Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1998 Lincoln Navigator Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Tires — runs 6.0× the fleet median for that category across the 390 model-years tracked on this site.
192Complaints
6Recalls
14Crashes
22Fires
26Injured
15Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Tires (12% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Tires complaints here are 6.0× the median for that category across the 390 model-years tracked on this site.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 23 · 12% | No official action | — |
| Tires:tread/belt | 22 · 11.5% | No official action | — |
| Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly | 12 · 6.2% | Investigation closed | PE98024 |
| Electrical System | 12 · 6.2% | Investigation closed | EA05005 → recall 05V388000 · EA05005 → recall 06V286000 · EA05005 → recall 07V078000 · EA05005 → recall 07V336000 · EA05005 → recall 07V347000 · EA05005 → recall 07V488000 · EA05005 → recall 08V025000 |
| Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 10 · 5.2% | Recalled | Recall 98V095000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 · 4.2% | Recalled | Recall 05V388000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 192 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 6 campaigns
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 05V388000 · 2005 · reported 09/07/2005
A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Trailer Hitches
NHTSA campaign 00V073000 · 2000 · reported 03/07/2000
THE TRAILER HITCH COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
NHTSA campaign 98V095000 · 1998 · reported 05/13/1998
THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
NHTSA campaign 97V171000 · 1997 · reported 10/07/1997
THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 98V028000 · 1998 · reported 02/10/1998
IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“I HAVE HAD TWO BLOW OUTS IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS ON MY NAVIGATOR WHICH HAVE CONTENNTIAL TIRES. I HAVE HAD THESE TIRES LOOKED BY…”NHTSA complaint 10038784 — filed 09/12/2003 · TIRES
“DEALER WILL NOT HONOR RECALL LETTER FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT. THE TWO REAR TIRES BLEW OUT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.”NHTSA complaint 10037853 — filed 08/28/2003 · TIRES
“CONSUMER NOTICED THE METAL RIM HEAT TOO MUCH CAUSING DEFLATION ON ALL FOUR TIRE (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS…”NHTSA complaint 8021306 — filed 10/21/2002 · TIRES
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Lincoln Navigator?
Tires issues are the most-reported category, cited in 23 of 192 NHTSA complaints (12%), followed by tires:tread/belt (22), steering:linkages:tie rod assembly (12), electrical system (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1998 Lincoln Navigator have?
192 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 14 involved a crash, 22 involved a fire, and 26 reported injuries. 15 deaths were reported.
Does the 1998 Lincoln Navigator have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Lincoln Navigator's reported problems?
2 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
