Lincoln Nautilus VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Lincoln Nautilus you are looking at. Then check its model year against 25 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefix2LM5LM

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Lincoln Nautilus

About the Lincoln Nautilus

Lincoln has sold the Nautilus in the US since the 2019 model year, and there have been two generations. The U540 came first (2019–2023), and the CDX707 took over for 2024–2026. Across those years NHTSA lists 25 vehicle recall campaigns and 253 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the U540. Its 2019 and 2020 model years alone account for 135 of them, with owners bringing up powertrain most often and the electrical system after that. EPA rates the U540 at 21–23 mpg combined, while the CDX707, whose lineup includes hybrid versions, gets 24–30 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2019–2026

GenerationsU540 · CDX707

NHTSA recall campaigns25

Owner complaints253 at NHTSA

Lincoln Nautilus photographed at a US vehicle auction — Auction lot photo, for illustration

Generations

Lincoln Nautilus generations

Two generations since the 2019 model year. The U540 (2019–2023) has both the most owner complaints and the most recall campaigns (14).

2 / 2

CDX707

2024–20262nd generation

Photo: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20192025

2024–2026· Generation 2 of 2

CDX707 · 2nd generation

PlatformFord C2

EPA combined mpg24–30

NHTSA recalls11

Engines (EPA)

2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2024–2026
2.0 L 4-cyl (turbo, hybrid) · 2024–2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

AWD/4WD
automatic (2024–2026), CVT (2024–2026)

Known issues to check

Forward collision avoidance (22)Lane departure (14)Electrical system (11)1 high-risk recall campaign

Mentions in 75 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · CDX7075LMPJ8K4?SJ······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve, built in Hangzhou, Hangzhou

Check a Nautilus VIN

Sources: Wikipedia · EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Nautilus model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 25 campaigns on file for Nautilus model years 2019–2026, and the 2024 shows up in more of them than any other year (9), ahead of the 2019 (8). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

Pick a row

What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Transport Canada recalls for these model years were checked against this list; each one matches an NHTSA campaign shown here. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Lincoln Nautilus owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2019 and 2024 hold 136 of the 253 complaints, or 54%. Tap any bar or generation.

253NHTSA complaints, 2019–2026

11mention a crash

0mention a fire

3injuries reported

Owner complaints by model yearCDX707: 75 complaints · most for the 2024 (34)

Top complaint areas · CDX707

Mentions in 75 complaints, 2024–2026.

Forward collision avoidance22

Lane departure14

Electrical system11

Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)11

Brakes9

Speed control / acceleration6

Crashes 4Fires 0Injuries 2

2024–2026 (CDX707)

NHTSA data summary

Its first model year, the 2024, drew more complaints than any other (34 of 75). Owners across the generation name forward collision avoidance most often (22 mentions), then lane departure (14).

What Nautilus owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2019–2023 (1st generation)

The 2019 draws most of the complaints, and later years have few reports. NHTSA owners of the 2019 most often describe jerking, shuddering or harsh shifts from the 8 speed automatic, often at low speed. CarComplaints lists harsh shifting, navigation failure and safety system faults for 2019, and a driver seat that moves on its own for 2020. The Nautilus replaced the MKX, and Lincoln launched a new generation for 2024. Recalls cover driver air bag covers on some 2019 models that may detach, lane centering on 2019 models that may not detect hands off the wheel and instrument clusters on some 2019 models that may stay blank. [1] [2] [3]

What to check before buying

Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the air bag cover and lane centering recalls on 2019 models.
Ask whether the transmission has had software updates or repairs.
On the drive, accelerate gently from a stop and through town speeds to feel for shudder or harsh shifts, and confirm the gauges and driver aids work.

Sources (3) and method

Sources:

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Nautilus complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Hybrid Nautilus versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

253complaints, 2019–2026

11mention a crash

0mention a fire

3injuries reported

Most complaints: 2019 (102), 2024 (34), 2020 (33)

2019 · 102 complaints

Crashes 2 · fires 0 · injuries 0

Electrical system29

Power train28

Unknown or other16

Engine15

Steering8

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Nautilus CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 28 Nautilus versions for model years 2019–2026 (gas and hybrid). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 290 g/mi, for the 2025 hybrid. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

U5402019–2023

21–23 mpg · CO₂ 384–423 g/mi

CDX7072024–2026

24–30 mpg · CO₂ 290–371 g/mi

Model year2025

24combined MPG

366CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$2,800EPA yearly fuel cost

6/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

5/10Greenhouse gas rating

California LEV-III SULEV30 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 30Emission standard

Cleanest gas version of 2025: AWD · Auto 8-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo — 24 MPG · 366 g/mi

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

GasHybrid

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Nautilus vs Lexus RX vs BMW X3

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2019–2023. NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the Nautilus, against 9 for the Lexus RX and 27 for the BMW X3. Pick a range to compare.

Lincoln NautilusCDX707

Model years 2024–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 11
NHTSA owner complaints: 75
EPA combined mpg: 24–30
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L
Also listed: turbo, hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Forward collision avoidance 22
Lane departure 14
Electrical system 11

Lexus RX

Model years 2024–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 6
NHTSA owner complaints: 89
EPA combined mpg: 24–36
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.4, 2.5 L
Also listed: turbo, hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 33
Engine and cooling 11
Forward collision avoidance 10

BMW X3

Model years 2024–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 11
NHTSA owner complaints: 93
EPA combined mpg: 17–29
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0, 3.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed: turbo, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 28
Forward collision avoidance 20
Steering 15

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Lincoln Nautilus VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Nautilus

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Blue Lincoln Nautilus (first generation) SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The Nautilus carries its VIN at the base of the driver's side windshield, on the door jamb sticker, and on a B-pillar label. Engine bay stamp and a cargo area sticker complete the set. Nautilus (formerly MKX) underwent a nameplate change for 2019, verify the VIN decode uses the correct model designation for the year being purchased, as some databases retain MKX branding for 2019-2021 units. The CDX707 generation starts with the 2024 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (R for 2024) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge

The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.

FAQ

Common Lincoln Nautilus VIN questions

Which Lincoln Nautilus model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2019 leads with 102, ahead of the 2024 (34) and 2020 (33). Those first two alone make up 54% of the 253 Nautilus complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Lincoln Nautilus had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 25 vehicle campaigns for model years 2019–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, U540 leads with 14. Then come the CDX707 (11), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Lincoln Nautilus recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 20V-550 and 25V-343. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which Nautilus generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the U540 is 2019–2023 and the CDX707 2024–2026. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (R is 2024).

What fuel economy does the Lincoln Nautilus get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2024–2026 CDX707 at 24–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 21–23 mpg for the 2019–2023 U540 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Lincoln Nautilus compare with the Lexus RX and BMW X3 on recalls?

For 2024–2026 models the Nautilus has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Lexus RX has 6, the BMW X3 11. Complaints run 75, 89 and 93 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Lincoln Nautilus have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2025 Nautilus 5 stars overall. One version, AWD, is rated.

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About the Lincoln Nautilus

Lincoln Nautilus generations