Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Lincoln Navigator submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO GO INTO THE PARK POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING OR STARTED IN OVER A WEEK. SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP. VEHICLE IS TOTALED AND OUR GARAGE AND FRONT FASCIA RECEIVED FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE. *TR
SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT AT 45 MPH W/O WARNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND GOT BACK NEXT DAY. 2 DAYS LATER, ENGINE LIGHT ON, WAS TOLD BY SAME DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD FAULTY VACUUM HOSES. MORE MONEY SPENT. NOW ABS LIGHT IS ON AFTER CHANGING ALL FRONT END BRAKE COMPONENTS. ALSO DASH LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN WITH ALL OTHER LIGHTS ARE OFF. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHE TURNED ON THE IGNITION BUT THE SOUND OF THE IGNITION STARTING WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN A DRIVABLE STATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE BATTERY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH CHARGE TO START THE ENGINE AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ID FLASHING. CUSTOMER BELIEVES PROBLEMS ARE LINKED**CC THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY AIRBAG MODULE CAUSED BY DECREASED BATTERY VOLTAGE. *JB
PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SPED UP ON ITS OWN. THE HARDER I BRAKED THE FASTER THE ACCELERATION. THE RPM'S RED LINED AND I LOOKED DOWN AND ALL GAUGES WERE GOING CRAZY. IT FELT AS IF I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. STARTED IT BACK UP AND ALL SEEMED FINE. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT IS AT THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I WAS VERY SCARED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE TREMBLED AND GEARS WOULD NOT CHANGE WHEN THE SPEED REACHED 40 MPH. THERE WAS ALSO AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL THAT ACCOMPANIED THE SHAKING. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED 75 MPH, THE SHAKING STOPPED. HOWEVER, WHEN THE SPEED WAS LOWERED, THE SHAKING BEGAN AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN CORRECTLY. ALTHOUGH THE CHILD LOCKS HAVE BEEN DEACTIVATED, THE DOORS STILL WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOORS WERE NOT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
WOKE AT 4:00AM TO THE SMOKE AND FIRE OF OUR VEHICLE FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. IT WAS PARKED AT ABOUT 9:50AM THE DAY BEFORE..ROUGHLY ABOUT 18 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY WIFE AND MOTHER IN LAW GOT OUR THREE KIDS OUT INTO THE BACK YARD. TWO OF THE KIDS WERE WITHIN 20-25 FT. OF THE FIRE WHEN THEY WERE SLEEPING. I WENT OUT TO THE GARAGE AND TRIED EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO ANY GOOD. I THEN HOOKED UP THE WATER HOSE AND BEGAN USING THE HOSE ON BOTH THE CAR AND THE SIDE OF OUR HOUSE WITH MOST OF MY EFFORTS ON KEEPING THE HOUSE WET SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABOUT 8FT FROM THE HOUSE. I GOT HIT IN THE LEG AND CHEST WITH MATERIAL THAT FLEW WHEN ONE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT. LATER, THE OTHER FRONT TIRE AND WINDSHIELD BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED, MOSTLY FROM THE FRONT. THE SIDING ON THE HOUSE WAS BUCKLED FROM THE HEAT, AND THE GARAGE DOORS AND CONCRETE BIB AROUND THE DRIVEWAY NEEDED TO BE PRESSURE CLEANED TO REMOVE ALL THE SMOKE RESIDUE. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK THE TRUCK ON A FLATBED AND DECLARED IT A FULL LOSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HAD I NOT STUCK IT OUT AND RISKED MY LIFE KEEPING WATER ON BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE VEHICLE THAT THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY CAUGHT ON FIRE, ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE CHANCE. *NM
MY AUTO, A 98 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, SOMETIMES WILL NOT START. THE STARTER JUST GRINDS & VEHICLE CANNOT BE STARTED OR MOVED EXCEPT MANUALLY. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, EVEN IN TRAFFIC, IF ENGINE STALLS. IT OCCURS WITH ENGINE HOT OR COLD. I ALSO INCUR THIS DEFECT NOW WITH MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLES ARE MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECTIVE FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY. *JB
ON SATURDAY JULY 23, 2005, MY 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AT THE MOMENT IT IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT IT IS SAID THAT THERE IS NO REPAIR, IT IS BURNED COMPLETELY. THANK GOD THERE WAS NO INJURIES, BUT IN HEARING ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION FIRES. I WAS CONCERNED THAT MY VEHICLE COULD OF HAD THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ENGINE BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG FROM THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. OWNER LATER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN. THE SPARK PLUG COULD NOT BE RETHREADED. THE CYLINDER HEAD WILL NEED REPLACING, AND IT WILL COST $3500.00. *AK *BF *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD BANG COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. ALSO, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. DRIVER COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. DRIVER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LIFTED THE HOOD. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE 3RD CYLINDER SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, RIPPING THE CABLE AND THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION COIL. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *BF *NM
I STARTED VEHICLE AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE OR SO AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP NOTICE SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. I INVESTIGATED SMOKE AND NOTICED THE FIRE AND IMMEDIATELY HAD FRIENDS EVACUATE FOLLOWING PHONE CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX PROBLEM AT THIS POINT EXCEPT FOR CONTACTING INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK
WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PREVENT THE SPREADING OF THE FIRE BY PULLING OUT THE WIRES FROM WHERE FIRE ORIGINATED.*AK
FORD ENGINES. CYLINDER HEAD DEFECT ON FORD AND LINCOLN TRUCKS CAUSING SPARK PLUGS TO BLOW OUT, STRIPPING THE THREADS.*AK
VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, HAD IT CHECKED AT DEALER NOTHING FOUND. VEHICLE HAS A ROUGH IDLE, STALLS AT IDLE AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP.
