Former 2018 Lincoln Navigator L owner / Current 2021 Lincoln Navigator L owner

[NavigatorPro]

Hello! I just wanted to introduce myself. I am a professional driver and my previous vehicle was a 2018 Lincoln Navigator L Select and that was driven to 130000 miles before sold. I did have numerous issues with the 2018 to include transmission failure at 70000 miles and the camphaser issue which caused a cold start knock. Both turbos were replaced under warranty. At one point the check engine light was flashing with a strong fuel smell and it got towed to the dealership! Many problems with that vehicle and it spent months in the dealership service department.

My current vehicle is a 2021 Lincoln Navigator L with 31000 miles on it and there has been no issues as of yet. Why did I get the same vehicle again? Its because I know Ford/Lincoln would eventually get the problems out of this vehicle and 2021 being the 4th model year would probably have the major issues taken care of. I also found this guy on YouTube called "Ford Tech Makuloco" and that educated me on on the real maintenance requirements. The Ford Tech changes oil on Ecoboost engines at 3000 miles and only uses high quality fully synthetic API SP oil and changes the transmission fluid at 30000 miles. Im not sure if that kind of treatment would have made things different, however, I can say the oil got changed on the 2018 at 7000 miles and transmission fluid never changed. When the oil was changed the engine felt peppier and when the oil was drained at 7000 it was jet black.

My advice to prospective buyers of any vehicle is to buy a mature model where the company had years to engineer out the problems. Never ever buy a 1st or 2nd model year vehicle. Usually the 5th model year is the sweet spot of reliability and in Fords history it usually takes that long to get rid of all the problems. As for maintenance requirements whatever Ford/Lincoln says they are cut the time intervals in half. If they say replace the spark plugs at 100k miles then replace them at 50k. Transmission/PTU/Rear diff all need to be changed at 30000 miles. Oil needs to be changed at 3000 miles. Coolant can go 85000 miles.

If you have any questions about your Navigator feel to ask me. I have spent over 160000 miles and 4 years in this type of vehicle...driving it daily. I am an expert on it.

 

[Psykostevo]

It also helps buying a seasoned and lightly used car sometimes. Let the original owner work out the factory bugs and kinks. We recently purchased a 2020 L Reserve with 32,000 miles on it. We were wanting to hold out for 2022 and get a new one, but we were looking for specific colors and options that just weren't coming available and were even hard to find on used ones since there have been so few of them for sale lately. *knock on wood* that this one ends up being a good one, because it has exactly the options we were looking for and non-more and non-less. Plus we saved ~15-20k compared to new (and that's not even taking into account dealer markups around here of $15k).

 

[oneinch]

I'm curious about something on your '21: Auto Hold. I assume yours has it. Reference the owner's manual, pgs 245 & 246. Is your '21 remembering to turn your Auto Hold back on (if it was on at the previous shutdown)? Also, did your '18 have Auto Hold? Did it remember the last setting? My '21 is not remembering the Auto Hold setting.

 

[Psykostevo]

I'm curious about something on your '21: Auto Hold. I assume yours has it. Reference the owner's manual, pgs 245 & 246. Is your '21 remembering to turn your Auto Hold back on (if it was on at the previous shutdown)? Also, did your '18 have Auto Hold? Did it remember the last setting? My '21 is not remembering the Auto Hold setting.

Interesting. My 2020 is remembering Autohold. I've had other cars with the same feature that required you to push the button every time you started the car if you wanted to use the feature, and I sure do prefer it to remember.

______________________________

 

[oneinch]

The frustrating thing is that regardless of it being a Ford or Lincoln, regardless of the year, regardless of the model, to the best of my knowledge each and every owner's manual reads exactly the same on Auto Hold. The Auto Hold setting should be remembered and, as you've seen for yourself, this isn't the case. Why Ford/Lincoln? Why?

 

[G-877182]

I would certainly enjoy the vehicle more if ALL the drive settings were remembered versus resetting to default.

So far I have 34000 miles on my Navigator and no issues.

One thing to note. The Navigator is not a sports car and not made to be driven like one. You should keep an eye on the temperature. At 230 degrees the 2021 goes into a limp mode of sorts. If it goes over 220 degrees you should dial back your driving.

I disconnected the active grille shutters so they opened all the time. I found the algorhythm would make the temperature go too high for my liking. When I ordered mine I requested tow package which comes with larger fan and radiator. I noticed on 2022s and 2023s the heavy duty radiator no longer available.

 

[Mark-P]

I wish the auto shutoff disabled would be remembered on my 2021 navigator L.

 

[Black Label]

I wish the auto shutoff disabled would be remembered on my 2021 navigator L.

