2020 Lincoln Nautilus problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (15) · Wheels (3) · Exterior Lighting (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lincoln Nautilus model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-06-27 · campaign 25V442000 · 200,237 vehicles
Defect: Ford 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.
Risk: A 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.
Fix: Dealers 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.
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft 2021-01-15 · campaign 21V011000 · 147 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
Risk: If the rear drive unit seizes, there may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level. Axles found to be below the minimum lubricant fill level will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S02.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2020-09-23 · campaign 20V575000 · 620,246 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2020-09-10 · campaign 20V550000 · 97 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.
Risk: Missing or loose bolts on the start stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission fluid leak and may progress to a loss of transmission function. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S49.
Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust 2020-07-17 · campaign 20V414000 · 19,299 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.
Service bulletins (145)
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 2026-09-22 · TSB 26-2092 V2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 25-2466 to add bronco sport, escape, maverick and corsair, as well as removing expedition and navigator. one time use parts for corsair and bronco sport were also added to the parts list. some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit a headliner rat
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-17 · TSB 26-2341 v2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes 26-2171. reasons for update: update the parts list to add a note to clarify the application of the part numbers w520102-s442 and 4s4z-3n324-aa "fwd only". some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: shudder conditio
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-23 · TSB 26-2341 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes 26-2171. reasons for update: update the parts list to add a note to clarify the application of the part numbers w520102-s442 and 4s4z-3n324-aa "fwd only". some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: shudder conditio
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-15 · TSB 26-2328 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes 26-2194. reason for update: update the parts list to correct a part description " loctite 638", update the claim quantity for the drain/fill plug, update the claim quantity of the wheel hub bolts (corsair) and limited the parts list for edge/nautilus to only the rear drive u
Power Train 2026-04-26 · TSB 26-2194 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes 25-2627. reason for update: to add a step to reprogram the all-wheel drive (awd) module for bronco sport vehicles. some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: shudder chatter condition, most noticeable at low speeds
Engine 2026-04-17 · TSB 26-2171 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article updates tsb 25-2154. reasons for update: *parts list *service procedure to replace the output planetary carrier assembly *added 2023-2024 model year vehicles some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: shudder condition, most n
Showing the 6 most recent of 145 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-08 · Structure:body“the driver's front door check-arm (door stay) mounting area has cracked: the reinforcement spot welds around the door check/hinge mounting point failed and the sheet metal is torn, as shown in the attached photos. there is a loud popping/cracking noise when opening the door and increased effort to close it. this is the same failure pattern as ford …”
2026-08-26 · Suspension“hennessey lincoln in atlanta repaired my car in june 2026. my torque converter needed to be replaced. my car was there over 20 days. two weeks after getting it back from shop it started jerking and smoking. it needed another torque converter replacement. two weeks after getting this car back it did the same thing again. i contacted ford warr…”
2026-07-14 · Power Train“i bought my 2020 lincoln nautilus in february 2025 soon after i noticed a jerking from my lower gears,it has 80000 miles.i took it to the dealer i bought it from and they said the transmission is falling and will cost $10,188 to replace. they told me there was no recall and it wasn't covered under any warranty.…”
2026-07-06 · Power Train“my 2020 lincoln nautilus has an intermittent jerk during light acceleration with no diagnostic codes. this was confirmed when i had a professional mechanic drive it. …”
2026-06-30 · Power Train“while driving low speed between 1-55 mph my car feels like it’s stuttering, jerking or about to shut down. …”
2026-04-25 · Unknown Or Other“rear view camera replacement if required after dealer evaluation…”
2026-04-16 · Exterior Lighting“3rd brake light not working , they have had this issue over several years such as recall on 2025 (25c39) burnt diode in the led driver modules and may cause other lighting failures…”
2026-03-16 · Wheels · 💥 crash“1. vehicle purchase i purchased a 2020 lincoln nautilus reserve from carvana on february 2, 2026. the vehicle was delivered to me on february 8, 2026. the vehicle was represented as inspected and safe to drive. within 20 days of ownership, the vehicle experienced a serious mechanical failure involving the wheel assembly. 2. major safety failure whi…”
2026-01-12 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“ mileage: 487,615 27tawd on [xxx] at [xxx]., the weather was wet from rain. i pushed the reverse button and the car accelerated quickly forward with engine revving. the car kept moving forward while the brake pedal was not responsive for at least 10 times as the car drove through my fence and damaged my neighbor’s garage. the car finally stoppe…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.