1998 Lincoln Navigator Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around three things: engine-compartment fires and speed-control switch heat in parked vehicles, front-end steering and suspension breakage, and tire tread separation. Many owners still drive these trucks at high mileage, and several complaints note that their vehicle had been excluded from a related recall campaign. Problems tend to appear suddenly rather than as a slow degradation.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine-compartment fire while parked (speed control switch)

   • 25 complaints (13%)
   • median 111,000 mi at 9.3 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 23 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2014

   Owners describe the vehicle catching fire while parked in a driveway, garage or lot, sometimes minutes and sometimes many hours after the engine was shut off. Several say the fire started under the hood near the driver side or speed control switch area; some were alerted by smoke, others found the truck fully involved. A few mention that the cruise control switch had already been disconnected under a recall, or that the vehicle was not covered by the campaign. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 60,000 to over 330,000 miles, usually with the vehicle parked and switched off.

   Recall 05V388000

   What to check: Ask whether the speed control deactivation switch recall 05V388000 was performed and whether the switch was replaced or only disconnected; inspect the switch connector area for melted plastic or scorching.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started vehicle and drove approximately 1 mile or so and vehicle completely lost power. I came to a complete stop notice smoke from under hood. I investigated smoke and noticed the fire and immediately had friends evacuate following phone call to fire department. I have done nothing to fix problem at this point except for contacting insurance company.”

   NHTSA complaint #10108197, filed 2005-01, 171,016 miles

   “On 14 june 08, my mother's 98 Lincoln Navigator caught fire while parked in my garage, it burned my garage and there was enough damage that I was moved out of my house. I filed a claim with ford and they denied my claim because they stated that nc law states that they don't have to cover a vehicle if it is over 6 years old.”

   NHTSA complaint #10231848, filed 2008-06, 167,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Front tie rod separation or breakage

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 91,537 mi at 6.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2006

   Owners report the front tie rod breaking or its ball pulling out of the socket, often at low speed, over a bump or while turning. The result is described as violent shaking or the front wheel suddenly turning inward, with loss of directional control. In several cases the dealer replaced tie rod ends, inner rods or the pitman arm, and some owners were told the failure was not a known common problem. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 115,000 miles, often during low-speed turns or after hitting a bump or railroad crossing.

   What to check: Have a mechanic check the inner and outer tie rod ends, ball joint play and the pitman arm on a lift before purchase; any looseness or torn boot is worth addressing before driving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I visited my father who lives 22 miles away. I made it there and back fine. I just got back into my hometown when I crossed a set of tracks that are on a turn. I was traveling approximately 35 MPH. After crossing them I straightened my wheels and my Navigator began to shake with extreme violence. I immediately braked and turned down a side alley to get off the street. That's when I seen the broken passenger side tie rod.”

   NHTSA complaint #10116129, filed 2005-03, 92,000 miles

   “I was driving on a straight stretch of road through riverside, pa doing 35 MPH when I experienced violent shaking in the front end of the vehicle. I had extreme difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle and almost hit 3 people walking alongside the road. When I was able to stop the vehicle I discovered that the inner tie rod had broken and that the right front passenger wheel was completely turned inward. The inner tie rod and associated mechanical parts were replaced. (old parts not available).”

   NHTSA complaint #10173179, filed 2006-11, 52,800 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Spark plug ejection from cylinder head

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a loud bang from the engine bay followed by loss of power, traced to a spark plug blowing out of the cylinder head and damaging the coil and threads. Some were told the head could not be rethreaded and needed replacement or a thread insert, while others report rough running, stalling and check-engine lights beforehand. A few say the repair did not fully resolve the shaking. Reported from about 55,000 to 170,000 miles, sometimes during highway driving and sometimes shortly after service.

   What to check: Ask whether any spark plug thread repairs or cylinder head work have been done, listen for a ticking or popping noise at the plug wells, and have a compression or leak-down check done before buying at higher mileage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I drove from maine to mass. Approx 170 miles, we stopped at my boyfriends mothers house for 20 min. I got back in my car started it up and it had a horrendous noise under the hood. It sounded like a motorcycle was in my engine. I did not feel safe to drive it anywhere. We had to have it towed home and our mechanic told us the bad ...awful news and the expense. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10160595, filed 2006-06, 94,000 miles

   “1) driving up mountain pass, 65 MPH with children in car, truck started aggressively shaking, check engine light blinking ,had to pull off to far right lane with diesel truck on my rear end. Smell of gas in cab, had to get children out of car, had to stand by busy highway in the dark for help. 2) blown spark plug - stripped the spark plug hole, burned coil 3) car in repair shop for 2 weeks, replaced cylinder head, coil, spark plug. Car still bucks , taking back to shop as I do not trust car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10102807, filed 2004-12, 135,000 miles
4. 4
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and blowouts

   • 31 complaints (16%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2005

   Owners describe the tread peeling away from tires at highway speed, sometimes with the tire still holding air on the rim, causing the vehicle to pull or veer. Several complaints involve specific brands and note the tires were relatively new or had low mileage on them. In some cases the tire maker examined the tire and attributed the damage to a split or to road conditions rather than a manufacturing issue. Reported from under 15,000 miles on the tires up to around 54,000 miles on the vehicle, frequently at highway speeds.

   What to check: Check the DOT date codes and brand of all four tires, look for sidewall cracking or uneven tread wear, and replace anything older than about six years regardless of tread depth.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the vehicle experienced tread separation. The entire medial wall of the tire had blown out. The vehicle veered off to the right side of the road and stopped 10 feet in front of the guard rail. Continental was supposedly examining the tire but the consumer haven't gotten any word from them.”

   NHTSA complaint #10017804, filed 2003-04, 38,000 miles

   “Right rear tire tread came completely of the tire while driving. . The consumer stated the tire was still inflated on the rim. Continental tire company stated the tire contained a split which caused the tread separation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10042453, filed 2003-10, 40,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Gear shifter will not engage Park / rollaway

   • 26 complaints (14%)
   • median 107,500 mi at 11.0 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2018

   Owners report the column shifter failing to go fully into Park, with the vehicle rolling when parked on an incline, and in some cases the key not releasing from the ignition. Complaints note that the vehicle was not covered by the related shift-cable campaign, and that the manufacturer declined assistance on that basis. One owner also described the gear indicator not matching the selected gear. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 190,000 miles, typically noticed when parking on a slope.

   Recall 97V171000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 97V171000 applies to the VIN, test that Park holds the truck on a slope with the engine running, and check the shift cable attachment at the steering column bracket.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 1998 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that the gear shift failed to go into the park position. In addition, the contact stated that the ignition key failed to disengage from the ignition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 187,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10693836, filed 2015-03, 187,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 1998 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that the gear indicator on the instrument cluster failed to display the desired gear selection. In addition, the gear lever would not shift into the park position properly. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 97v171000 (power train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10839942, filed 2016-03, 100,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, prioritize a truck with documented completion of the speed control switch recall (05V388000) and have the front steering linkage and tires inspected closely. Service records showing transmission shift cable and cylinder head history are worth asking about, since much of what owners report shows up suddenly rather than gradually.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.