LINCOLN NAVIGATOR · model year

2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR

71 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005LINCOLNNAVIGATOR carries 71 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 4 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 NAVIGATOR is suspension with 12 filings, followed by air bags (5) and engine (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2005 NAVIGATOR. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

71
Complaints
5
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

71 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION12
AIR BAGS5
ENGINE5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
STRUCTURE2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1

Recent Complaints

20240420FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Fire inside of the motor, behind the engine computer. Upon researching recalls for Lincoln Navigators I found these other recalls online for possibly the same fire issue: "Ford has issued a recall for some of its 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs due to a potential engine fire risk. Over 65,000 2021-year model vehicles manufactured between December 2020 and April 2021 have been affected." "We've discovered a vehicle safety issue in some 2021 model-year Lincoln Navigator® vehicles built from July 30, 2020 to August 31, 2021. Some of these vehicles have experienced an under-hood fire, even while parked and off."

20240420FireENGINE

Fire inside of the motor, behind the engine computer. Upon researching recalls for Lincoln Navigators I found these other recalls online for possibly the same fire issue: "Ford has issued a recall for some of its 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs due to a potential engine fire risk. Over 65,000 2021-year model vehicles manufactured between December 2020 and April 2021 have been affected." "We've discovered a vehicle safety issue in some 2021 model-year Lincoln Navigator® vehicles built from July 30, 2020 to August 31, 2021. Some of these vehicles have experienced an under-hood fire, even while parked and off."

20240420FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

Fire inside of the motor, behind the engine computer. Upon researching recalls for Lincoln Navigators I found these other recalls online for possibly the same fire issue: "Ford has issued a recall for some of its 2021 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs due to a potential engine fire risk. Over 65,000 2021-year model vehicles manufactured between December 2020 and April 2021 have been affected." "We've discovered a vehicle safety issue in some 2021 model-year Lincoln Navigator® vehicles built from July 30, 2020 to August 31, 2021. Some of these vehicles have experienced an under-hood fire, even while parked and off."

20220123STRUCTURE:BODY

The drivers side door does not latch in the cold temperatures.

20190320AIR BAGS

THERE WASNT A RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS PER MY VIN NUMBER HOWEVER JUST YESTERDAYMY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE WHICH UPON IMPACT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE DIDNT. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER...

20190320STRUCTURE:BODY

THERE WASNT A RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS PER MY VIN NUMBER HOWEVER JUST YESTERDAYMY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE WHICH UPON IMPACT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE DIDNT. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER...

20190320SERVICE BRAKES

THERE WASNT A RECALL ON MY AIRBAGS PER MY VIN NUMBER HOWEVER JUST YESTERDAYMY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE WHICH UPON IMPACT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE DIDNT. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER...

20180912ENGINE

AS I WAS MERGING ON FREEWAY, I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN FATALITIES SINCE IT WAS AT RUSH HOUR. AS I PULLED OVER, THE ENGINE WAS BUCKING BUT REGAINED POWER WITH SPORADIC BOUTS OF LOSS DURING MY DRIVE HOME. THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER ONE AND I REPLACED AND TESTED ALL RELATED COMPONENTS AND THEN FOUND OUT IT WAS THE CAM PHASER ISSUE THAT PLAGUES THE TRITON ENGINE. FROM READING OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOTH CONSUMER AND REPAIR SHOP OWNERS, IT IS SIMPLY A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT FROM WHO ELSE, THE FORD CORP. OF COURSE THEY BLAME THE OWNER FOR LACK OF MAINTENANCE.

Mileage: 159,000

20180511CrashAIR BAGS

WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH IN THE LINCOLN, ANOTHER DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF THE NAVIGATOR RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE SEVERE COLLISION. THE FRONT IMPACT DESTROYED THE FRONT END OF THE LINCOLN, AND ALSO CAUSED IT TO SPIN 180 DEGRESS RESULTING IN A SECOND COLLISION WITH THE AT FAULT DRIVER. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURY TO THE DRIVER.

