2021 Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Report

Transmissions can fail outright. Reports describe a transmission dying on the highway, or slipping with the RPM climbing while the car won't accelerate, and dealers calling for replacement. Reported failures came at 51,600 and about 86,000 miles. More common is hesitation followed by a sudden jerk or jolt when pulling away, backing up, or shifting between second and third gear, which can startle a driver in traffic. Other reports include a blown head gasket with coolant intrusion and a misfire, and an AWD System Disabled message that kept one car at the dealer waiting on a new control module.

Driver's door hardware breaks. Complaints describe broken door checks, failed spot welds, and doors that no longer stop at the open position, in one case with the metal torn. Another report describes a cracking sound when the front driver's door opens, a faulty check arm stop bracket and hinge, and a dealer calling for a full door replacement after an earlier repair for the same problem. Reports range from under 20,000 miles to 74,000 miles, so the failure can show up early or late.

The car can refuse to start or shift into any gear even though the electronics still have power, and it has to be towed. One report describes this no-start happening again and again, including once on the highway, and the PCM was replaced twice before the car ran. A separate problem involves the power liftgate closing on its own while someone is loading cargo, without the obstacle sensor stopping it. That puts anyone standing under the lid at risk of injury.