2017 Lincoln Navigator Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 30 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 5 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2017 Lincoln Navigator receives a 6/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 30 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 5 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports with a median failure point at 55,000 miles (IQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $350 – $1,100 .
6.7 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
5 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“The vehicle has a severe brake fluid leak. There is a recall for the issue. I called the local Lincoln dealership Ford Mill Lincoln SC and they said there was nothing they could do. I explained to them that there was a safety recall. They refused to fix the vehicle under the r...”
“The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that there was an unknown fluid leaking from the rear of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were noti...”
“The brake booster on a 2017 Lincoln Navigator does not work properly, causing increased force to brake, a brake pedal that does all the way to the floor, and increased distance to come to a full stop. A recall was issued (22V-150/22S11) on the master cylinder and brake booster...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“problem is when you go to check the oil do you think you’re gonna find a low oil situation and what happens is the oil is actually overfilled however it’s not overfilled because you put too much oil in it. It’s overfilled because gasoline is leaking into the oil pan. So the oi...”
“The throttle body went bad while driving 55mph and 35mph. Over 5 times I could not accelerate while stepping on the gas peddle and it would stall out trying to get it to ford on the same road for 5 miles. I had to quickly stop and turn it back on with my flashers going less th...”
“The brake booster on a 2017 Lincoln Navigator does not work properly, causing increased force to brake, a brake pedal that does all the way to the floor, and increased distance to come to a full stop. A recall was issued (22V-150/22S11) on the master cylinder and brake booster...”
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that upon start of the vehicle, both the "Hill Start" and "Service AdvanceTrac" warning messages appeared on the instrument panel. The steering wheel had become stiff as a result of the failure and the contact used ...”
“the rearview camera does not always come on when the vehicle is put in reverse. It appears to be the same issue as the newer Lincoln navigators and other fords for which a recall was just issued. The recall number for Ford is 25S49. The recall needs to include the 2017 navigat...”
“Driver side sideview mirror caught on fire twice. Once 30 min after the car wash with the engine running. Second time immediately after the car wash upon using a power seat button and turning engine off. Mirror replaced after second incident. Wires insulation melted inside of ...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that upon start of the vehicle, both the "Hill Start" and "Service AdvanceTrac" warning messages appeared on the instrument panel. The steering wheel had become stiff as a result of the failure and the contact used ...”
“Major rust problems that effect the safety of driving the vehicle. Vehicle will not pass PA State Inspection. Hood latch rusted. possibility of hood opening. Rust holes in rocker panels. FRAME cross supports. No enough space to explain. Please see attached PDF.”
“F THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL ARM IS MOVED PARTIALLY IN ANY DIRECTION, AND IMMEDIATELY MOVED INTO THE FULLY OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THE TURN SIGNALS WILL BE DISABLED. IF THE OPERATOR ADJUSTS THE HIGH BEAMS, OR SIMPLY MAKES A MISTAKE WHEN TRYING TO SIGNAL, (BY SELECTING THE WRONG DIREC...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“Driving down freeway and vehicle suddenly downshifted and the wrench light came on along with the airbag light, the blind spot detection sensors indicated not working, and more. Had to stop car and restart. Happened several times. Found out it is a problem with the 6R80 Transm...”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY AN 18-WHEELER, WHICH FORCED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE INTO THE LEFT LANE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ON THE FREEWAY, WHICH I...”
“THERE IS NO WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS NO NOTIFICATION THAT THE SEAT BELT IS NOT FASTENED. THE AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK UNLESS THE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED. MY GRANDCHILDREN'S WEIGHT IS NOT REGISTERED AND THEREFORE THE AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY IF THEY ARE IN THE ...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“problem is when you go to check the oil do you think you’re gonna find a low oil situation and what happens is the oil is actually overfilled however it’s not overfilled because you put too much oil in it. It’s overfilled because gasoline is leaking into the oil pan. So the oi...”
“I’m a snowbird and in the past 18 months, of which I was in Iowa for 12 months of this time, the dealership has replaced the fuel pump five times. I’m scared to take this vehicle out on the highway. The module that controls the fuel pump has been replaced once. The third repla...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“Driving down freeway and vehicle suddenly downshifted and the wrench light came on along with the airbag light, the blind spot detection sensors indicated not working, and more. Had to stop car and restart. Happened several times. Found out it is a problem with the 6R80 Transm...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (5)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front blower motor located behind the glove box may fail.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The LED logo lights on the exterior mirrors may short circuit.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2017 Lincoln Navigator
Before purchasing a used 2017 Lincoln Navigator, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 5 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2017 Lincoln Navigator
Is the 2017 Lincoln Navigator a reliable used car?
The 2017 Lincoln Navigator earns a 6/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 30 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2017 Lincoln Navigator?
The leading complaint category is Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports, with a median failure point around 55,000 miles (IQR: 35,000 – 75,000 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2017 Lincoln Navigator?
Yes, the NHTSA records 5 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.