2012 Lincoln Navigator problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid
The 2012 Lincoln Navigator has 12 owner complaints on record with NHTSA, which ranks it 2 of 2 Lincoln Navigator model years by complaint volume. That is the lowest of any year in the run — the 2017 car has 31. 3 recall entries cover this year.
Which recalls cover the 2012?
Power Train
The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Free remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016.
Power Train
102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission…
Free remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free Of charge. The safety recall began on June 11, 2012.
Seats
202, "head restraints." These vehicles May have inadequate…
Free remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints as necessary, free Of charge. The safety recall began on February 21, 2012.
Take the campaign number to any franchised Lincoln dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2012 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.
Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.
What do owners report on the Lincoln Navigator?
Across every Lincoln Navigator year, not the 2012 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.
- Service Brakes — 9 reports
- Power Train — 6 reports
- Unknown or Other — 4 reports
- Suspension — 4 reports
If your 2012 is doing something now, these are the guides for that system — each opens with whether it is safe to keep driving:
Which other Lincoln Navigator years should you compare?
2017 Lincoln Navigator → · All Lincoln Navigator years
If you are deciding between years, the Lincoln Navigator page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.
Check a 2012 before you commit
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
ANCEL AD310 Classic OBD2 Scanner
The glovebox tool. Wired, no app, no pairing, no batteries — plug it in and it reads and clears engine codes. This is the one that saves you a diagnostic fee the first time the check engine light comes on. Its limits are honest: engine codes only, no ABS or airbag, no live graphing.
Best for: Anyone who just wants to know what the light means
Check price on AmazonBlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner
Pairs with your phone and reads far more than engine codes — ABS, airbag, transmission and HVAC on most vehicles — plus live data. The real feature is the repair reports, which map a code to the fixes that most often resolved it on your specific year, make, model and engine. No subscription.
Best for: Owners keeping a car past warranty, or checking used cars
Check price on AmazonNOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter
A lithium pack the size of a paperback that starts a car with no second vehicle and no stranger required, and charges a phone besides. It is the single most useful thing in a car emergency kit, and the reason jumper cables have become optional. Recharge it every few months.
Best for: Every car, every climate
Check price on Amazon