Lincoln Nautilus Ownership Experience: A Series of Disappointments
I purchased a
Lincoln Nautilus, expecting a premium driving and ownership experience, but ongoing reliability issues and service delays have made this one of the most frustrating vehicle experiences I’ve had.
First Service Visit – December 2024 (391 Miles)
During my first road trip, several critical systems failed:
- BlueCruise stopped working.
- "Check Brake" warning remained on.
- Memory seats failed to save positions.
- Repeated "Create Passcode" message.
- Inconsistent A/C and heat temperature regulation.
- "Lane Centering Not Available" message frequently displayed.
The technician attributed these issues to
low battery voltage, noting:
"FDRS found battery testing low, recharged battery."
Second Service Visit – January 2025 (1,888 Miles)
Just over
1,500 miles later, more issues required service:
- Phone would not connect via Bluetooth.
- Mud flaps installed crooked.
- Battery would not charge beyond 70%.
- Vibration at speeds of 40+ mph.
- BlueCruise, Adaptive Cruise, and Lane Keep Assist were all non-functional.
- Alarm randomly activated when shutting down the vehicle.
To address the vibration, the dealership
replaced the right-side tires, which reduced but did not fully eliminate the issue.
More Issues – February 2025 (Under 3,000 Miles)
Before reaching
3,000 miles, additional problems surfaced, requiring yet another service appointment:
- A recall issue.
- Rumbling noise from the rear.
- Ongoing vibration from the tires.
- A persistent popping noise (sounds like a plastic bottle popping).
- Repeated "Internet Signal Lost" messages.
- Brakes now making a growling noise when stopping at low speeds.
After my last service visit, I discovered
food wrappers stuffed into various crevices, which caused a
bad odor in the vehicle. I
do not eat or allow eating in my car, making this unacceptable.
BlueCruise, Adaptive Cruise & Lane Centering Need Refinement
Beyond the functional failures, even when working, the
BlueCruise, Adaptive Cruise, and Lane Centering systems need significant refinement. These features struggle when negotiating
long, sweeping curves, causing the steering to feel
jerky and unnatural. The
automatic lane change feature also needs improvement, as its execution feels abrupt rather than smooth.
Service Experience: Delays & Restrictions
Getting the vehicle serviced is a
long and frustrating process, with appointment availability often taking
weeks. Additionally, the
loaner car provided has restrictions—I am not allowed to
drive out of state, forcing me to
rent a commercial vehicle for work, which was never an issue with my previous vehicle.
Unfulfilled Features & Additional Concerns
The
Rejuvenate feature, which is advertised as part of the
Reserve III package, is still unavailable. I would like to know
why it has not been implemented and
when it will be activated.
Final Thoughts
I
really want to love this vehicle. It’s
mostly quiet, rides smoothly (aside from the tire vibration), and drives well. However, the
reliability issues, unfinished software, inconsistent braking performance, and disappointing service experience overshadow these positives.
This is my
first Lincoln vehicle, and unfortunately, it has been an incredibly
disappointing experience. I expected
excellence in both the vehicle and service, yet I have encountered
constant mechanical failures, service delays, and poor dealership attention to detail.
I sincerely hope Lincoln and its dealerships take these concerns seriously and work toward improving both
vehicle reliability and service quality.
