Last updated: 2026-10-10
2025 Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Report
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus has good reliability, but owners report its driver-facing camera shutting off cruise and lane keeping without warning.
Recalls
6
Complaints
20
Complaint Rate
5.9per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
N/A
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Middle of the pack among Nautilus years, with six recalls and driver-camera complaints that shut off cruise control and lane keeping.
Top Issues to Watch
- LANE DEPARTURE (3)
- BACK OVER PREVENTION (2)
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2025 is year 2 of the Second generation (CDX707).
- Redesigned for the 2024 model year.
- 2nd generation Nautilus (US).
What this means for buyers
Year 2 is typically a safer pick than the first model year — early issues are more likely to be identified, but the platform is still new.
If you're comparing prices, check 2024 (redesign year) vs 2025+ pricing and recalls.
2024: Second generation (CDX707) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2025: This Model Year
2025 is year 2 of the Second generation (CDX707).
Should You Buy the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus?
Reliability is good, and this model year sits close to average among 2025 SUVs. It lands in the middle of the eight scored Nautilus years. The 2024 rates about the same, with 19 complaints and 7 recalls. The 2026 rates better, but it has had less time to collect complaints, so its short record does not prove it is the safer pick. Federal crash testing gave 5 of 5 stars.
Owner complaints center on driver assist. The driver-facing camera reports it cannot detect the driver's face, even when nothing blocks it. Lane keeping and adaptive cruise then shut off. In worse cases the car pulses the brakes at highway speed and turns on the flashers, and drivers had to turn cruise control off to end it. Two owners say rear alerts and automatic braking did not react to pedestrians behind the car in parking lots. One owner reported grinding front right brakes and lost traction on wet roads.
Ask for proof that all six recalls were completed, including the back over prevention and visibility ones. Test the driver assist on a highway drive before buying.
Compared to the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus, which scored 10 points higher. See also the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +5-star NHTSA crash rating
- +Not a first-year model
- +Only 20 complaints reported
Cons
- −Above-average recall count
- −Above-average complaint rate for SUV
- −UNKNOWN OR OTHER issues reported (4 complaints)
Compare 2025 Lincoln Nautilus With
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 6 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4)
- LANE DEPARTURE (3)
Recall Overview
6
recalls on record
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus has 6 recalls on record, which is above average. A high count can flag multiple component concerns, though it also shows the manufacturer is actively addressing known issues.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
5.9
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 3.5
Safety Incidents
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2025 Lincoln Nautilus Recall Details
6 recalls have been issued for the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The Image Processing Module A (IPMA) may experience multiple unexpected resets, resulting in loss of the rearview camera image and advanced driver assistance (ADAS) features, including pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Consequence
Loss of the rearview camera image and certain driver assistance features, can reduce the driver’s ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The Image Processing Module A software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2025 Aviator, 2025 Explorer, 2025 Nautilus notified owners on 4/13/2026. Phase 2 will include 2025 Navigator will notify owners on or about 4/20/2026. Phase 3 will include 2022-2024 Navigator will notify owners on or about 6/8/2026. Phase 4 will include 2024 Nautilus will notify owners on or about 6/22/2026. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S21. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 25, 2026.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Consequence
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 20, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang Mach E, and Mustang vehicles. The LED Driver Modules may contain a burnt diode, which can cause the low-beam and high-beam headlights, daytime running lights, front position lights, and front turn signals to fail in the affected headlight. On Nautilus vehicles only, this condition may also cause the rear tail light, rear turn signal, and rear position light to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence
Exterior lighting failure can reduce visibility for the driver and other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the LED Driver Modules, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C39.
Buying a used 2025 Lincoln Nautilus? Check its history first
Lane departure problems lead owner complaints about the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, and 6 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2025 Lincoln Nautilus NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 16.9%
Safety Technologies
Lincoln NautilusRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 Lincoln Nautilus.
Drive on the highway with adaptive cruise on and watch for driver-facing camera warnings or sudden brake pulsing.
Let the car sit for several hours, then brake gently and listen for grinding, scraping, or squealing from the front.
Brake on wet pavement if you can and notice any extra pedal effort or loss of grip.
Ask the dealer for service records on front brake noise and whether any service message applies to this car.
Start the car and confirm the panoramic display shows speed and all readouts across its full width.
Check the rearview camera image in daylight for haze or fogginess with a clean lens.
With BlueCruise on, confirm the audible "watch the road" and "resume control" alerts sound at the volume you set.
In an empty lot, back slowly toward a large box and confirm the rear alert sounds and the car brakes.
2025 Lincoln Nautilus Common Problems by Component
20 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4 complaintsThe panoramic display can go black across most of the driver's side, hiding speed, mileage, and other readouts, then work again later. Other reports describe a rearview camera image that looks foggy even in clear weather, and the dealer's only advice was to keep the lens clean. BlueCruise audible alerts such as "resume control" and "watch the road" are also reported to stop sounding with no settings changed. A smaller complaint is that no printed owner's manual came with the car. Losing the speed readout or driver-assist alerts while driving is the main safety concern.
