Model research hub
Lincoln Navigator
Car and Driver calls the 2026 Lincoln Navigator the spiritual descendant of the long-departed Lincoln Town Car sedan, making no apologies for its massive footprint, eight-passenger capacity, opulent interior touches, and $100,000-plus starting price, though the entry-level Premiere trim returns for 2026, dropping the starting price to just under the six-figure mark. TowingSpecs.com says the 2026 Lincoln Navigator tows up to 8,700 lbs at the top trim and 8,400 lbs at the base trim, carrying over the 2025 fifth-generation platform. MotorTrend says as Lincoln's flagship, the Navigator shows off the brand's best in design, technology and luxury, embodying the glamor Lincoln has long promised its flagship SUV, or does it, with expected fuel economy of 15/22 mpg city/highway.
The Town Car's spiritual successor
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) calls the 2026 Lincoln Navigator the spiritual descendant of the long-departed Lincoln Town Car sedan, making no apologies for its massive footprint, eight-passenger capacity, opulent interior touches, and $100,000-plus starting price, though the entry-level Premiere trim returns for 2026, dropping the starting price to just under the six-figure mark.
Towing capacity
TowingSpecs.com (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Lincoln Navigator tows up to 8,700 lbs at the top trim and 8,400 lbs at the base trim, carrying over the 2025 fifth-generation platform.
The brand's flagship glamor
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says as Lincoln's flagship, the Navigator shows off the brand's best in design, technology, and luxury, embodying the glamor Lincoln has long promised its flagship SUV, or does it, with expected fuel economy of 15/22 mpg city/highway.
Questions buyers ask
How much can the Lincoln Navigator tow?
TowingSpecs.com (opens in a new tab) says up to 8,700 lbs at the top trim.
Does the Lincoln Navigator start under $100,000?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says with the returning Premiere trim, yes, just under six figures.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Lincoln Navigator is built around 3.5L twin-turbo V6, rated at 440 horsepower across its full-size luxury SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2027 Navigator seats 7 or 8 and is a Full-size luxury SUV.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 Navigator.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Lincoln Navigator
Every Navigator trim shares the same 440-horsepower twin-turbo V6. The 2027 model brings back the Premiere entry trim (from $89,995) and makes RWD the standard drivetrain lineup-wide, with 4WD now an extra-cost option, a reversal of the previous standard-4WD setup. All three trims are offered in standard and extended (L) wheelbase.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Lincoln Navigator model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Lincoln Navigator | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Lincoln Navigator | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Lincoln Navigator | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Lincoln Navigator.
The Lincoln Navigator is a full-size luxury SUV marketed by the Lincoln brand of Ford since the 1998 model year. Sold in North America, it is based on the Ford Expedition. It is the heaviest production Lincoln, the Lincoln with the greatest cargo capacity, and the first non-limousine Lincoln to offer seating for more than six people.
- Safety
- On April 12, 2017, the fourth-generation 2018 Lincoln Navigator was introduced at the 2017 New York Auto Show. As with previous generations, the fourth-generation remains the Lincoln counterpart of the Ford Expedition, offered in both a standard and long-wheelbase configuration (Lincoln Navigator L). As before, both two and four-wheel drive versions are offered.
- Recalls and problems
- In June 2026 Ford issued a recall order of over 741,000 vehicles, including the Navigator, in the U.S. due to a transmission issue that may damage the park system.
- Awards
- On January 14, 2018, The Lincoln Navigator was awarded Truck of the Year at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, marking the first time that a Lincoln vehicle has been given a NAIAS award, as well as the first American-built Luxury Sport Utility Vehicle in this segment to win in this category. 2024 Best CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) Value in America Award from Vincentric in the Large Luxury SUV segment for that reason and several others, joining its platform mate – the Ford Expedition – which took home top honors in the Large SUV segment.
- Chassis
- The Lincoln Navigator was also developed under the Ford program code name UN173, with the Expedition developed under the UN93 program code name. A full-size body-on-frame vehicle, the Navigator was mechanically related to the Ford Expedition; both vehicles were related to the 1997 Ford F-Series.
Source: Lincoln Navigator (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Lincoln Navigator at a glance
- Production
- May 1997–present
- Model years
- 1998–present
- Assembly
- Wayne, Michigan, U.S. (Michigan Assembly Plant: 1997–2009), Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. (Kentucky Truck Plant: 2009–present)
- Class
- Full-size luxury SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
- Chassis
- Body-on-frame
- Related models
- Ford Expedition, Ford F-Series
NHTSA rated the 2025 Lincoln Navigator overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 3 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (7 campaigns across the latest model years)
- March 2026, Back Over Prevention:Software. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The Image Processing Module A (IPMA) may experience multiple unexpected resets, resulting in loss of the rearview camera image and advanced driver assistance… Consequence: Loss of the rearview camera image and certain driver assistance features, can reduce the driver’s ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.