SPARK PLUGS!! I HAVE A 98 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, I JUST HAD A 60,000 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED ON IT 3,000 MILES AGO. THE TRUCK WAS SPUTTERING AND STALLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME IT WAS A HOSE EGR/PCV, I CAN'T REALLY RECALL WHICH. THEY REPLACED THE HOSE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE. I DEPLOY TO KOREA IN SEP 02', AND I GET A CALL FROM MY WIFE THE TRUCK IS DOING THE SAME THING. SO SHE TAKES IT TO A DIFFERENT LINCOLN DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORM HER THAT A SPARK PLUG IS RUSTED AND FROZEN IN THE HEAD ASSY. THEY ALSO INFORM HER THAT THE UPPER HALF IS BROKEN OFF, AND THE LOWER HALF IS STILL IN THE HEAD. I CALL TO ASK IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ON ONE THE REGULAR SERVICES, AND HE SAID "MAYBE". THAT IS ALL HE WOULD SAY , HE SAID HE COULD NOT COMMENT ON WHAT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE DONE. SO I'M GETTING NOWHERE, BUT OUT OF $14-$1,500. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT HOW IS SOMETHING LIKE THIS SUPPOSE TO CAUGHT IF NO ONE EVER CHECKS UNDER THE SPARK PLUG COVERS EVEN FOR CONDITION AND SECURITY. I HAD THIS TRUCK CHECKED BEFORE I LEFT SO I WOULD FEEL GOOD THAT MY WIFE AND KIDS WRE IN A RELIABL/SAFE VEHICLE, WHEN IN FACT THAT TRUCK COULD OF STALLED OUT WHEN SHE WAS PASSING OR EVEN CAUGHT ON FIRE OR SOMETHING. THAT IS MY COMPLAINT.
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WILL BOUNCE DOWN TO THE GROUND. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE SUSPENISON LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, THE AIR COMPRESSOR RELAY WAS REPLACED FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION, THE FRONT WASHER WAS INOPERATIVE, CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS INOPERATIVE, DEALER FOUND A FUSE TO BE BLOWN, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, RIGHT FRONT SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED, ALSO THE RIGHT FRNT PITMAN ARM WAS REPLACED, AND THE THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED SUE TO THEM BEING WORN WHICH WERE CAUSING NOSIE TO BE HEARD BY THE CONSUMER.*JB
WE HAVE HAD OUR NAVIGATOR INTO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED: SUNROOF, GROANING NOISE FROM BENEATH THE HOOD (IN 4 TIMES FOR THIS STILL NOT CORRECTED), CD PLAYER REPLACED, STERIO REPLACED, HEATING ELEMENTS BOTH FRONT SEAT REPLACED 2 TIMES EACH, INCORRECT LUG NUTS, INCORRECT TIRE WRENCH, SHAKING IN STERING @ HIGHWAY SPEEDS-STILL NOT CORRECTED, LIFT SYSTEM BROKEN-NOT FIXED, HOOD LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE, FUSE BLOWEN 3 TIMES FOR AC OUTLETS, CHECK SUSPENSION LIGHT ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, REAR TURN SIGAL OUT, PASSENGER WINDOW CATCHES, INCORRECT SPAIR TIRE. (TIRESIZE: P265/70R17)
VEHICLE STALLD OUT AND DIED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED 20 TIMES, SMOKE IS PRESENT UPON FUSE BLOWING. *AK
WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE FRONT WIRING HARNESS, CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. *SLC
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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