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2006 Lincoln Navigator

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Lincoln Navigator do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

55 reports with mileage · 5 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

13 reports
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115,000 miles · Jul 6, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE WAS MISSING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OR PASS VEHICLES. DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO PASS ON HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES. TOOK 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR IN FOR NEW SPARK PLUGS. DEALER SAID ALL 8 PLUGS BROKE OFF AND ONE DAMAGED THE HEAD AND NOW NEED NEW HEAD DUE TO BROKEN SPARK PLUG. COST WILL EXCEED $3,000. SPOKE WITH 6 L…

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ENGINE WAS MISSING WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE OR PASS VEHICLES. DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO PASS ON HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES. TOOK 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR IN FOR NEW SPARK PLUGS. DEALER SAID ALL 8 PLUGS BROKE OFF AND ONE DAMAGED THE HEAD AND NOW NEED NEW HEAD DUE TO BROKEN SPARK PLUG. COST WILL EXCEED $3,000. SPOKE WITH 6 LOCAL MECHANICS AND ALL AGREED THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR FORD'S FAULTY DESIGN? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410692

60,000 miles · Mar 8, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, 60,000 MILES ON CAR. CAR SHUT DOWN AFTER GIVING AN ENGINE FAILED SAFETY MODE ERROR ON DASH WHILE ON FOUR LANE BUSY HIGHWAY TRAVELING 40-45 MPH. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD (NO BERM AVAILABLE). .. WAITED 5 MINUTES. RESTARTED CAR AND LIMPED INTO GARY YEOMAN FORD DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE CONTROL BODY & MO…

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2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, 60,000 MILES ON CAR. CAR SHUT DOWN AFTER GIVING AN ENGINE FAILED SAFETY MODE ERROR ON DASH WHILE ON FOUR LANE BUSY HIGHWAY TRAVELING 40-45 MPH. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD (NO BERM AVAILABLE). .. WAITED 5 MINUTES. RESTARTED CAR AND LIMPED INTO GARY YEOMAN FORD DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE CONTROL BODY & MOTOR ASY #3L3Z*9E926*A WAS BAD AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED ON THE CAR IN 2009. REPAIR BILL WAS $900 OUT OF POCKET. CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR FORD EXPEDITIONS & LINCOLN NAVIGATOR ENGINES AND YET FORD DOES NOTHING TO FIX. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE TO GET FORD TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS? NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS THAN A CAR THAT SHUTS DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386935

79,000 miles · Feb 9, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. FAIL-SAFE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. COASTED CAR TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND TURNED KEY TO OFF POSITION. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS CAR HAS 79,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE NEW. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NE…

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ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT 45 MILES AN HOUR. FAIL-SAFE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. COASTED CAR TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND TURNED KEY TO OFF POSITION. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS CAR HAS 79,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE NEW. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE DEALER TOOK THE PROBLEM SERIOUSLY, BUT CAN NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMPUTER PROBLEM WITH THE FAIL-SAFE MODE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381252

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 40-45 MPH WHEN THE SAFE ENGINE MODE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES REGARDING THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE TECHNICI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 40-45 MPH WHEN THE SAFE ENGINE MODE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND RESUMED OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES REGARDING THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM SOFTWARE AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AT A DIFFERENT TIME. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIRS. ALSO, MOST RECENT THE TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND A TROUBLE CODE WAS NOT DETECTED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED IN WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10377058

44,102 miles · Oct 22, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 NAVIGATOR WOULD KEEP MISFIRING EVEN AFTER COILS WERE REPLACED. DEALER FIRST REPORTS IT WAS A VALVE. AFTER INSPECTION VALVE WAS NOT THE PROBLEM BUT A BURNT HEAD WAS THE CAUSE. HEAD WENT TO OUTSIDE SHOP FOR REPAIR BUT THE SHOP SAYS NOW THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE LOWER IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE IS BEING SUGGESTED BY THE DEALE…

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2006 NAVIGATOR WOULD KEEP MISFIRING EVEN AFTER COILS WERE REPLACED. DEALER FIRST REPORTS IT WAS A VALVE. AFTER INSPECTION VALVE WAS NOT THE PROBLEM BUT A BURNT HEAD WAS THE CAUSE. HEAD WENT TO OUTSIDE SHOP FOR REPAIR BUT THE SHOP SAYS NOW THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE LOWER IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE IS BEING SUGGESTED BY THE DEALER BUT THE WARRANTY COMPANY MAY NOT PAY. CAR HAS 44000 MILES CURRENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361771

