How many recalls does the 1998 Lincoln Navigator have?

The 1998 Lincoln Navigator has 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 1998 Lincoln Navigator has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 1998 Lincoln Navigator?

Of 240 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is tires.

1998 Lincoln Navigator Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1998 Lincoln Navigator has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,023,600 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 240 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the tires. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 05V388000 2005-09-07 4,500,000 affected

Defect

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

Consequence

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…

TRAILER HITCHES 00V073000 2000-03-07 565,800 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.

Consequence

THE TRAILER HITCH COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.

WHEELS 98V095000 1998-05-13 1,520,000 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES AND LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE.

Consequence

THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE RECEIVING TWO NOTIFICATIONS. THE FIRST NOTIFICATION, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY 1998, WILL PROVIDE AN INTERIM REPAIR PROCEDURE UNTIL PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS INTERIM PROCEDURE CAN BE COMPLETED BY OWNERS OR THEIR DEALERS. IT SPECIFIES THAT THE LUG NUT TORQUE MUST BE VERIFIED TO BE 100…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 98V028000 1998-02-10 571,800 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence

IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy

OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

POWER TRAIN 97V171000 1997-10-07 866,000 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION…

Consequence

THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.

Complaints by component

TIRES

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SUSPENSION:FRONT

TIRES:SIDEWALL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

132

SUSPENSION

Total complaints240

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. While attempting to place the vehicle in park, the gear shifter failed to engage. The contact stated that the vehicle would roll forward or backwards, depending on if the vehicle was on an incline or a decline. The contact was concerned about the…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2018-03-29

“Tl* the contact owned a 1998 lincoln navigator. While driving 40 mph, the contact crashed into the front of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact in place. A police report was filed. The contact suffered a mild concussion and a whiplash,…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2016-06-22

“Tl* the contact owned a 1998 lincoln navigator. While driving 40 mph, the contact crashed into the front of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the contact in place. A police report was filed. The contact suffered a mild concussion and a whiplash,…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2016-06-22

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. While driving approximately 65 mph, the rear of the vehicle independently swayed from side to side without warning. In addition, the contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond and the rear of the vehicle began to…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2016-03-18

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. While driving approximately 65 mph, the rear of the vehicle independently swayed from side to side without warning. In addition, the contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond and the rear of the vehicle began to…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2016-03-18

“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lincoln navigator. While driving approximately 65 mph, the rear of the vehicle independently swayed from side to side without warning. In addition, the contact mentioned that the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond and the rear of the vehicle began to…”

WHEELS · reported 2016-03-18

“Wheels are not safe and very dangerous and randomly breaking off all screws while driving and ruined the frame and drive shaft transmission suspension etc... Highway 10 west and vehicle became unstoppable as brakes also new but failed without 4th wheel this occurred 1st on morning after st…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2016-03-17

“Wheels are not safe and very dangerous and randomly breaking off all screws while driving and ruined the frame and drive shaft transmission suspension etc... Highway 10 west and vehicle became unstoppable as brakes also new but failed without 4th wheel this occurred 1st on morning after st…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2016-03-17

Defect investigations

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04