2001 Lincoln Navigator Owner Complaints

I had been driving for about 15 minutes and then I noticed a burning plastic smell. It was dark so my headlights were on. I felt heat coming from under the dash by the pedals. I started to watch my dash to see if the truck was over heating or the check engine light would come on but neither of those happened. The next light I stopped at I could see smoke coming from the driver side air vents. I pulled over and opened the hood and nothing. Well after some extensive searching I located the issue. The headlight switch to control my headlights was completely melted. Had I not pulled over and popped the hood, Im sure the truck would have continued to catch fire. I replaced the fuses and switch and have not had any problems there but I do now have problems with my odometer lights. I cannot seem to keep that fuse from popping. Everyone I replace just pops again. So I have an electrical issue somewhere I guess I'll just have to start chasing wires!

NHTSA ID

11662918

Incident

May 14, 2024

BOUGHT CAR IN OCTOBER 2017 HAVE HADE TO PURCHES HAD PROBLEMS WITH TIRES FOUR TIME NOW TODAY MAKES FIVE TIMES HAVE TO GO PURCHASE ANOTHER TIRE HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED IN THE MORNING

NHTSA ID

11084688

Incident

Apr 11, 2018

THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL JUST WILL NOT ENGAGE ANY LONGER. HAS WORKED FINE UP UNTIL ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA ID

10979353

Incident

Feb 7, 2017

Mileage

174,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RAINY WEATHER, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR AND AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS IF IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO START INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10824750

Incident

Jan 3, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND NO 1 KNOW WHAT IT IS

NHTSA ID

10806582

Incident

Oct 23, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SEATED AND THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED, THE DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSIVE NOISE AND JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG EXPLODED AND SMOKE AND OBJECTS WERE EJECTED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND DIAGNOSED WITH FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON HIS BACK SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

NHTSA ID

10747790

Incident

Aug 10, 2015

Mileage

163,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND EXHIBITED NUMEROUS OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE BALD, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES, TIRES, AND PARTS OF THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID

10650746

Incident

Oct 25, 2014

Mileage

118,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 NORTHBOUND AROUND WOOLBRIGHT ROAD, I RAN OVER TIRE DEBRIS AND CAUSED PART OF MY TIRE TO COME OFF. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT AMAZINGLY, BUT I WILL DEFINITELY NEED A NEW TIRE. I HAVE A NAVIGATOR, SO LUCKILY IT DIDN'T CAUSE ANY MORE DAMAGE LIKE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10616162

Incident

Jul 24, 2014

Mileage

134,500 mi

SECOND TIME THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE TRITON 54 HEAD.. TRAINED TEC PERFORMED IT THE FIRST TIME SERT INSTALL AND WORKED FINE. HE DIDN'T TOUCH THE FACTORY PLUGS ON THE OTHER CYLINDERS. BUT THOSE BLEW OUT THIS IS A FORD DESIGN ERROR AND FLAW BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. INSTEAD THEY RATHER BLAME THE TECHS AND THE CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610069

Incident

Jul 12, 2014

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECELERATING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE SOUND OF BURNING MATERIAL WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AREA NEAR THE FUSE BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10566303

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS SUMMONED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS ALSO FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. *TT

NHTSA ID

10537795

Incident

Aug 4, 2013

Mileage

129,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES AFTER PUTTING DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOWN THE RADIO WILL CUT OFF. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED.THIS IS A RESULT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM,CONSUMER AFRAID THIS SHORTAGE WILL CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500710

Incident

Feb 27, 2009

Mileage

76,000 mi

HELLO, LUCKILY I MADE IT HOME BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS TOWING MY TRAILER WITH A COUCH AND CHAIR ON IT. I GOT HOME AND STOPPED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, THEN HAD TO MOVE THE TRUCK. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO MOVE, THERE WAS A HORRENDOUS BANG, A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN ALMOST TO THE GROUND. UPON JACKING THE VEHICLE UP AND EXAMINING THE DAMAGE, THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ROTTED ON BOTH SIDE AND COLLAPSED LIKE PRETZELS, ALLOWING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO TWIST, SNAPPING THE DRIVESHAFT FLANGE WHERE THE UNIVERSAL GOES AND BLOWING OUT BOTH REAR SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS. AS I SAID, LUCKILY IT WAITED UNTIL I WAS HOME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IF IT HAD HAPPEN ON ROUTE 287 ON MY WAY HOME AT 65MPH, I'M SURE THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. EXAMINING THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS SHOWED THEY ARE ROTTED TO! I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER I HAVE USED FOR REPAIRS AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE, BUT TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE, FORD IS NOT ASSISTING FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY TOOK MY VIN NUMBER AND SAID THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE SO FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST EITHER. READING ON LINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BEE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. I AM 49 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED ALOT OF CARS, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS! I WORK FOR AN AUDI DEALERSHIP, NEEDLESS TO SAY I DON'T THINK I WOULD BUY ANOTHER FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10484100

Incident

Nov 11, 2012

Mileage

97,055 mi

ON 10/16/12 TRUCK STARTED SMOKING TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HE SUGGESTED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO FIX A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. ON 10/17/12 DEALER AUTO SHOP REQUESTED WE TAKE THE CAR THE NEXT DAY TO GET FIXED. ON 10/18/12 AROUND 9AM WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED IT STARTED SMOKING AND THEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BURNED INCLUDING THE INTERIOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10481184

Incident

Oct 18, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE REAR TRAILING ARM AND DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10440066

