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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator is associated with 31 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 12 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 4 reports (13% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 3 certified vehicle configurations spanning 3.5l 6-cyl powertrain configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 17 to 18 MPG combined.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 31 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 12 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Engine (4 / 13%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 2 crash / 0 fire / 0 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
  • • EPA Certified Range: 17–18 MPG across 3 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 Lincoln Navigator?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Navigator L 2WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 16 MPG 21 MPG 18 MPG — $3,400 / yr
Navigator 2WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 16 MPG 22 MPG 18 MPG — $3,400 / yr
Navigator 4WD 3.5L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 16 MPG 20 MPG 17 MPG — $3,600 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
SUV 2WD 20.8%
SUV 4WD 19.3%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 Lincoln Navigator models.
View complete 2021 Lincoln Navigator crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator?

Summary of 31 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
31
Crash Reports
2
Fire Reports
0
Complaints w/ Injury
0
Total Injuries
0

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Engine 4 complaints
Fuel System 4 complaints
Back Over Prevention / Camera 2 complaints (1 crash)
Powertrain 2 complaints
POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2021 Lincoln Navigator problems & component breakdown (18 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 Lincoln Navigator?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #22V346000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ENGINE

Defect Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed May 25, 2022. Owners will receive a second letter once the remedy is available. Currently the remedy is available for vehicles equipped with heavy-duty radiator fan motors, and those letters were mailed July 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S36.
NHTSA Campaign #26V402000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Defect Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign #26V344000 Active Recall
Affected Component: SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

Defect Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
View all 2021 Lincoln Navigator recalls & campaign history (12 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 Lincoln Navigator

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator

How many safety recalls does the 2021 Lincoln Navigator have?

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator is associated with 12 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 12 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator?

NHTSA records list 31 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Engine, appearing in 4 filings (13% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2021 Lincoln Navigator defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator?

Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2021 Lincoln Navigator earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).

Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.

View detailed crash test laboratory breakdown →
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2021 Lincoln Navigator get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2021 Lincoln Navigator range from 17 to 18 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.