2024 Nautilus trailer hitch

[APL Rep]

Let’s talk about this. As ordered it is a dealer installed option on the window sticker. Had one come in with it. Huge box of course. Had all things needed. But this isn’t just a uhaul flippity quick install. The tech had to literally disassemble the back half of the car to do it. Notch out bumper and insert plastic filler piece. It came out fine but I just don’t understand the logic behind not putting it on if ordered before final assembly? It took the whole day and then some to complete.
Bumper, steel reinforcement, fender trim, pile of other parts, inside a bunch of stuff as well, THEN wire it all in. Till this model every one I ever ordered came with hitch already installed. Who can make this make sense?


I am also trying to obtain these for two other clients with zero luck. Backordered with no ETA.

 

[swindler]

Also, recognize that this is only a Class I hitch rated at a trailer weight of 1,750 lbs. And be sure to include the kit that moves the hands-free liftgate sensor to the side so it isn't obstructed by the hitch.

I can only guess that the marketing team did not envision this as a tow vehicle and did not care to design a hitch option. I'm not sure whether the China market expects a trailer hitch on vehicles or not.

 

[hinckley]

Holy sh*t. That's crazy!!

 

[JMAB]

Let’s talk about this. As ordered it is a dealer installed option on the window sticker. Had one come in with it. Huge box of course. Had all things needed. But this isn’t just a uhaul flippity quick install. The tech had to literally disassemble the back half of the car to do it. Notch out bumper and insert plastic filler piece. It came out fine but I just don’t understand the logic behind not putting it on if ordered before final assembly? It took the whole day and then some to complete.
Bumper, steel reinforcement, fender trim, pile of other parts, inside a bunch of stuff as well, THEN wire it all in. Till this model every one I ever ordered came with hitch already installed. Who can make this make sense?
View attachment 21208

I am also trying to obtain these for two other clients with zero luck. Backordered with no ETA.

Great picture, thank you for sharing. We ordered one with ours and it was the dealers service dept.'s first one. It took them the whole day also and when it came out of the shop, there was a ton of the black seal-goop all over the hatch area paint and the wrap-around weather strip was not seated properly on the bottom half. Crazy stuff to have installed in the field, especially now that I am seeing the reality in a picture. We wanted it for our bike rack only, but wanted the full size hole to fit our 2 or 4 bike rack. It did take me a while to find the relocated hands-free lift gate sensor (on the left), and it is a little more temperamental now.

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[RedHoncho]

I ordered mine with my vehicle. My sales rep showed me a photo of one they had done for another customer. It looked fantastic. He said they send theirs to a body shop they own to do that installation. I had no idea it was such a convoluted installation. My Corsair came with the tow package and everything was factory installed.

 

[APL Rep]

I ordered mine with my vehicle. My sales rep showed me a photo of one they had done for another customer. It looked fantastic. He said they send theirs to a body shop they own to do that installation. I had no idea it was such a convoluted installation. My Corsair came with the tow package and everything was factory installed.

It really makes no sense. Even if it’s just to hold a grocery basket. Still damn! Install it at the factory before you put the last 3719 parts on? So our tech spent a day and then some doing this. He got paid for sure. Now we bill Lincoln for reimbursement of his labor on factory ordered dealer installed parts? Just seems like a bassackwards way of doing things to me for something like this. It’s not a scuff guard.

 

[Robert Blackwood]

My Nautilus was delivered on 3/30/24 . Trailer hitch was listed on window sticker as a dealer installed item for $1,000.00
I asked for a refund several times and was refused. The hitch was finally received by the dealership 2 months after I got the car. Again refund refused. They scheduled a July 2nd date to install the hitch.
I went to the dealership yesterday and looked at one hitch recently installed and it looked like crap. I spoke with the tech that does the work and he advised that if I don't need a hitch then don't do it.
I e-mailed the General Manager and told him to just keep the hitch. I offered to trade the hitch for a coupe of oil changes. Let's see what he does.I suggest that the dealer should not add dealer installed items when ordering for stock and hope it's something the customer wants. When the new vehicle comes in or is in stock offer the hitch, floor mats and dash camera at time of delivery with customers approval. This is poor business.
By the way, I also looked into the dash camera Lincoln offers and there are better ones out there. Much smaller and a better looking install. Not stuck on the windshield. I was thinking about maybe a trade. Hitch for dash camera. Decided against that after investigating the Lincoln offer.