Incident

Dec 15, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

I OWN A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WITH A 5.4L ENGINE. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND WAS GOING APPROX. 15 MPH WHEN I HEARD A BANG COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HAD HIT SOMETHING OR SOMETHING WAS FALLING OFF THE CAR. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AT THIS TIME THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH. I SHUT IT OFF AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG. I THOUGHT, AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THAT IT MIGHT BE A BAD SPARK PLUG. AS I STARTED OFF THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING BAD SO I DECIDED TO RETURN HOME.THE NEXT DAY, 10/09/2010, I DECIDED TO CHECK FURTHER AND REMOVED THE THREE OF THE SPARK PLUGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, BUT THE LAST ONE WHICH IS AT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE I NOTICED THE COIL WAS ALL TORN APART AND THE END OF THE COILED WIRE WAS STICKING OUT FROM THE PLUG HOLE. I PULLED SAID WIRE OUT AND SAW THE SPARK PLUG AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLE. IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BLOWN OUT OF ITS THREADS. ALSO TO BE NOTED IS THE SMELL OF GAS WAS VERY APPARENT AND BECAUSE THE SPARK PLUG WAS DAMAGED, THE GROUND WAS FORCED AGAINST THE ELECTRODE AND WAS UNABLE TO SPARK. IF IT DID, I'M SURE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. I ALSO FOUND TWO PIECES OF SOME UNKNOWN MATERIAL THAT FELL INTO THE CYLINDER. THE PART APPEARS TO BE A CARBON MATERIAL AND MIGHT BE PART OF THE COP, COIL OVER PLUG. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF FORD ENGINES. I CALLED THE LINCOLN DEALER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. BUT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME IF THEY CAN HELP. FURTHER INQUIRY FOUND THAT FORD RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. THIS WOULD COST APPROX. $3500.00. AS I HAVE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR FIFTEEN MONTHS, AND FINALLY FOUND A PART TIME JOB,(14 HOURS A WEEK) THIS WOULD BE AN EXPENSE I CAN NOT AFFORD. THE WEB SITES DID STATE THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ADMIT TO THEIR POORLY DESIGNED HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10359981

Incident

Sep 8, 2010

Mileage

68,094 mi

2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED RESULTING IN DESTRUCTION OF VEHICLE, ADJACENT VEHICLE AND HOME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339855

Incident

May 11, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IGNITED INTO MASSIVE FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE GARAGE, DRIVEWAY, AND TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THE DAMAGES WERE ESTIMATED AT OVER $110,000. AN INVESTIGATION WAS PERFORMED BY THREE INSURANCE COMPANIES. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL DEFECT AS STATED IN THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 09S. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10317033

Incident

Jul 25, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER ME AND MY CHILDREN GOT BACK HOME FROM WAL-MART AND GOT SETTLED IN FOR THE NIGHT MY BROTHER STEPPED OUTSIDE AND CAME BACK IN THE HOUSE YELLING FOR ME TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE MY 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WAS ON FIRE. I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT HE WAS PLAYING A JOKE ON ME BUT INSISTED SO I GOT UP AND MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO GET 2 WATER HOSE AND KEEP THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL SO THE WIND WOULDN'T BLOW THE FIRE TOWARDS THE OTHER VEHICLES PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT WE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW WHERE THE FIRE STARTED WHICH WAS OVER BY THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. AT FIRST I DIDN'T KNOW OF A RECALL I JUST THOUGHT IT HAPPENED AFTER SEARCHING THE WEBSITES I LEARNED OF THE RECALL ON THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I CALLED FORD AND DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE AT ALL. WHEN I MENTIONED THE CONTROL SWITCH I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN BUT WHEN I TOLD THE LADY THAT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE THE CONVERSATION GOT CUT SHORT. AND SEARCHING SOME MORE I FOUND OUT THAT I NEED TO REPORT IT TO THE NHTSA. AND I'M TAKING OTHER STEPS TO SEE IF FORD WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10285346

Incident

Sep 17, 2009

Mileage

115,000 mi

2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION. *NJ THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10276668

Incident

Jun 26, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NOTICED THAT THEY BEGAN TO PERFORM AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIPERS COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT OPERATE AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,374.

NHTSA ID

10276083

Incident

Jul 4, 2009

Mileage

126,374 mi

I WAS THE OWNER OF A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. I WAS LIVING IN THE STATES FROM 2004 TO 2006 AND I HEARD IN THE NEWS THAT LINCOLN CAR MODELS BETWEEN 1998 TO 2002 WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BURN BECAUSE OF A ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE FORD DEALER LOCATED IN VENTURA BOULEVARD, CA AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR MODEL WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO HAD THE SWITCH THAT MADE THE CAR BURN. I TOOK MY CAR HOME AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OK. I WENT BACK TO SPAIN SO I TOOK MY AMERICAN CAR BACK TO SPAIN TOO. AND EVERYTHING WAS OK, UNTIL YESTERDAY MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR STARTED TO BURN AND IT WAS TOTALLY PARKED AND SHUT DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254460

Incident

Jan 9, 2009

Mileage

96,000 mi

THERE WAS A HOUSE FIRE CAUSED BY MY 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE HOME. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247988

Incident

Jun 29, 2008

Mileage

82,500 mi

MERGED ONTO INTERSTATE. TRAVELING AROUND 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237601

Incident

Aug 10, 2008

Mileage

117,000 mi

TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE. REMOVED TIRE FROM VEHICLE BEFORE COMPLETE SEPARATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237600

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

114,000 mi