2021 Lincoln Nautilus problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (8) · Structure:body (6) · Engine And Engine Cooling (2)
🧭 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 (2)
Back Over Prevention:software 2025-05-09 · campaign 25V315000 · 1,076,138 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/Mechanical 2024-08-23 · campaign 24V635000 · 90,736 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S55.
Service bulletins (133)
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 2026-10-14 · TSB 26-2442 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes 26-2297. reason for update: add 2022-2025 transit vehicles. some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with sync4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display screen after welcome animation. the rear-view camera will still funct
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 · SSM 55031 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2021-2026 ford/lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "check charging system" message in the instrument panel cluster (ipc) while the charging system is operating properly with no charging related di
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
Showing the 6 most recent of 133 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Unknown Or Other“drivers front door inner sheet metal structure has failed/torn at the check arm mounting points under normal operating conditions.. safety hazard. dealership and lincoln will not take full responsibility after known structural defect exists. i note on your website that in nautilus alone there are 10 complaints including mine. our car had less than…”
2026-10-15 · Structure:body“drivers front door inner sheet metal structure has failed/torn at the hinge and check arm mounting points under normal operating conditions.. safety hazard. dealership and lincoln will not take full responsibility after known structural defect exists…”
2026-10-13 · Unknown Or Other“both front doors on my 2021 nautilus reserve have structural stress cracks in the sheet metal surrounding the check-arm bracket, along the edge of the recessed mount and under the weatherstrip. i first noticed cracking and popping when opening and closing the doors on 8/1/2026 at about 84,000 miles. no collision; normal use. the bracket mounts to …”
2026-10-03 · Power Train“transmission was shuddering when it shifted gears. it would lose power and jerk between each gear. we paid for diagnostic at the dealership and they diagnosed as torque converter shudder under 2 separate tsb's. dealership offered to fix at a cost of $6400. told not to drive the vehicle or at least as little as possible. they refused to cover this…”
2026-09-29 · Structure:body“noticed cracking sound when opening and closing front drivers door. subsequently discovered same issue on ford edge (recall in place) and many other owners having same problem (facebook posts).…”
2026-09-25 · Unknown Or Other“door check is broken in high winds the door pulled out my hand. could have injured someone of that person was standing near the opening path of the door.…”
2026-08-30 · Structure:body“ the driver's side door is cracked at the door hinge assembly. this is a widely documented defect. my door cracked at 50,000 miles. there are thousands of 2019-2024 nautilus's with this defect. lincoln wants $5,000 to replace the door. they offered $2,000 toward the repair. this should be a recall.…”
2026-08-23 · Structure:body“the door broke and cracked the window when i opened the door to get in the car …”
2026-08-03 · Structure:body:door · 92,800 mi“the contact owns a 2021 lincoln nautilus. the contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for an oil change and trade-in, the contact was informed that the front driver’s side door had a crack and that the welding was cracked and loosened. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed…”
2026-07-06 · Power Train“the transmission occasionally jerks/studders between second and third at acceleration and deceleration. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.