Mileage: 80,000

20170316ENGINE

THE SPARK PLUGS ARE RECALL, MY LINCOLN HAS ONLY 68,000 MILES I PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2005, NOW AIR SUSPENSION HAS PROBLEMS TOO HOW CAN I RECEIVE A REFUND ON THE RECALLS AFTER I PAID $1,800.00 IN REPAIRS.

Mileage: 57,000

20170316SUSPENSION

THE SPARK PLUGS ARE RECALL, MY LINCOLN HAS ONLY 68,000 MILES I PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2005, NOW AIR SUSPENSION HAS PROBLEMS TOO HOW CAN I RECEIVE A REFUND ON THE RECALLS AFTER I PAID $1,800.00 IN REPAIRS.

Mileage: 57,000

20170131SUSPENSION

AIR SUSPENSION DOES NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER BELOW 45 DEGREES YOU LOOSE CONTROL AND BOUNCES HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE 2006 LIVED IN FL AND HAD NO PROBLEMS MOVED TO NY AND HAVE PROBLEM EVERY TIME TEMP DROPS BELOW 45 HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS FOR REPAIRS THAT DIDNT WORK CKECKED INTERNET AND FOUND OUT IT A PROBLEM WITH 2003-2006 AND NOBODY CAN FIX INCLUDING FORD

Mileage: 100,000

20160404ENGINE

2005 NAVIGATOR HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES, SPARK PLUGS DEFECTED, DEALER WANTS $1,500 TO $2,500 TO REPLACE THEM, WHICH IS DEFECT FROM MANUFACTURE. THESE SPARK PLUGS SHOULD BE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECTS FROM MANUFACTURE, AND THE RECALL ONLY WANTS TO PAY $1,040 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPARK PLUGS, WHY SHOULD I PAY UP FRONT IF THEY ARE MANUFACTURE FAULT AND MY NAVIGATOR ONLY HAS 60,00 MILES NOW AND I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM THE DEALER IN 2005.

Mileage: 60,000

20151226SUSPENSION

AIR SUSPENSION DOES NOT WORK / INFLATE WHEN CAR IS COLD, THERE SOMETIMES NO WARNING THAT THE SHOCKS ARE DOWN AND COULD MAKE DRIVING DANGEROUS . MAKING CAR UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN THE CAR WILL ROLL OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN TERRAIN PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL NAVIGATORS SINCE 2003 OR OLDER WITH AIR SUSPESION SHOCK DOES NOT INFLATE WHEN STATIONARY / DOES NOT INFLATE WHEN IN MOTION TIRE RUBS ON FENDER WALL MAKING TURNS, THERE IS COMPLETELY NO SHOCK ABSORPTION WHEN CAR IS ON FREEWAY OR ON SURFACE WHICH MAKES CEHICLES VERY UNSTABLE AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS IF DRIVEN BY INEXPERIENCED OR EXPERIENCED DRIVERS

Mileage: 75,000

20151206ENGINE

ENGINE STARTS TO KNOCK AN SHAKE VERY LOUDLY WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM SIMPLY DRIVING 45MPH OR IT COMPLETELY LLOSES ALL POWER AS I'M DRIVING AN A LOUD POPPIG EXPLOSIONS COMING FROM THE EXHUAST AN THEY ARE LOUD ENOUGH WERE PEOPLE HEHHAVE PULLED UP NEXT TO ME TO LET ME KNOW AN AFRAID THE CAR MAY BLOW UP. AIR SUSPENSION DOSE NOT COME ON WHEN IT'S COLD AN DRIVES VERY POORLY AN MISLEADING TO OTHER DRIVERS AN LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR POSSIBLE DUI BECAUSE THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AN JUMPY. THE RADIO CUTS IN AN OUT AS I DRIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. SO I TOOK IT TO GALPIN LINCOLN IN VAN NUYS, CA ON ROSCOE BLVD AN SEPULVEDA AN THEY JUST FOUND ONE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDING REPLACED AN WANTED ME TO $2,500 FOR LABOR ALONE TO COMPLETELY OPEN UP MY ENGINE AN SEE IF IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE TIMING CHAIN AN REALINE THE CAMSHAFTS

