2012 Lincoln Navigator problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (4) · Suspension (2) · Vehicle Speed Control (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lincoln Navigator model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2016-04-27 · campaign 16V248000 · 153,581 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Risk: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.
Exterior Lighting:back Up Lights 2012-05-03 · campaign 12V190000 · 10,500 vehicles
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT" AND 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.
Risk: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE R POSITION AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE R MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, OR NAVIGATOR MODELS AND/OR THE BACKUP LAMP ON THE REAR OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, OR MUSTANG VEHICLES MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. THESE CON
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2012-02-02 · campaign 12V034000 · 569 vehicles
Defect: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 2, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINTS." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE INADEQUATE WELDS ON THE HEAD RESTRAINT SUPPORT BRACKETS FOR THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT-HAND SEAT.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT MAY NOT PROVIDE THE REQUIRED STRENGTH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEAD RESTRAINTS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
Service bulletins (58)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-29 · 25H05 S1 · Other
harvest program 25h05 – supplement #1 certain 2011-2021 model year vehicles software verification harvest program
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-19 · 25H05 · Other
this is a proactive investigation program by ford motor company to inspect a limited number of affected vehicles that are customer-owned. ford is voluntarily conducting this program to evaluate the software currently installed on one or more electronic modules in the affected vehicles.
Unknown Or Other 2024-10-10 · SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
while performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 ford and lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.
Wheels 2024-07-24 · TSB 24-2188 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 22-2219 to update the parts list and service procedure to clarify applicable steps by vehicle application. some 2003-2020 expedition/navigator and 2006-2020 f-150 (non-raptor) vehicles equipped with 4wd may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel a
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Showing the 6 most recent of 58 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-08-30 · Tires:tread/Belt“belts dislodged on all tires. tires have 70% tread left. my mechanic said it is manufacturing defect of tires. suv started shaking badly on highway…”
2022-08-01 · Unknown Or Other“vehicle randomly downshifts at speed causing sudden and jarring loss of speed. vehicle will eventually and intermittently flash a service wrench error, speedometer stops working, and displays "000 miles to empty" message. diagnosed at the dealer as a failing molded lead frame. there was extended warranty coverage to 150,000 miles due to this being …”
2021-04-02 · Power Train · 6 mi“going down the highway my transmission on my 2012 navigator automatically down shifted to 1st gear. i pulled over and shut the car off. when i tried to start it the interior and exterior light flashed on and off. after i shut the cat down again i tried restarting the car and it started normal but it would not go out of 1st gear. i drove home and ca…”
2020-06-23 · Vehicle Speed Control · 103,000 mi“my 2012 navigator started to act weird the wrench signal appeared,my speedometer not working,the rpm went very high,no power on my suv,maybe 5mph the most,and the information screen shows no gas,while i have 1/2 tank,checked amd recalls and shows nothing,but a mechanic told me that the is a tbs recall for this transmission models,hope to hear from…”
2018-06-04 · Unknown Or Other“brake booster and master cylinder no good. brake fluid costently disappearing, no leaks under truck but once empty or close to low line have to press breaks to the floor just to try and slow down to stop... both in city and highway, in motion and while parked…”
2018-02-21 · Unknown Or Other“since purchase of car i have feeling nauseous, tired, headaches, and on some occasions dizziness always when i'm in car and the car is on. also my daughter always throws up when she is in car longer than 15 mins…”
2018-01-09 · Power Train · 114,000 mi“recall# 16v248000 powertrain automatic transmission. my 2012 lincoln navigator was taken to champion ford in katy, tx for service due to intermittent transmission issue where we experienced a downshift at speed, speedometer failure, odometer and mpg error and tire pressure warning. the symptoms correct upon restart. the dealer advised that the p…”
2017-09-18 · Power Train · 30,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2012 lincoln navigator. while driving 25 mph, the vehicle downshifted from second to first gear without warning. the vehicle was taken to robert hudson ford lincoln mercury (2316 1st ave se, moultrie, ga 31788, (229) 985-6603) where it was diagnosed that the pcm needed recalibaration. the vehicle was repaired; however, the so…”
2017-09-08 · Suspension“the rear suspension issued a warning to check rear suspension. the car bottomed out multiple times, coming to barely a few inches from the rear tires. i took this to the dealer in 2015, while it was under extended warranty, not sure of what was found at that time, have requested a repair ticket from the dealer. now aug/sept 2017 having the same …”
2016-06-24 · Power Train · 18,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2012 lincoln navigator. the contact stated that the vehicle jolted while driving 55 mph. the failure occurred intermittently on five different occasions. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be diagnosed. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v248000 (power train); however, th…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.