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Lincoln NavigatorModel year report

2008 Lincoln Navigator Problems

Compared with other Lincoln Navigator years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

17/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
30filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
60,000miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
14 mpgcombined, 5.4L 8-cyl RWD · 12 city / 18 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Lincoln Navigator (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2008 Lincoln Navigator. The part named most often is brakes, with 8 complaints (27% of the total), followed by electrical system (7) and other or unknown (4). 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 42% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 28 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 6 Lincoln Navigator model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 17 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Equipment (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seats (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “My brakes will fail without any warning. I will be driving and all of a sudden my brakes won't work. The anti-skid light will go on along with grinding noises. It feels like I am pressing a stake down through rocks as I press down on the brake pedal. During this time, I have no control over the brakes and I panic that the car will not stop. After a few seconds, the brakes work once again. I have taken the car into the dealership multiple times for this issue and they have never been able to fix it. The situation keeps happening. The most recent occurrence was in january, 2012. …”

NHTSA complaint #10446213, filed 2012-02, 29,784 miles

Electrical system: “My front driver seat won't go back or forward. And my running board is not working any more. On the driver side won't come out any more and the passenger side stuck out and won't go back in. I took it to my manica and he said it's a recall on the electrical system.”

NHTSA complaint #11222770, filed 2019-06, 158,188 miles

Other or unknown: “The contact owns a 2008 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated at low speeds the vehicle brake pedal went to the floorboard and failed to respond. In addition, the traction control and the maintenance warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated after a few minutes, the brake pedal functioned normally and after restarting the vehicle, it operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10837550, filed 2016-02, 60,000 miles

Body and structure: “After turning the steering wheel the steering wheel will not return to center, it must be brought back manually. Second, the rocker panels front and back are rusted out completely and I worry about integrity and safety of the frame.”

NHTSA complaint #11166569, filed 2019-01, 122,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

42% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 22,000 and 122,000 miles.

21%0–108%10–2513%25–5017%50–754%75–10029%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 60,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’08’11’13’156’17’20’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Lincoln Navigator. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Navigator · sedan (side air bags) AWD/2WDnot rated5 / 5——4 · 19.1% risk
Navigator · extended 4 dr w/sab AWD/2WDnot rated5 / 5——4 · 19.1% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Lincoln Navigator version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Navigator 2WD5.4L 8-cyl6-speed automatic121814$4,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Lincoln Navigator → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 28 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 28 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lincoln Navigator

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025132,5006517—Too new
20241612,3507—18—Too new
2023743,2008—19—Too new
20222157,00014—19—Rising
20213319,7001251882 · MoreRising
20203250,7421351950 · TypicalRising
20198570,0001051973 · MoreRising
20185257,5001251956 · TypicalRising
20173287,000551712 · FewerRising
20162579,50045181 · FewerRising
20152166,5004518—Rising
20141786,0000416—Falling
20131420,0000416—Not enough data
20121230,0003416—Not enough data
2011986,3000—16—Not enough data
20101677,0000—16—Stable
20091066,0571—16—Not enough data
20083060,0002—1417 · FewerStable
20074570,0002—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20066073,7503—13Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20054860,0000—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20048666,5000—13Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200312772,5000—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20023290,0001—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20018178,0003—12Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200010975,0004—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199913285,0605—13Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199819298,0605—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Lincoln Navigator model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Lincoln Navigator have?

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2008 Lincoln Navigator as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Lincoln Navigator is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 8 complaints (27% of the total), followed by electrical system with 7.

Has the 2008 Lincoln Navigator been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Lincoln Navigator get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Lincoln Navigator (Navigator 2WD, 5.4L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 18 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Lincoln Navigator reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,000 miles and the middle half falls between 22,000 and 122,000 miles; 42% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.