It is supposed to, so what has the resolution from your service department been, or do they just shrug their shoulders on it?

______________________________

 

[Mark-P]

Where do you see that it should be remembered?

Every vehicle i have driven with it, you have to disable it every start cycle. (Unless you put in excite mode, which disables it, but excite mode is also not remembered)

 

[Black Label]

Where do you see that it should be remembered?

Every vehicle i have driven with it, you have to disable it every start cycle. (Unless you put in excite mode, which disables it, but excite mode is also not remembered)

Owners Manual, page 245, for the 2022 MY, anyway. 3rd Note on left.

 

[Mark-P]

Sorry in kind of hijacked the thread. I was talking about auto shut off disable. Which shuts down the engine at stops

 

[Black Label]

Oh, yes, I misread. Sorry. It is just a button push on the console. It seems many people find that to be burdensome lol.

______________________________

 

[Mark-P]

I am one of those people. .

Reminds me of how happy i was to find an OBD2 Range device that disabled switching to a 4 cyl on my 2012 Suburban. Now I have a true V8!

 

[RAINEY]

I'm curious about something on your '21: Auto Hold. I assume yours has it. Reference the owner's manual, pgs 245 & 246. Is your '21 remembering to turn your Auto Hold back on (if it was on at the previous shutdown)? Also, did your '18 have Auto Hold? Did it remember the last setting? My '21 is not remembering the Auto Hold setting.

My 2020 remembers the last setting "Auto Hold".

 

[Nathan Lincoln]

Hello! I just wanted to introduce myself. I am a professional driver and my previous vehicle was a 2018 Lincoln Navigator L Select and that was driven to 130000 miles before sold. I did have numerous issues with the 2018 to include transmission failure at 70000 miles and the camphaser issue which caused a cold start knock. Both turbos were replaced under warranty. At one point the check engine light was flashing with a strong fuel smell and it got towed to the dealership! Many problems with that vehicle and it spent months in the dealership service department.

My current vehicle is a 2021 Lincoln Navigator L with 31000 miles on it and there has been no issues as of yet. Why did I get the same vehicle again? Its because I know Ford/Lincoln would eventually get the problems out of this vehicle and 2021 being the 4th model year would probably have the major issues taken care of. I also found this guy on YouTube called "Ford Tech Makuloco" and that educated me on on the real maintenance requirements. The Ford Tech changes oil on Ecoboost engines at 3000 miles and only uses high quality fully synthetic API SP oil and changes the transmission fluid at 30000 miles. Im not sure if that kind of treatment would have made things different, however, I can say the oil got changed on the 2018 at 7000 miles and transmission fluid never changed. When the oil was changed the engine felt peppier and when the oil was drained at 7000 it was jet black.

My advice to prospective buyers of any vehicle is to buy a mature model where the company had years to engineer out the problems. Never ever buy a 1st or 2nd model year vehicle. Usually the 5th model year is the sweet spot of reliability and in Fords history it usually takes that long to get rid of all the problems. As for maintenance requirements whatever Ford/Lincoln says they are cut the time intervals in half. If they say replace the spark plugs at 100k miles then replace them at 50k. Transmission/PTU/Rear diff all need to be changed at 30000 miles. Oil needs to be changed at 3000 miles. Coolant can go 85000 miles.

If you have any questions about your Navigator feel to ask me. I have spent over 160000 miles and 4 years in this type of vehicle...driving it daily. I am an expert on it.

Would you be able to review my posts and comment - your input would be greatly appreciated

 

[Psykostevo]

I would certainly enjoy the vehicle more if ALL the drive settings were remembered versus resetting to default.

So far I have 34000 miles on my Navigator and no issues.

One thing to note. The Navigator is not a sports car and not made to be driven like one. You should keep an eye on the temperature. At 230 degrees the 2021 goes into a limp mode of sorts. If it goes over 220 degrees you should dial back your driving.

I disconnected the active grille shutters so they opened all the time. I found the algorhythm would make the temperature go too high for my liking. When I ordered mine I requested tow package which comes with larger fan and radiator. I noticed on 2022s and 2023s the heavy duty radiator no longer available.

About the radiator on '23, I believe you are mistaken. I was just looking through the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package information the other day, and they mention that it includes the 26mm Radiator. You are right that the '22 Tow Package made no mention of the "Heavy Duty Radiator", though that may have just been an unintentional omission, unless that ends up being a weird option that got skipped for a whole production year. What seems most different from '22 to '23, is that Lincoln consolidated all of the optional equipment that used to be standalone from the Tow Package, and now makes it required as part of the new "bundle."