- March 2026, Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The obstacle detection software for the driver seat may malfunction at low speeds, resulting in the seat reversing unexpectedly while driving. Consequence: Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat may affect the driver’s ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- February 2026, Electrical System: Integrated Trailer Brake Control. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may… Consequence: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of…
Owners filed 12 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Lincoln Navigator, most often about unknown or other (3), service brakes (3), forward collision avoidance (3).
Year by year
The Lincoln Navigator across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Lincoln Navigator | 17–18 | $3,600–$3,800 | 2 | |||
| 2026 Lincoln Navigator | 17 | $3,650 | 1 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Lincoln Navigator | 17 | $3,650 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Lincoln Navigator | 18 | $3,450 | 1 | 7 | 15 | |
| 2023 Lincoln Navigator | 17–19 | $3,300–$3,650 | 4 | 8 | 6 | |
| 2022 Lincoln Navigator | 18–19 | $3,300–$3,450 | 2 | 14 | 20 | |
| 2021 Lincoln Navigator | 17–18 | $3,450–$3,650 | 3 | 12 | 32 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Lincoln Navigator | 18–19 | $3,300–$3,450 | 3 | 13 | 31 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Lincoln Navigator | 18–19 | $3,300–$3,450 | 3 | 10 | 75 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Lincoln Navigator | 18–19 | $3,300–$3,450 | 3 | 12 | 52 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Lincoln Navigator | 16–17 | $3,650–$3,900 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Lincoln Navigator | 16–18 | $3,450–$3,900 | 4 | 4 | 25 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Lincoln Navigator | 16–18 | $3,450–$3,900 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Lincoln Navigator, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 1 to 2 | 17.0 to 17.5 | Labels: Navigator 2WD; Drives: Rear-Wheel Drive; Size classes: Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | |
| 2024 to 2025 | 18.0 to 17.0 | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 4 to 1 | Labels: Navigator 2WD; Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI; Stop-Start; Drives: Rear-Wheel Drive; Size classes: Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | ||
| 2022 to 2023 | 2 to 4 | 18.5 to 18.0 | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI; Stop-Start | |
| 2021 to 2022 | 3 to 2 | 17.5 to 18.5 | Labels: Navigator L 2WD | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 18.5 to 17.5 | |||
| 2017 to 2018 | 4 to 3 | 16.5 to 18.5 | Transmissions: Automatic (S10) | Labels: Navigator L 4WD; Transmissions: Automatic (S6) |
| 2016 to 2017 | 17.0 to 16.5 |
Buying used
What the Lincoln Navigator recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | electrical system (integrated trailer brake control); seats (front assembly) | None |
| 2025 | 6 | air bags (frontal); service brakes, hydraulic (power assist); exterior lighting; 2 more | None |
| 2024 | 7 | equipment (other); engine and engine cooling; service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); 2 more | None |
| 2023 | 8 | power train (axle assembly); equipment (other); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); 3 more | None |
| 2022 | 14 | electrical system (integrated trailer brake control); exterior lighting (lighting control module); equipment (other); 6 more | None |
| 2021 | 12 | air bags (sensor); visibility (windshield wiper/washer); engine; 7 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2020 | 13 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); seats (mid/rear assembly); visibility (windshield wiper/washer); 7 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2019 | 10 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); suspension (rear); equipment (other); 3 more | None |
| 2018 | 12 | visibility (power window devices and controls); power train (automatic transmission); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 5 more | None |
| 2017 | 5 | service brakes, hydraulic (power assist); visibility (defroster/defogger/hvac system); visibility (rearview mirrors/devices); 2 more | None |
| 2016 | 4 | service brakes, hydraulic (power assist); visibility (defroster/defogger/hvac system); visibility (rearview mirrors/devices); 1 more | None |
| 2015 | 4 | visibility (defroster/defogger/hvac system); visibility (rearview mirrors/devices); back over prevention (sensing system) | None |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2020, campaign 25V-628 (Sep 2025): engine. A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
- 2021, campaign 22V-346 (May 2022): engine. A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | 76 | 23% | 2019 (22) |
| electrical system | 59 | 18% | 2019 (11) |
| engine | 41 | 13% | 2018 (12) |
| unknown or other | 35 | 11% | 2019 (9) |
| service brakes | 26 | 8% | 2017 (10) |
| seat belts | 25 | 8% | 2019 (20) |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Lincoln Navigator trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiere | 4WD | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 432 | 510 | 5,929 | 8,700 | 17 | $92,890 |
