Last updated: 2026-07-26
2025 Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Report
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus scores 72/100 ("Good"). With 6 recalls and 20 owner complaints, reliability is acceptable but not class-leading.
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
Acceptable reliability — worth considering with a pre-purchase inspection.
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?
At 72/100, the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus lands in "Good" territory — acceptable, but not class-leading. 2025 is year 2 of the Second generation (CDX707).
Its complaint rate of 5.9 per 10,000 vehicles sold runs above the SUV segment average of 3.8. The most common reports involve unknown or other (4).
Get a pre-purchase inspection on any used example, with extra attention to unknown or other (4). An extended warranty is worth pricing out.
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: Owners of the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus report several issues related to vehicle... (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: 3.8
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
Every 2025 Lincoln Nautilus has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.
- 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.
Test brakes for scraping or squealing sounds, especially after sitting idle
Inspect lane departure and forward collision systems for proper operation
Check for windshield micro-cracks affecting visibility
Verify rearview camera clarity in various weather conditions
Ensure all Blue Cruise safety alerts are functioning audibly
Inspect for any issues with driver-facing camera detection
2025 Lincoln Nautilus Common Problems by Component
20 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4 complaintsOwners of the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus report several issues related to vehicle technology and display systems. Complaints frequently mention a panoramic display that intermittently goes black, obscuring critical driving information such as speed and mileage, with one owner noting the issue resolved itself overnight. Another common issue is a foggy rearview camera, with poor visibility noted even in clear weather, and a suggestion from dealers to keep the camera clean. Additionally, some owners describe problems with the Ford Blue Cruise system, specifically the unexpected loss of audible safety alerts, which previously indicated when to resume control. Safety implications are evident, as the lack of alerts could lead to delayed driver response. These issues are reported without specific mileage, suggesting they may occur at various points in the vehicle's usage.
LANE DEPARTURE
3 complaintsOwners report that the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus experiences issues with the lane departure and lane keeping systems, particularly involving the facial recognition sensor. Complaints frequently mention that the system fails to detect the driver’s face, leading to unexpected activation of the "Resume Control" mode, which pulses the brakes and engages the four-way flashers. This malfunction often occurs alongside warnings such as "Driver Facing Camera Blocked" and "Driver Facing Camera Cannot Detect Face." Additionally, the lane centering system is described as biased towards the right lane marker, making manual corrections difficult. Multiple owners describe these issues as occurring more frequently when using the Blue Cruise hands-free driving system, and note that these problems create a perception of loss of control, which may have safety implications.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
2 complaintsOwners report issues with the back over prevention system in the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, specifically noting the lack of alerts or automatic braking when pedestrians walk behind the vehicle. Complaints frequently mention that while reversing, the vehicle fails to warn the driver or engage brakes as expected, even when pedestrians are clearly visible in the camera. These incidents occur during typical urban driving scenarios, such as backing out of parking spaces at stores. The complaints do not specify particular mileage ranges, but they highlight potential safety implications as the system's failure could lead to accidents if drivers do not manually intervene. Used car buyers should be aware of these reports when considering this model.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaintsOwners of the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus report issues with the forward collision avoidance system, specifically related to the adaptive cruise control and lane departure features. Complaints frequently mention the system unexpectedly shutting off and displaying a warning about the driver-facing camera's inability to detect the driver's face. Symptoms include the vehicle entering "Resume Control" mode, pulsing brakes, and engaging hazard flashers, with some owners unable to override this by pressing the accelerator or steering wheel buttons. These issues occur during highway driving with cruise control engaged, though no specific mileage range is consistently noted. Safety implications include temporary loss of vehicle control, as owners describe needing to disable the cruise control entirely to regain control.
STEERING (2 complaints)
STEERING
2 complaintsOwners of the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus report issues related to steering and braking systems. One complaint describes grinding sounds from the front right brakes and a loss of traction during wet conditions, with the vehicle inspected at 7,500 miles without a resolution. Another owner details problems with the Co-Pilot 360 and Blu Cruise systems, specifically noting that the eye scanning system is overly sensitive and interferes with lane centering functionality. These reports suggest potential safety implications, such as loss of control in wet conditions and non-functional lane centering features.
SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
2 complaintsOwners of the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus report issues with the vehicle's service brakes, specifically noting loud squealing or scraping noises when the brakes are applied. These symptoms often occur when the vehicle is first used after sitting idle, with the noise sometimes accompanied by a need for increased pressure to stop the vehicle, particularly in wet conditions. Complaints consistently arise at low mileages, around 1,000 miles, and some owners mention that Lincoln is aware of the issue and is investigating it. There are no reports of warning lights or messages associated with these brake issues, but the difficulty in stopping quickly could have safety implications, especially in emergency situations. Buyers should be aware that Lincoln is reportedly working on a solution, but as of now, no formal recall or fix has been announced.
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?
When Do 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Lincoln Nautilus Years
Comprehensive reliability analysis based on NHTSA data, owner complaints, and historical performance.
Best Lincoln Nautilus Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe best Lincoln Nautilus year is 2026 with a reliability score of 82/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2023 (73/100) and 2022 (73/100).
Lincoln Nautilus Years to Avoid
The worst Lincoln Nautilus year is 2019 with a score of 62/100, primarily due to power train (25) issues.
Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Score Trend
Lincoln Nautilus reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 72/100.
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?
How many recalls does the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus have?
Is the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus expensive to maintain?
Don’t buy a 2025 Lincoln Nautilus without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Lincoln Nautilus.
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