2002 Lincoln Navigator

Routine

Owners filed 32 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control4
020
Electrical System4
010
Engine and Engine Cooling3
010
Air Bags › Frontal3
205
Air Bags3
001
Engine2
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Suspension1
000
Structure1
000
Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. 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.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

Exterior Lighting06E064000
Filed Jul 17, 20064,029 vehiclesTradesonic

Defect. CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Fuel System, Gasoline06E056000
Filed Jun 13, 200658,640 vehiclesUfi Filters Usa

Defect. CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

Risk. FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

Vehicle Speed Control05V388000
Filed Sep 7, 20054,500,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

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

Risk. A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.

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)

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2016128,000 milesNV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE THE ACCURATE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY AND THE SPEED CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 25, 2014160,000 milesDE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Engine
Filed Aug 25, 2014120,000 milesUT

MY 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR EJECTED A SPARK PLUG CAUSING A SUBSTANTIAL REPAIR BILL. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 25, 2012160,000 milesCA

I HAD THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE HOLE CAUSED CAR TO RUN ON LESS COMPRESSION AND IT IS VERY COSTLY TO FIX MECHANIC INFORMED THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR THIS. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 3, 2011150,000 milesIL

ON 12/03/11 WHEN MY HUSBAND STARTED OUR 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR A LOUD BANG HAPPENED, MY SEAT BELT TIGHTENED ACROSS MY CHEST SO TIGHT IT HURT AND I COULDN'T BREATHE, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING SO BAD THAT MY OLDEST DAUGHTER JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK BECAUSE IT SCARED HER SO BAD. THE SEAT BELT WAS SO TIGHT IT WOULDN'T COME OFF AT FIRST WHICH SCARED ME BECAUSE THE SMOKE WAS BY THE SIDE OF MY HEAD! NOW THE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK AND I DON'T WANT TO USE MY CAR WITHOUT IT. IN THE PAST YEAR, 2011, MY TRUCK KEEPS BLOWING FUSES ON THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS AND AIR BAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. I KEEP REPLACING THE FUSE BUT THEY ONLY LAST ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN THEY BLOW OUT. ONCE THE FUSE IS REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS WORK, THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES OFF. BUT, NO SOONER DO I CHANGE IT, IT BLOWS AGAIN. SO, I HAVEN'T REPLACED IT. IN FEBRUARY I HAVE TO GO FOR EMISSIONS AND I WON'T PASS WITH THIS LIGHT ON. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, MY BRIGHT LIGHTS HAVE TURNED ON BY THEMSELVES. I THOUGHT IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN WE USE THE TURN SIGNALS, BUT MY HUSBAND TOLD ME IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME. I DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM UNTIL THREE DAYS AGO WHEN I HIT A BUMP AND THEY WENT ON. THEN, YESTERDAY I WAS SITTING IN OUR RUNNING, PARKED CAR AND THE BRIGHTS JUST TURNED ON WHILE THE CAR WAS ON AND NOT MOVING. THAT REALLY SCARED ME. WHAT KIND OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DOES THIS VEHICLE HAVE? I HAVE DONE THE ONE RECALL ON MY TRUCK FOR ENGINE FIRE. ARE THERE MORE RECALLS I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? *TR

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Sep 12, 2011CA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE EAR DRUM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER SENT A SPECIALIST TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE SPECIALIST ADVISED THAT A FAULTY COMPONENT IN THE AIR BAG CAUSED THE DEPLOYMENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Jul 13, 2011180,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT EITHER SOMETHING WAS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT OR THE SEAT COVER WAS WORN EXCESSIVELY. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACTS LEFT ARM WAS SEVERELY INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 4, 201132,000 milesNM