20151206FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE STARTS TO KNOCK AN SHAKE VERY LOUDLY WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM SIMPLY DRIVING 45MPH OR IT COMPLETELY LLOSES ALL POWER AS I'M DRIVING AN A LOUD POPPIG EXPLOSIONS COMING FROM THE EXHUAST AN THEY ARE LOUD ENOUGH WERE PEOPLE HEHHAVE PULLED UP NEXT TO ME TO LET ME KNOW AN AFRAID THE CAR MAY BLOW UP. AIR SUSPENSION DOSE NOT COME ON WHEN IT'S COLD AN DRIVES VERY POORLY AN MISLEADING TO OTHER DRIVERS AN LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR POSSIBLE DUI BECAUSE THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AN JUMPY. THE RADIO CUTS IN AN OUT AS I DRIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. SO I TOOK IT TO GALPIN LINCOLN IN VAN NUYS, CA ON ROSCOE BLVD AN SEPULVEDA AN THEY JUST FOUND ONE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDING REPLACED AN WANTED ME TO $2,500 FOR LABOR ALONE TO COMPLETELY OPEN UP MY ENGINE AN SEE IF IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE TIMING CHAIN AN REALINE THE CAMSHAFTS

20151206SUSPENSION

ENGINE STARTS TO KNOCK AN SHAKE VERY LOUDLY WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM SIMPLY DRIVING 45MPH OR IT COMPLETELY LLOSES ALL POWER AS I'M DRIVING AN A LOUD POPPIG EXPLOSIONS COMING FROM THE EXHUAST AN THEY ARE LOUD ENOUGH WERE PEOPLE HEHHAVE PULLED UP NEXT TO ME TO LET ME KNOW AN AFRAID THE CAR MAY BLOW UP. AIR SUSPENSION DOSE NOT COME ON WHEN IT'S COLD AN DRIVES VERY POORLY AN MISLEADING TO OTHER DRIVERS AN LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR POSSIBLE DUI BECAUSE THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AN JUMPY. THE RADIO CUTS IN AN OUT AS I DRIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE IT OUT. SO I TOOK IT TO GALPIN LINCOLN IN VAN NUYS, CA ON ROSCOE BLVD AN SEPULVEDA AN THEY JUST FOUND ONE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDING REPLACED AN WANTED ME TO $2,500 FOR LABOR ALONE TO COMPLETELY OPEN UP MY ENGINE AN SEE IF IT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE TIMING CHAIN AN REALINE THE CAMSHAFTS

20150310VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES RECENTLY TWICE IN ONE WEEK.DRIVING AND MY TRUCK SHUTS OFF,STEERING LOCKS UP AND NO POWER.THE WARNING INDICATOR TELLS ME. "CHECK THROTTLE COMPUTER SYSTEM,I SHUT OFF TRUCK AND AFTER A COUPLE TIMES IT STARTS BACK UP... *TR

Mileage: 151,000

20150310FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES RECENTLY TWICE IN ONE WEEK.DRIVING AND MY TRUCK SHUTS OFF,STEERING LOCKS UP AND NO POWER.THE WARNING INDICATOR TELLS ME. "CHECK THROTTLE COMPUTER SYSTEM,I SHUT OFF TRUCK AND AFTER A COUPLE TIMES IT STARTS BACK UP... *TR

Mileage: 151,000

20141103STRUCTURE:BODY

2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CURRENTLY WITH 97000 MILES. MAJOR FRAME RUST IN FRONT END,RADIATOR SUPPORTS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH. HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT RADIATORS DROPPING DUE TO FRAME ROTTING. MAIN SECTION OF TRUCK FRAME HAS A HOLE IN IT DUE TO RUST AS WELL. FRAME INTEGRITY IS COMPROMISED AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

Compare 2005LINCOLNNAVIGATOR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR have?
The 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR has 71 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 4 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR?
The most-complained component for the 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR is SUSPENSION with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ENGINE.
Is the 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.