| Reserve | 4WD | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 432 | 510 | 5,929 | 8,700 | 17 | $102,890 |
| Black Label | 4WD | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 432 | 510 | 5,929 | 8,700 | 17 | $117,890 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Lincoln Navigator model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 432 | 5,929 | 8,700 | 23.6 |
| 2026 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 432 | 5,929 | 8,700 | 23.6 |
| 2025 | 2 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 440 | 5,929 | 8,700 | 23.6 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 440 | 5,884 | 6,200–8,700 | 23 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 440 | 5,884 | 6,200–8,700 | 23 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 440 | 5,884 | 6,200–8,300 | 23 |
| 2021 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 450 | 5,884 | 6,200–8,300 | 23 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 450 | 5,922 | 8,300 | 23 |
| 2019 | 4 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 450 | 5,922 | 8,300 | 23 |
| 2018 | 4 | V6, Twin Turbo, 3.5L | 450 | 5,922 | 8,300 | 23 |
| 2017 | 2 | 3.5-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 380 | – | 8,700 | 28 |
| 2016 | 2 | V6, EcoBoost, TT, 3.5L | 380 | 5,833 | 8,600 | 28 |
| 2015 | 1 | V6, EcoBoost, TT 3.5L | 380 | 6,069 | 8,700 | 28 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Lincoln Navigator: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Lincoln Navigator : 2 recalls on file (average across published years is 8.1).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2022 Lincoln Navigator : 14 recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system and exterior lighting.
- 2020 Lincoln Navigator : 13 recalls on file, most commonly affecting seat belts and electrical system.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | not available | electrical system, seats |
| 2025 | 6 | 11 | brakes, airbags, exterior lighting, electrical system |
| 2024 | 7 | 15 | engine cooling, backup camera, equipment, brakes |
| 2023 | 8 | 6 | equipment, backup camera, powertrain, brakes |
| 2022 | 14 | 20 | electrical system, exterior lighting, equipment, backup camera |
| 2021 | 12 | 32 | visibility/wipers, equipment, backup camera, airbags |
| 2020 | 13 | 31 | seat belts, electrical system, equipment, backup camera |
| 2019 | 10 | 75 | seat belts, electrical system, equipment, suspension |
| 2018 | 12 | 52 | seat belts, powertrain, equipment, fuel system |
| 2017 | 5 | 31 | brakes, visibility/wipers, backup camera |
| 2016 | 4 | 25 | visibility/wipers, brakes, backup camera |
| 2015 | 4 | 21 | visibility/wipers, backup camera |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lincoln Navigator model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Lincoln Navigator?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2022, 2020 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Lincoln Navigator model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2022 Lincoln Navigator has 14 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system, exterior lighting, equipment; The 2020 Lincoln Navigator has 13 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting seat belts, electrical system, equipment. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Lincoln Navigator model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Lincoln Navigator has 2 recalls on file: below this model's own average of 8.1. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Lincoln Navigator by model year?
2026: electrical system, seats. 2025: brakes, airbags, exterior lighting, electrical system. 2024: engine cooling, backup camera, equipment, brakes. 2023: equipment, backup camera, powertrain, brakes. 2022: electrical system, exterior lighting, equipment, backup camera. 2021: visibility/wipers, equipment, backup camera, airbags.
Q05Why do some Lincoln Navigator model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lincoln Navigator model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Climate and electrical, Brakes, tires and steering, Buying, records and recalls, Transmission and drivetrain, Engine and cooling.
2022 Lincoln Navigator owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls.
2020 Lincoln Navigator owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Climate and electrical.
Compared with
Models this Lincoln Navigator is most often compared with.
Nearest Lincoln models
Other Lincoln models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 Navigator come in?
The 2027 Lincoln Navigator (full-size luxury SUV) comes in 3 trims: Premiere, Reserve, Black Label.
Q02What are the 2027 Navigator trims?
The 2027 Lincoln Navigator trims are Premiere, Reserve, Black Label, listed from the entry Premiere up to the top Black Label.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 Navigator use?
The 2027 Lincoln Navigator is built around 3.5L twin-turbo V6, rated at 440 horsepower across its full-size luxury SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 Navigator have?
The 2027 Lincoln Navigator is rated at 440 horsepower (3.5L twin-turbo V6).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 Navigator?
The 2027 Lincoln Navigator is offered with Standard RWD, 4WD optional.