram software for the Body Control Module, Antilock Braking System, Instrument Panel Cluster and Headlamp Control Modules, and reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S20.
NHTSA campaign 20V262000reported May 8, 2020Ford Motor Company

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
31complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 10

Most-cited components

Power Train18
Electrical System4
Engine3
Seat Belts3
Seats1
Visibility/Wiper1

What owners describe

“Catastrophic engine failure on 2020 Lincoln Navigator at 93,000 miles. Oil contamination in cylinder 6 caused complete compression loss due to piston ring failure. The engine suffers from failed cam phases and excessive carbon build up which are known failure points of this engine. Ford Technical Service Bulletins 20-2…”Aug 29, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Category: Power Train -> Automatic Transmission Subject: 2020 Lincoln Navigator – Repeated Missed Warranty Repairs – Transmission Neutral-Out & Violent Downshift at Highway Speed Description: On [XXX], while traveling at approximately 70 mph on [XXX], my 2020 Lincoln Navigator suddenly downshifted, free-wheeled int…”Aug 8, 2025 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“Had transmission problems before this final issue. With that said the dealership ended up replacing the transmission as it was under warranty. Not even 2000 miles later we are coming back from vacation and I lost total power of the vehicle but since I was going around 70 mph we made it to the shoulder of the highway. O…”Jul 28, 2025 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV 2WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆21%
SUV 2WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆21%
SUV 4WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆19%
SUV 4WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆19%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.

Other Navigator model years

A

2027 Lincoln Navigator

1 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2026 Lincoln Navigator

2 recalls · 0 complaints

D

2025 Lincoln Navigator

6 recalls · 11 complaints

F

2024 Lincoln Navigator

7 recalls · 16 complaints

F

2023 Lincoln Navigator

8 recalls · 6 complaints

F

2022 Lincoln Navigator

14 recalls · 21 complaints

F

2021 Lincoln Navigator

12 recalls · 32 complaints

F

2019 Lincoln Navigator

10 recalls · 79 complaints

F

2018 Lincoln Navigator

12 recalls · 52 complaints

F

2017 Lincoln Navigator

5 recalls · 31 complaints

F

2016 Lincoln Navigator

4 recalls · 25 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

JSON for this page · API