RoadVitals

2003 Lincoln Navigator Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Feb 4, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 127 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Lincoln Navigator submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsSuspension
Filed Feb 4, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. ALSO, A "CHECK THE SUSPENSION" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE REAR SHOCKS FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING BOARD SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID
10681107
Incident
Feb 5, 2008
Mileage
55,000 mi
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Oct 9, 2012

THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT AIRBAG RIDE SUSPENSION BAG EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10479439
Incident
Oct 6, 2012
Mileage
189,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceSuspension
Filed Sep 29, 2011
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY 2003 NAVIGATOR AS I HIT THE BRAKES I FELT MY SUV DROP FROM THE FRONT. THE TIRE SKIDDED AND I HIT THE CAR THAT WAS PULLING OUT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT MY TRUCK WAS NEVER THE SAME .IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT.I HAVE A 40000 DOLLAR TRUCK JUST PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS I KNOW MECHANICS THAT CAN CONVERT IT TO TO SPRINGS SUSPENSION FOR ABOUT 400 DOLLARS BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT I PAID TOP DOLLAR FOR A PIECE OF YOU KNOW WHAT.I DRIVE A 2000 NISSAN WITH 170000 MILES ON IT AND HAVEN'T SPEND A DIME ON IT BESIDES TIRES *TT

NHTSA ID
10427948
Incident
Feb 3, 2008
Mileage
76,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 29, 2011
1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN SPONTANEOUSLY BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING ME FIRST DEGREE BURNS AND CONTUSIONS ON MY FOREARM, FACE AND CHEST. ALSO MY DAUGHTER HAD CONTUSIONS ON FOREARM AND HEAD. *TT

NHTSA ID
10427828
Incident
Sep 28, 2011
Airbags
Filed Aug 31, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10422728
Incident
Aug 26, 2011
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 9, 2011
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND SIDE ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 124,890. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10418201
Incident
Aug 6, 2011
Mileage
124,890 mi
Airbags
Filed May 11, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CRASH WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED OR WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE WHO REFERRED HER TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 122,303.

NHTSA ID
10400546
Incident
May 11, 2011
Mileage
122,303 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 4, 2010
3 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 LINCOLN FORD NAVIGATOR ON JULY 3RD AT APPROXIMATELY 3PM DOWN US HIGHWAY 52 NEAR SPRINGFIELD SOUTH DAKOTA ON A FLAT STRETCH OF DRY ROAD GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR. FOR NO APPARENT REASON OUR AIRBAGS FROM THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE ROOF DEPLOYED WITH AN EXPLOSION. IN ADDITION TO ALMOST WRECKING THE VEHICLE MY SON AND NIECE AND MYSELF ALL RECEIVED IMPACT BURNS ON OUR FACES (NOT SURE IF IT WAS FROM THE EXPLOSION OR THE BAGS THEMSELVES) AND HEARING PROBLEMS THAT HAVE CARRIED OVER TO TODAY (JULY 4TH). IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON ANY OTHER STRETCH OF ROAD EXCEPT FLAT-LAND I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE UPSET AND ALL BEEN KILLED OR INJURED SEVERELY. THE AIRBAGS ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER...I THINK THIS NEEDS CHECK OUT BECAUSE IF IT BECOMES AN ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL LIVES WILL CERTAINLY BE LOST. HIGHLY DANGEROUS ..I'M SURPRISED WE SURVIVED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10341384
Incident
Jul 3, 2010
Mileage
119,600 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 1, 2010

ON SUNDAY JUNE 27TH 2010 AT APPROX. 4:30 PM. MY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN WERE TRAVELING TO PALM SPRINGS ON THE EAST BOUND 10 FWY IN BANNING WHEN, FOR NO REASON THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF HITTING MYSELF AND MY 7 YEAR OLD. I WAS ABLE TO REMAIN IN CONTROL OF OUR 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND PULL TO THE CENTER MEDIAN AS I THOUGH MAYBE WE WERE HIT BY SOMETHING. AS I LOOKED AROUND THE NAVIGATOR, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO SIGN OF DAMAGE OR BEING HIT BY ANY KIND OF DEBRIS. I HAD TO CUT THE AIRBAGS AWAY TO SEE AND GET TO A SAFER PLACE TO CHECK ON MY CRYING CHILDREN. I WAS RELIEVED THAT THEY WERE NOT INJURED VISUALLY, BUT WE ARE HAVING THERE EARS CHECKED FOR DAMAGE FROM THE LOAD NOISE. WE DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF TO OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE CRASH SENSOR WENT OFF AND THAT WE SHOULD CONTACT OUR INSURANCE. OUR INSURANCE SAID IT IS A MANUFACTURES MALFUNCTION AND TO CONTACT THE HEAD QUARTERS OF FORD AND LINCOLN. AFTER THE RUN AROUND THERE, THEY SAID IT WAS AN INSURANCE ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRASH CODE WAS SIGNALED. WE ARE NOW ON THE HOOK FOR $3500-4000 FOR REPAIRS AND FEEL THAT IT WAS EITHER THE CRASH SENSOR MALFUNCTION OR THE AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THE CRASH CODE AND THE INSURANCE DOES NOT WANT TO OPEN CLAIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I FEEL IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE CHILD SEAT DEFLECTION SOME OF THE AIRBAG, MY 3 YEAR OLD WOULD SUSTAINED INJURIES. FORD-LINCOLN DOES NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10340968
Incident
Jun 27, 2010
Mileage
129,153 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 1, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH THROUGH GRASS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARRANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 111,000.

NHTSA ID
10333992
Incident
May 28, 2010
Mileage
111,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 29, 2005

CONSUMER LINCOLN NAVIGATOR AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AND REMAIN ON FOR VARIOUS LENGTHS OF TIME. *TS THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AND COULD NOT REASSURE THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD WORK IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138842
Incident
Jun 15, 2005
Airbags
Filed Apr 6, 2005
Crash reported3 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE OTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN LEFT TURN, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT THE TAIL END OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10113441
Incident
Mar 3, 2005
Airbags
Filed May 11, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAG COVERS POPPED OPEN, BUT THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *LA

NHTSA ID
10067213
Incident
Mar 28, 2004
Mileage
11,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 7, 2003

WHILE SLOWLY BACKING UP AFTER A PARALLEL PARK, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CRASH NOR CONTACT WITH ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10025541
Incident
Jul 3, 2003
Mileage
4,885 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .