1998 Lincoln Navigator Problems, Recalls & Reliability
240 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Lincoln Navigator, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Wheels & tires leads the reports, typically around 69,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1998 Lincoln Navigator sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2002, 2007–2008, 2015–2018, 2020–2022.
Avoid
Where 1998 sits among all Navigator years
What owners report
“Tire began bumping, tread seperated at 70+mph( dot number: tire size: p245/75r16 )”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Navigator
“Consumer states, the rear air suspention compressor is leaking. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Navigator
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 81 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 100,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 69,000 and 146,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Fix: 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…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
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…
Fix: 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.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 05V388000.
Led to recall campaign 00V073000.
Technical service bulletins
264 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 1998 Lincoln Navigator. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Navigator TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Lincoln Navigator reliable?
The 1998 Lincoln Navigator drew 240 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (1998).
What are the most common 1998 Lincoln Navigator problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Lincoln Navigator are wheels & tires (69 complaints), suspension (26), and electrical (24).
At what mileage do 1998 Lincoln Navigator problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Lincoln Navigator problems around 100,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 69,000 and 146,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Lincoln Navigator have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Lincoln Navigator. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.