LANE DEPARTURE
3 complaintsLane keeping, lane departure, and automatic braking shut off when the driver-facing camera above the steering column fails to see the driver's face. Dash messages read "Driver Facing Camera Blocked" or "Cannot Detect Face" even when nothing blocks the camera. The system can then jump straight to Resume Control, pulsing the brakes at highway speed and turning on the flashers. Drivers report turning off cruise control to get control back. Separately, the blind spot warning is the same yellow as the turn signal marker in the mirror, which makes the two hard to tell apart.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
2 complaintsRear alerts and automatic braking fail to react when pedestrians walk behind the car as it backs out of a parking space. No audible warning sounds and the car does not brake on its own. Drivers stop only after spotting people on the camera screen. In at least one case the car was running in electric mode. Both complaints describe near misses in store parking lots, so a driver who relies on the system risks hitting a pedestrian.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaintsAdaptive cruise control shuts off at highway speed when the driver-facing camera reports it cannot detect the driver's face. In worse cases the car enters Resume Control mode, pulses the brakes, and turns on the hazard flashers while the driver is looking straight ahead. Pressing the accelerator or the OK button on the steering wheel does not cancel it, and drivers have to turn cruise control off completely. Sudden braking in highway traffic raises the risk of a rear-end crash.
STEERING (2 complaints)
STEERING
2 complaintsTwo separate problems show up here. In the first, the front right brakes grind when stopping and the car loses traction on wet roads. A dealer inspected one car at 7,500 miles, found no warning lights, and said Lincoln knows about the issue but has no fix yet. The second involves hands-on lane centering, which will not work without the eye-tracking camera. That camera nags the driver constantly, and turning off hands-free mode leaves no lane centering at all. Reduced control on wet roads is the more serious risk.
SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaintsThe front brakes scrape, grunt, or squeal loudly, often on the first stops after the car has been sitting. Owners say the pedal needs more pressure to stop the car, and the problem gets worse in rain, so quick stops on wet roads are harder. The noise has started as early as about 1,000 miles, with no warning lights. One dealer confirmed the problem and cited a special service message saying Lincoln is investigating similar 2024 and 2025 Nautilus cases. Another dealer could not diagnose or repair it.
STRUCTURE (1 complaints)
STRUCTURE
1 complaintFactory windshield has what looks to be micro sized cracks clustered throughout the glass and when the sun or other bright light hits at certain angles makes it look like a star field and drastically obscures forward vision.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 complaintMy 2025 Lincoln Nautilus forward collision avoidance system reduces cruise control speed unexpectedly and wanders between lane markers. The driver-facing camera is also overly sensitive — triggering “watch the road” warnings even when glancing over a shoulder to change lanes, while wearing sunglasses, and does not stop warning even when looking straight ahead out windshield. Then the system activates a “resume control” warning and braking and hazard lights. This distraction has almost caused me to have three accidents. The BlueCruise also shuts off without warning, which is also dangerous. This is a time when a warning noise would be justified. Lastly, random cancelled messages appear on dashboard and I have zero idea what wa cancelled. I can only enter one date below but this is an ongoing issue. Service continues to claim there is no issue even though this is a known issue.
AIR BAGS (1 complaints)
AIR BAGS
1 complaintSafety-relatedThe contact owns a 2025 LINCOLN Nautilus. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed she stated she was coming up to a red, the vehicle was suddenly t-boned by a separate vehicle right by the right front passenger side. The contact vehicle ended up by a median which led to the other vehicle hitting the contact by the rear a second time. The vehicle came to a final stop on top of a median. The air bags were not fully deployed, the steering wheel airbag deployed partially but it was white stuffing and no actual air bag came out. The vehicle was towed to deep south towing tow yard. A police report was filed. The contact stated she was injured in the incident, stated her thumb was shattered with surgery needed, and her right arm was severely Bruised. Medical treatment was given for injuries and pain meds. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 9,800.
VISIBILITY/WIPER (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY/WIPER
1 complaintThe rear hatchback window shattered with the vehicle sitting still overnight. All of the glass was shattered and most of it was in place and many pieces behind the vehicle on the driveway (as if it happened from inside the vehicle). Low temperature for the night was about 45 degrees, so nothing significant. The only explanation I can think of is the rear glass defroster turned on and overheated?
Best & Worst Lincoln Nautilus Years
Best Lincoln Nautilus Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreLincoln Nautilus Years to Avoid
Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 69/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 82/100 | Excellent |
Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus?
Does the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus have driver camera problems?
How many recalls does the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus have?
Is the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus better than the 2024 or 2026?
Don’t buy a 2025 Lincoln Nautilus without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus does best on how many systems draw complaints (80/100) and worst on recall impact (65/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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