Lincoln lists the contents of the $2,600 package as:
- Class IV with 4-Pin and 7-Pin Connectors
- Front Tow Hooks
- Pro-Trailer Backup Assist 2.0
- Smart Trailer Tow
- Tiered Cargo Area Management System [Previously a $420 standalone option before '22]
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Trailer Sway Control
- Electronic Traction Assist (eLSD) [Previously a $1,665 Standalone Option on Reserve models, used to come standard on Black Label]
- Two Speed Transfer Case (4x4 Only)
- 26mm Radiator

______________________________

 

[NavigatorPro]

About the radiator on '23, I believe you are mistaken. I was just looking through the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package information the other day, and they mention that it includes the 26mm Radiator. You are right that the '22 Tow Package made no mention of the "Heavy Duty Radiator", though that may have just been an unintentional omission, unless that ends up being a weird option that got skipped for a whole production year. What seems most different from '22 to '23, is that Lincoln consolidated all of the optional equipment that used to be standalone from the Tow Package, and now makes it required as part of the new "bundle."

Lincoln lists the contents of the $2,600 package as:
- Class IV with 4-Pin and 7-Pin Connectors
- Front Tow Hooks
- Pro-Trailer Backup Assist 2.0
- Smart Trailer Tow
- Tiered Cargo Area Management System [Previously a $420 standalone option before '22]
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Trailer Sway Control
- Electronic Traction Assist (eLSD) [Previously a $1,665 Standalone Option on Reserve models, used to come standard on Black Label]
- Two Speed Transfer Case (4x4 Only)
- 26mm Radiator

At the start of 2022 it wasnt in the order guide and it said standard radiator only. Im not sure why...maybe because of parts shortages. Now it has the heavy duty radiator...

 

[ayden1024]

I also came across Ford Tech Makuloco on YouTube while researching EcoBoost engines. In fact his YouTube channel is what finally convinced me to give Ford another try (I'm a former lifelong Toyota/Lexus owner)

I actually plan to adopt his recommendations for service intervals instead of the manual when the manual shows a longer period of time.

The big thing is changing the oil more frequently as OP points out. Navigators have a second gen EcoBoost which has a beefier timing chain, but even so, spending too much time in old oil can wear it out fast.

 

[Psykostevo]

Amazon just delivered 2 minutes ago. Time to get busy!

 

[Texasaggie91]

Hello! I just wanted to introduce myself. I am a professional driver and my previous vehicle was a 2018 Lincoln Navigator L Select and that was driven to 130000 miles before sold. I did have numerous issues with the 2018 to include transmission failure at 70000 miles and the camphaser issue which caused a cold start knock. Both turbos were replaced under warranty. At one point the check engine light was flashing with a strong fuel smell and it got towed to the dealership! Many problems with that vehicle and it spent months in the dealership service department.

My current vehicle is a 2021 Lincoln Navigator L with 31000 miles on it and there has been no issues as of yet. Why did I get the same vehicle again? Its because I know Ford/Lincoln would eventually get the problems out of this vehicle and 2021 being the 4th model year would probably have the major issues taken care of. I also found this guy on YouTube called "Ford Tech Makuloco" and that educated me on on the real maintenance requirements. The Ford Tech changes oil on Ecoboost engines at 3000 miles and only uses high quality fully synthetic API SP oil and changes the transmission fluid at 30000 miles. Im not sure if that kind of treatment would have made things different, however, I can say the oil got changed on the 2018 at 7000 miles and transmission fluid never changed. When the oil was changed the engine felt peppier and when the oil was drained at 7000 it was jet black.

My advice to prospective buyers of any vehicle is to buy a mature model where the company had years to engineer out the problems. Never ever buy a 1st or 2nd model year vehicle. Usually the 5th model year is the sweet spot of reliability and in Fords history it usually takes that long to get rid of all the problems. As for maintenance requirements whatever Ford/Lincoln says they are cut the time intervals in half. If they say replace the spark plugs at 100k miles then replace them at 50k. Transmission/PTU/Rear diff all need to be changed at 30000 miles. Oil needs to be changed at 3000 miles. Coolant can go 85000 miles.

If you have any questions about your Navigator feel to ask me. I have spent over 160000 miles and 4 years in this type of vehicle...driving it daily. I am an expert on it.

Hi - great post. I have a 2918 Navigator and a couple of weeks ago the check engine light came on. The car was running fine but I immediately took it to the auto parts store to read the code. The reader came back with 28 different codes with all sorts of problems! I asked the guy to reset the light thinking it was a glitch throwing so many codes at one time. The light came right back on. The next day we left for a 1000 mile round trip. The Nav ran fine the whole way and no issues whatsoever. Did you ever experience something like this where the check engine light came on and multiple codes were all showing at once? I’ve read that it could be one of the main fuses used by the ECM causing a glitch. Appreciate any help you can offer.