I THINK THIS IS A COMMON TACTIC BY FORD AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO IT. I LEASED A NEW 2002 NAVIGATOR AND HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION. ON A ROAD TRIP IN 2004 WITH 32000 MILES, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND FORD WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. APPARENTLY, THE LEASE INCLUDED FREE OIL CHANGES AT THE DEALER, WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF. I PRODUCED ALL OF THE RECEIPTS TO SHOW THAT I HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES (MORE FREQUENTLY THAN REQUIRED) BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS IRRELEVANT SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE THE DEALER DO THE OIL CHANGES. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $12,000. THE FORD DEALER WAS SO UPSET BY THIS HE OFFERED TO DO IT FOR COST, ABOUT $4500, BUT I JUST WALKED AWAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY SUED AND PUT A $15,000 BLOT ON MY CREDIT RATING.THIS WAS MY THIRD NAVIGATOR LEASE, INCLUDING A 1998 AND 2000 MODEL BEFORE THIS. I PAID TOP DOLLAR FOR THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE AND THIS IS HOW THEY TREAT GOOD CUSTOMERS. NOT TO MENTION BEING STRANDED IN THE DESERT WITH MY WIFE AND FIVE KIDS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. ONE LAST POINT - I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED BEFORE I LEFT AND HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN IT BROKE DOWN. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS MORE THAN 1/2 QUART DOWN. CLEARLY THE CAR WAS USING OIL AT JUST 32000 MILES. FUNNY THING IS, I HAVE A 97 EXPLORER WITH ROUGHLY THE SAME ENGINE, AND IT FINALLY THREW A ROD AT 250,000 MILES OF EXCELLENT SERVICE. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed Dec 29, 201080,000 milesAK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WAS PUT OUT BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED A WRITTEN REPORT OF THE INCIDENT WOULD BE PROVIDED WITHIN FIFTEEN DAYS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT CONFIRM THAT INFORMATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 3, 2010102,000 milesTX

MY 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT FIRE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND FRONT HALF OF THE CAR IS CHARRED AND THE INTERIOR HAS SIGNIFICANT BURN DAMAGE, IT ALMOST SET FIRE TO OUR HOME. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 20, 201088,133 milesCA

FUSE/RELAY FUSES GET BURNED ONCE EVERY TWO DAYS THE SUV TURNS OFF WHILE IN MOTION. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC INTERSECTION. HAS HAPPENED FOR 5-6 TIMES. TOOK THE SUV TO AN ELECTRICIAN FOUND NO PROBLEM, CALLED FORD DEALER APPOINTMENT IN TWO WEEKS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 30, 2010141,000 milesNY

LEAKY WINSHIELD CAUSING FAULTY WIREING AND CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE MOVING WIPERS STOP WORKING AMONG OTHER THINGS FORD NOES OF THIS ISSUE AND IS NOT DOING ANTHING TO FIX ISSUE THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE AS IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EVEN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AS IT SHUTS OFF SPERATICALLY AND SOMETIMES WONT RESTART

Structure
Filed Feb 26, 201090,000 miles00

WATER LEAKAGE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 25, 201090,000 miles00

I HAVE A WATER LEAKAGE AND IT IS AFFECTING THE ELECTRONICS OF THE CAR..WHEN IT RAINS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OCCURS..SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL SHIFT TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND THE HEATER WILL GO ON AND OFF, THE RADIO STOP WORKING, ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCK WILL NOT OPEN..ACCELERATION AND OVERDRIVE GOES ON..BATTERY WILL GO DEAD... *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 23, 2009115,144 milesWA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SPEED CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115144.

Fuel System, OtherFire
Filed Dec 8, 200890,000 milesFL

2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND BURNT TO THE GROUND. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Oct 16, 200882,500 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT PROCEEDED THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS LIFTED FROM THE GROUND. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, SHOULDERS, LOWER BACK, CHEST, AND NECK. NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THAT THE SEAT BELT SNAPPED FROM THE IMPACT. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE REVIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,500.

Air Bags › Side/Window1 injured
Filed Mar 3, 200889,746 milesMS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH IN REVERSE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS OR CRASH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BRUISED ARM, BUT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEPLOYMENT. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,746.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Aug 6, 200780,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT'S GARAGE SUSTAINED FIRE. HIS HOME WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED DUE TO SMOKE AND WATER. HIS OTHER VEHICLE WAS ALSO DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed Jul 2, 2007CA

ON 6/26/2007 AROUND 3:00PM, MY YEAR 2002 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE BY ITSELF IN THE PARKING LOT. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY UNDER INSPECTION BY THE DEALER. *TR

20 of 32 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20270100Routine
20260200Routine
202511600Routine
202416700Routine
20236800Routine
2022211410Routine
2021321200Routine
2020311320Routine
2019791010Routine
2018521230Routine
201731510Routine
201625410Routine
201521410Routine
201417000Routine
201314000Routine
201212300Routine
20119000Routine
201016000Routine
200910100Routine
200830210Routine
200745240Routine
200660330Routine
200548020Routine
200486021Fatalities reported
2003127130Routine
2002 — this page32450Routine
2001816110Routine
20001097170Routine
19991327122Fatalities reported
19981926220High concern
19970200Routine

Compare every Navigator year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.