2019 Lincoln Nautilus Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. After several days of rain, there was moisture inside the vehicle. The contact detected a foul odor and discovered water on the floorboard. A box in the rear of the vehicle was covered in water, and the inside front windshield was foggy, but the contact was unable to determine how the water had entered the vehicle. Later, while driving approximately 45-55 MPH in the rain, there was limited visibility, and the vehicle slid from left to right. The contact was unable to control the vehicle after the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The steering warning light illuminated, and the message "Steering System Failure Do Not Drive" was displayed. The contact arrived at the destination, but while restarting the vehicle, the messages "Advance Traction Assist," "Advance Hill," and "Lane Assist" were displayed, and the steering, traction control, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the steering column control module had failed and that the steering assembly needed to be replaced due to water intrusion from the sunroof. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,222.

NHTSA ID

11761649

Incident

Aug 29, 2026

Mileage

98,222 mi

The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. There was an audible chime with the power steering message flashing on the instrument panel before the steering wheel seized for several seconds. Despite the failure, the vehicle resumed normal operation soon after the temporary failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that a low battery voltage might have caused the power steering failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the battery was tested. The dealer determined that there was no fault found with the battery. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ID

11725548

Incident

Mar 5, 2026

Mileage

84,000 mi

Adaptive Steering Fault Service Required - This warning came on while I was driving down the road. The steering wheel automatically went from a center position to the left like I was making a left turn. The vehicle continued going straight with the steering wheel in the left position. Needless to say, It was very alarming when this happened. I drove home and made an appointent for service. The next day the fault code was off and steering was normal but I still brought it to my Lincoln dealership for service and they said a module in the steering column is faulty. In Fords/Lincoln design you cannot just replace the module, you need to replace the entire steering column at a price of $5000.00 (part 3600.00, labor 1400.00). I did find on the interweb that this has been a problem with Ford trucks and a few other Naultilus owners have reported this problem.

NHTSA ID

11700438

Incident

Nov 10, 2025

Okay let me first start by saying I have had problem after problem with this car in less than a year. I’ve had to replace my purge valve. The transmission on this car is horrible. I had my car less than a year and at not even 70k miles I had to get my transmission replaced because the car would stutter between 25-45mph thankfully my warranty covered everything. Now let’s get to my current issues which is with the adaptive steering malfunction. I got a steering wheel warning light 3 days before my new transmission. As I’m looking into this more this will cost $2000+ to replace and I don’t have money to constantly keep putting into a car especially with everything going on currently.

NHTSA ID

11697815

Incident

Oct 30, 2025

Reported to Lincoln over a year ago about DEATH WOBBLE on this vehicle. Have taken to 3 dealerships to have checked out and have not found anything. BUT IT IS STILL HAPPENNING. Have suggested to have an engineer from the company to ride along. Not happening. The keep closing the case. September of last year we were driving through Richmond, Virginia on our way to Florida and, it went into the DEATH WOBBLE at 65mph. Shook so bad it snapped my front hitch system and could not tow the car and had to be trailer towed to a dealership. There are other reports out there on the web of other people having the same issue. Was told at one point it could be my equipment. After it broke my system last September and almost lost the car, my insurance company paid to have car repaired and installed a NEW Blue Ox system and it did it again. This time at slower speed and I was able to control. Told ALL DEALERSHIPS AND LINCOLN howitzer is happening and steering is not going back to zero after I make a turn or hit a bump. No reaction. One dealership told me I should not be towing that car, but the car is set up to be towed, according to owners manual. Repair documentation is with Lincoln and insurance company, with all reports. Have a date of September of last year because that was the big one, but started August of 2023, March of 2024, August of 2024 2 times. Each time reported to Lincoln and taken to shop. Could have been a serious accident if I didn't control the motorhome and car.

NHTSA ID

11615684

Incident

Sep 25, 2023

LOST POWER STEERING IN MIDDLE OF DRIVING. ALMOST GOT INTO SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11348785

Incident

Jul 20, 2020

Mileage

16,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE 2019 LINCOLN NAUTILUS ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND LANE CENTERING ON, THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN TURNED INTO THE NEXT LANE. IT DOES THIS BOTH TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH BOTH MY MOTHER AND THE LINCOLN SERVICE MANAGER ON SEPARATE INCIDENTS WHEN IT OCCURRED. ALSO, I TOOK IT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH THE LEAD MECHANIC AND IT DID THE SAME THING TO HIM TO THE RIGHT, RIGHT WHERE OUR VETERINARIAN OFFICE IS LOCATED. CENTER LINE WAS STILL THERE. AFTER THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, AND A CONVERSATION WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER, THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED, THEY CHECKED OTHER NON-NAUTULIS VEHICLES AND FOUND THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN ON AN INTERSTATE. I WAS SHOCKED. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 4 LANE HIGHWAY AND AN INTERSTATE. I AM A RETIRED NAVY OPERATIONAL TEST PILOT, AND WE WOULD NEVER ALLOW THIS TO BE GIVEN TO THE FLEET OPERATORS. I CHECKED THE OPERATORS MANUAL ON PAGE 239. HERE IS WHAT IT SAYS: THE SYSTEM MAY NOT CORRECTLY OPERATE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: ' YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT CENTERED IN THE LANE. ' THE LANE IS TOO NARROW OR WIDE. ' THE SYSTEM DOES NOT DETECT AT LEAST ONE LANE MARKING OR WHEN LANES MERGE OR SPLIT. ' YOU SWITCH THE DIRECTION INDICATOR ON. ' LIMITED STEERING TORQUE INPUT IS APPLIED. ' AREAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR NEW INFRASTRUCTURE. ' WHEN MODIFICATIONS TO THE STEERING SYSTEM HAVE BEEN MADE. ' WHEN USING A SPARE TIRE. NOTE CONDITION ABOVE: ' THE SYSTEM DOES NOT DETECT AT LEAST ONE LANE MARKING OR WHEN LANES MERGE OR SPLIT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENTS THERE WERE TURN LANES ON EACH SIDE OF THE CAR WITH SMALL OPENINGS TO MOVE INTO THE TURN LANE. THE CENTER LANE MARKINGS WERE ALWAYS THERE.

NHTSA ID

11310772

Incident

Jan 14, 2020

Mileage

8,000 mi

2019 LINCOLN NAUTILUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEATED STEERING WHEELS. CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING GETS SO HOT THAT YOU CANNOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11302052

Incident

Jan 29, 2020