Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 82/100 (EXCELLENT)

2026 Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Report

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus has excellent reliability, with 7 owner complaints and no recalls, the best record among its scored model years.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

Est. Repair Cost

N/A

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint SeverityN/A

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue DiversityN/A

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Best standing of the eight scored years, with no recalls and a 5-star crash rating, as the last year of the second generation.

Top Issues to Watch

SERVICE BRAKES (1)
VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Redesign (Year 3)

2026 is year 3 of the Second generation (CDX707).

Redesigned for the 2024 model year.
Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
2nd generation Nautilus (US).

What this means for buyers

Well into the generation cycle — most design and manufacturing issues should be resolved by now.

2024: Second generation (CDX707) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2026: This Model Year

2026 is year 3 of the Second generation (CDX707).

Should You Buy the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus?

Yes, this is the strongest Nautilus year we score. Reliability is excellent, above average among 2026 SUVs, and the best of the eight Nautilus years in our data. It is also the last year of the second generation, which ran from 2024 to 2026. The 2025 model is good but rates worse, with more complaints and more recalls behind it.

Owners have filed 7 complaints so far, and federal recall records list no recalls for this year. The data does not point to one repeating failure, so there is no known weak spot to warn you about. Federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars. Complaints tend to grow the longer a model year is on the road, so a low count is good news but not a guarantee.

Run the VIN through the federal recall database before you buy, in case something has been issued since this page was built. If the price pushes you toward the 2025, ask for proof that its 6 recalls were completed.

See also the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+No recalls issued
+Low complaint frequency
+5-star NHTSA crash rating
+Well-established generation

Cons

−UNKNOWN OR OTHER issues reported (5 complaints)

Compare 2026 Lincoln Nautilus With

2026 Cadillac XT6

Reliability: 76/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Other

MODERATE

UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5)
SERVICE BRAKES (1)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Lincoln Nautilus? Check its history first

Service brakes problems lead owner complaints about the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus, and 0 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

2026 Lincoln Nautilus NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 16.9%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (Yes)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Lincoln NautilusRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5

Based 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 2026 Lincoln Nautilus.

Fold and unfold the side mirrors several times, then drive and confirm they stay fully open.
Engage hands-free driving on a highway and watch for repeated warnings that will not clear.
After a "Resume Control" prompt, take the wheel and confirm the flashers and braking do not activate.
Feel for engine stuttering at highway speed with adaptive cruise control engaged.
Connect Apple CarPlay, play satellite radio, and test whether the steering wheel buttons change stations.
Ask for service records showing any visits for mirror, hands-free driving, or engine stuttering problems.

2026 Lincoln Nautilus Common Problems by Component

7 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5)SERVICE BRAKES (1)VISIBILITY/WIPER (1)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

5 complaints

Power-folding side mirrors fold shut on their own while driving or fail to reopen, leaving the driver without side visibility during lane changes. The hands-free driving system also draws complaints. Its facial recognition sensor keeps issuing "Watch the Road" and "Resume Control" warnings that will not clear, then turns on the hazard flashers and slows the car, at times on a busy highway at 65 mph. Engine stuttering is also reported during this handoff. Steering wheel radio buttons do not change stations under Apple CarPlay, so drivers must use the touchscreen. Sudden slowdowns in traffic carry a risk of rear-end collisions.

5 complaints total

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

2026-05-19

The brake pedal is designed in such a manner that the shaft/arm gets in the way of the pedal as you start pressing the pedal. As the pedal is pressed away from the driver, the shaft is setup in such a way that the driver's foot then hits the shaft and loses the ability to press the actual pedal. Given the shaft is a small metal bar rather than a flat grippy surface like the pedal, this creates unstable footing. It is very difficult to use and is quite unsafe. It is an issue in all cases when pressing the brake (i.e., it is not only for aggressive braking; it is always persistent). I have found in many cases my foot slipping on the shaft and it causing real danger to myself, my family, and other drivers as the inability to brake effectively has obvious implications. This is not a unique case of me having large feet or anything like that; in fact, I have small feet. It is probably a much bigger issue for the average person with larger feet than me. I reported it to the dealership, and they acknowledged that they have heard the complaint, but their response was "get used to it". No other parties have inspected the component. There are no warning lights. This is not a "failure" of a component, but rather a design flaw that is unsafe. I would recommend inspecting the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus to assess the risk of the brake pedal / shaft design and suggest a recall on the brake pedal whereby Lincoln must replace with a design that does not cause this interference.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

2026-05-19

I was driving on M 53 south bound approximately 11:30 am when I heard two consecutive soft “tick” tick” sounds and immediately noticed the stress cracks appearing on my windshield top drivers side. I will be taking it for inspection as there was not any type of object to cause these cracks.

Best & Worst Lincoln Nautilus Years

Best Lincoln Nautilus Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Lincoln Nautilus Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Lincoln Nautilus reliability scores by year
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

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	82/100	+10	Excellent	0	7
2025	72/100	+1	Good	6	20
2024	71/100	-2	Good	7	19
2023	73/100	0	Good	3	6
2022	73/100	0	Good	2	8
2021	73/100	+4	Good	2	18
2020	69/100	+7	Good	5	32
2019	62/100	—	Good	8	96

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus reliable?

Yes. Its reliability standing is excellent and above average for 2026 SUVs. It is the best of the eight Nautilus model years we score. Owners have filed 7 complaints, and federal recall records show none. Complaints usually grow with time on the road, so the count may rise.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus?

The data shows no single dominant problem. Owners have filed only 7 complaints, and the records we have do not name a repeating failure. Because of that, we do not point to a specific weak spot. Check the VIN for open recalls and review service history before buying.

Does the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus have any recalls?

No. Federal recall records list zero recalls for this model year. That is a clear contrast with the 2025 Nautilus, which has 6. Recalls can be issued later, so enter the VIN in the federal lookup before you sign anything.

Is the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus better than the 2025?

On this data, yes. The 2026 rates as excellent, while the 2025 rates as good and rates worse overall. The 2025 also has 20 complaints and 6 recalls, against 7 complaints and no recalls for the 2026. If you buy a 2025, confirm its recall repairs were done.

How safe is the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus in crash tests?

It earned the top federal crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars. That rating is separate from reliability, which describes how often owners report problems. The 2026 is also the final year of the second generation, which began in 2024.

Don’t buy a 2026 Lincoln Nautilus without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). 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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