2012 Lincoln Navigator Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Lincoln Navigator.

20112013
Complaints
15
per 10K Sold
16.3
US Sales
9,195
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
3

Worst 2012 Lincoln Navigator Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#15 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:53,001 mi
#22 complaints

Suspension Failures

#31 complaints

Electrical Faults

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Lincoln Navigator.

Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
53,001
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Lincoln Navigator. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Lincoln Navigator

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~164,650 vehicles.

16V248000Automatic Transmission
~153,581 affected

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

12V190000Exterior Lighting:back Up Lights · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
~10,500 affected

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT" AND 108 “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.” THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.

12V034000Seats:mid/rear Assembly
~569 affected

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 2, 2011, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINTS." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE INADEQUATE WELDS ON THE HEAD RESTRAINT SUPPORT BRACKETS FOR THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT-HAND SEAT.

Other Lincoln Navigator Years

1998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

2012 Lincoln Navigator — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Lincoln Navigator reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 Lincoln Navigator has 15 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 5 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Lincoln Navigator?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (5 complaints, avg 53,001 mi); Suspension Failures (2 complaints); Electrical Faults (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Lincoln Navigator?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 53,001 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
Does the 2012 Lincoln Navigator have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 164,650 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Lincoln Navigator?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Lincoln Navigator reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2012 Lincoln Navigator

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