73,500 miles · Sep 24, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. FAIL SAFE MODE COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND SHUTS VEHICLE DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND ALSO EXACT SAME INCIDENT TO FRIEND IN DIFFERENT STATE WITH SAME 2006 NAVIGATOR. DECIDED TO REPORT AFTER I CALLED LINCOLN AND THEY HAD RECORD OF MY CALL IN DECEMBER 2009 AND JANUARY 2010 BUT NO RECORD OF THE WORK P…

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2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. FAIL SAFE MODE COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND SHUTS VEHICLE DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND ALSO EXACT SAME INCIDENT TO FRIEND IN DIFFERENT STATE WITH SAME 2006 NAVIGATOR. DECIDED TO REPORT AFTER I CALLED LINCOLN AND THEY HAD RECORD OF MY CALL IN DECEMBER 2009 AND JANUARY 2010 BUT NO RECORD OF THE WORK PERFORMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OR THE DANGEROUS INCIDENT. IT HAPPENED AGAIN SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 AFTER IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED BY CHANGING A SENSOR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! CAR SHUTS DOWN AND MY WIFE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON GOOGLE SEARCH OF "LINCOLN NAVIGATOR FAIL SAFE MODE PROBLEMS" THERE ARE 1380 RESULTS. GOES TO OVER 2500 WHEN 2006 IS REMOVED. DURING FIRST "FIX" FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED A SENSOR BUT THE DETAILS ARE NOT DOCUMENTED IN MY FILE ON THE FORD/LINCOLN COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS COULD BE HOW FORD/LINCOLN IS AVOIDING A MAJOR RECALL FOR A EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10357309

41,500 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

SPARK PLUG IN 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR POPPED OUT! SERVICED BY FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IGNITION SYSTEM. SPARK PLUG REPLACED AND CARS IS BARELY DRIVABLE. IT OFTEN STALLS AT IDLE RPM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335055

51,539 miles · May 11, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, 50,000 MILES ON CAR. CAR SHUT DOWN AFTER GIVING AN ENGINE SAFETY MODE ERROR ON DASH WHILE ON FOUR LANE BUSY HIGHWAY TRAVELING 40-45 MPH. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD (NO BERM AVAILABLE). CARS RACING BY. WAITED 5 MINUTES. RESTARTED CAR AND LIMPED INTO TEAM FORD OF MARIETTA GEORGIA DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE TH…

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2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, 50,000 MILES ON CAR. CAR SHUT DOWN AFTER GIVING AN ENGINE SAFETY MODE ERROR ON DASH WHILE ON FOUR LANE BUSY HIGHWAY TRAVELING 40-45 MPH. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD (NO BERM AVAILABLE). CARS RACING BY. WAITED 5 MINUTES. RESTARTED CAR AND LIMPED INTO TEAM FORD OF MARIETTA GEORGIA DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE CONTROL BODY & MOTOR ASY #8L3Z*9E926*A WAS BAD AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE $1,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED ON THE CAR IN 2006. REPAIR BILL WAS $800 OUT OF POCKET. CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR FORD EXPEDITIONS & LINCOLN NAVIGATOR ENGINES AND YET FORD DOES NOTHING TO FIX. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE TO GET FORD TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS? NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS THAN A CAR THAT SHUTS DOWN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329901

12,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT THE DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ANOTHER DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT THE DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ANOTHER DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AS THE STEERING ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10325456

96,000 miles · Feb 26, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND A TUNE-UP, HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC STATING THAT THEY BROKE PART OF THE SPARK PLUG INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDER WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE THEM. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHIC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND A TUNE-UP, HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MECHANIC STATING THAT THEY BROKE PART OF THE SPARK PLUG INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDER WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE THEM. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSUME LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE FUEL PUMP COMPUTER MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 11/22/10 *BF UPDATED 11/23/10

NHTSA ODI #10314582

Official recalls

3

05V519000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Nov 9, 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GUIDE PLATE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-248-0186.

05V520000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Nov 9, 2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

05V310000 · Tires:tread/belt

Jul 6, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AT THE CENTER TREAD DURING PRODUCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVER TIME, THE DAMAGE MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW BELT CORROSION ULTIMATELY LEADING TO A TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FOUR TIRES (TO ENSURE INSPECTION OF THE LEFT HAND SIDE TIRES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ROTATED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE) FOR TIRE TREAD DAMAGE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DAMAGED TIRE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.