 

[swindler]

My Nautilus was delivered on 3/30/24 . Trailer hitch was listed on window sticker as a dealer installed item for $1,000.00
I asked for a refund several times and was refused. The hitch was finally received by the dealership 2 months after I got the car. Again refund refused. They scheduled a July 2nd date to install the hitch.
I went to the dealership yesterday and looked at one hitch recently installed and it looked like crap. I spoke with the tech that does the work and he advised that if I don't need a hitch then don't do it.
I e-mailed the General Manager and told him to just keep the hitch. I offered to trade the hitch for a coupe of oil changes. Let's see what he does.I suggest that the dealer should not add dealer installed items when ordering for stock and hope it's something the customer wants. When the new vehicle comes in or is in stock offer the hitch, floor mats and dash camera at time of delivery with customers approval. This is poor business.
By the way, I also looked into the dash camera Lincoln offers and there are better ones out there. Much smaller and a better looking install. Not stuck on the windshield. I was thinking about maybe a trade. Hitch for dash camera. Decided against that after investigating the Lincoln offer.

Best of luck not getting hitched.

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[Robert Blackwood]

I am not getting hitched. Period

 

[JMAB]

I am not getting hitched. Period

LOL!

We needed ours for a bike rack, nothing heavy, and must have gotten lucky as while it did take them a while the service team did a wonderful job on the install and the cover cutting part. Very happy with it and if we have to swap, will have one installed on the new Naughty.

Hopefully the dealership management team gives you a fair deal on the "value" replacement of the $1,000 cost of the added option.

 

[RedHoncho]

My Nautilus was delivered on 3/30/24 . Trailer hitch was listed on window sticker as a dealer installed item for $1,000.00
I asked for a refund several times and was refused. The hitch was finally received by the dealership 2 months after I got the car. Again refund refused. They scheduled a July 2nd date to install the hitch.
I went to the dealership yesterday and looked at one hitch recently installed and it looked like crap. I spoke with the tech that does the work and he advised that if I don't need a hitch then don't do it.
I e-mailed the General Manager and told him to just keep the hitch. I offered to trade the hitch for a coupe of oil changes. Let's see what he does.I suggest that the dealer should not add dealer installed items when ordering for stock and hope it's something the customer wants. When the new vehicle comes in or is in stock offer the hitch, floor mats and dash camera at time of delivery with customers approval. This is poor business.
By the way, I also looked into the dash camera Lincoln offers and there are better ones out there. Much smaller and a better looking install. Not stuck on the windshield. I was thinking about maybe a trade. Hitch for dash camera. Decided against that after investigating the Lincoln offer.

Did you order this vehicle or purchase it from dealer inventory?

 

[Robert Blackwood]

Dealer inventory.

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[RedHoncho]

Dealer inventory.

Then you should have negotiated this at the time of purchase. Now, you're pretty much on the hook for $1,000. Hopefully, the dealership will be willing to make an equitable trade with you. Your other option is to take the hitch and store it until you sell or trade your vehicle.

 

[Robert Blackwood]

I asked for a refund when I took delivery of the vehicle. Hitch was not on hand and did not arrive at the dealership for 60 days. Was told can't issue a credit since it is listed on the window sticker. Horse Hockey. I don't want to take the hitch and store it. I checked with the Lincoln used car manager for the value on the hitch when traded and it was $168.00. Not worth keeping it laying around. I understand it's a large box of parts and items needed to install. I called several local hitch dealers and not one of them was interested in buying it at any price.. It's a class 1 hitch so not very heavy duty.

 

[Robert Blackwood]

The photo attached to the first post on this thread tells the whole sad story.

 

[Nautilus Jim]

My dealer had my black label for a week and STILL couldn’t figure out how to get the wiring harness activated. Service advisor claims that they subcontracted the installation and that vendor doesn’t want to spend more time on it. I bought the vehicle from dealer inventory with the hitch installed and on the window sticker. It is going back for service next week for injectors and for another try to fix the wiring harness. Frustration abounds.

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[Robert Blackwood]

After looking at the photo of the hitch install in progress I decided to go to the dealership on Saturday and look at some recent hitch installs. Sloppy work in my opinion. I decided to not have the hitch installed. The service guy who installs them at the dealership said if you don't have to have a hitch "DON'T DO IT"
I sent an e-mail to the GM at the dealership telling him that I don't want the hitch installed and again ask for a refund.
He responded and said that he and his sales manager would get with me on Thursday.

 

[Robert Blackwood]

I wrote to the GM and asked him to let me know when I should come to the store and hopefully pick up a check. No response.

 

[creativepart]

I need a hitch for a bike rack as well. I "thought" about ordering the dealer installed option but decided to get an aftermarket hitch. Only thing is, I can't find any hitch manufacturer that builds a hitch for the 2024 Nautilus. At least not yet. I sent an email to Curt, a major hitch manufacturer and the response was no we don't have one and we don't know if and when we will have this product available. OUCH

 

[Robert Blackwood]

I would not recommend buying the dealer installed hitch from Lincoln. Take a look at the photo posted on this site of the whole back end removed from a new Nautilus and read the comments.