Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 127 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Lincoln Navigator, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 27 | 21% |
| Structure | 13 | 10% |
| Air bags | 11 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 7% |
| Power train | 8 | 6% |
| Visibility | 7 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 4% |
| Engine | 4 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Lincoln Navigator. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 160,000. The contac
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. The v
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The contact owned a 2003 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that fifteen minutes after she parked and turned off the vehicle in the driveway, her brother alerted her that the driver's side front seat had caught fire.
NHTSA complaint: Firerelated
RAIN WATER LEAK NEXT TO PASSENGER SIDE BACK REAR POWER WINDOW WHILE PARKED
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TAKATA RECALL !!! I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE REVERSE LIGHTS SAME RECALL ISSUE AS THE 2012 NAVIGATOR ALSO THE CAR WHEN IT'S IN PARK WON'T ENGAGE WHEN THE BREAK PEDAL IS APPLIED TO UN
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
MY SUSPENSION HAS AIRBAGS THAT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I KNOW OTHER NAVIGATOR OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WORKED ON BUT NOTHING CHANGES.PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. THE AIRBAGS DO NOT
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
COMING HOME FROM A TRIP ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE. COME TO FIND OUT THE # 3 SPARK PLUS EXPLODED DESTROYING THE COIL AND AND THREADS HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG IN. CAUSING THE NEED TO RE TAP THE THREADS.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
JUST DRIVING IN A 45 MPH, WHEN HEARD LOUD BANGING COMING FROM ENGINE. PULLED OVER AND HAD CAR TOWED IN FOR REPAIR. ENGINE BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Lincoln Navigator. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 48 | below average |
| Depreciation | 36 | below average |
| Performance | 73 | good |
| Efficiency | 23 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 127 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 27 of them (21%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2003 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 58/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.