Lincoln Navigator VIN Number Check

Enter a Lincoln Navigator VIN for a free NHTSA vPIC decode: build details, the generation it belongs to and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. Owner reports follow below.

VIN prefix5LM

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

Lincoln Navigator

About the Lincoln Navigator

Lincoln has sold the Navigator in the US since the 1998 model year, and there have been five generations. The UN173 came first (1998–2002); U228 (2003–2006), U326 (2007–2017), U554 (2018–2024) followed, and the U718 took over for 2025–2026. Across those years NHTSA lists 68 vehicle recall campaigns and 1,351 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the UN173. Its 1998 and 1999 model years alone account for 324 of them, with owners bringing up tires most often and the electrical system after that. EPA rates the UN173 at 12–13 mpg combined, while the U718 gets 17 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 years1998–2026

GenerationsUN173 · U228 · U326 · U554 · U718

NHTSA recall campaigns68

Owner complaints1,351 at NHTSA

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

Generations

Lincoln Navigator generations

Five generations since the 1998 model year. The UN173 (1998–2002) has the most owner complaints, the U554 (2018–2024) the most recall campaigns (37).

5 / 5

U718

2025–20265th generation

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

199820052010201520202025

2025–2026· Generation 5 of 5

U718 · 5th generation

PlatformFord T3

EPA combined mpg17

NHTSA recalls7

Engines (EPA)

3.5 L 6-cyl (turbo) · 2025–2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

AWD/4WD
automatic (2025–2026)

Known issues to check

Electrical system (3)Forward collision avoidance (3)Brakes (3)

Mentions in 12 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · U7185LMJJ3TG?SE······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2025 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label, built in Louisville, Kentucky

Check a Navigator VIN

Sources: Wikipedia · EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Navigator model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 68 campaigns on file for Navigator model years 1998–2026, and the 2022 shows up in more of them than any other year (14), ahead of the 2020 (13). 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.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Lincoln Navigator owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Complaints peak with the 1998 (192 of 1,351). Tap any bar or generation.

1,351NHTSA complaints, 1998–2026

88mention a crash

92mention a fire

123injuries reported

Owner complaints by model yearU718: 12 complaints · most for the 2025 (12)

Top complaint areas · U718

Mentions in 12 complaints, 2025–2026.

Electrical system3

Forward collision avoidance3

Brakes3

Speed control / acceleration2

Steering2

Air bags2

Crashes 0Fires 0Injuries 0

2025–2026 (U718)

NHTSA data summary

By area, nothing stands out. Electrical system leads with 3, with forward collision avoidance (3) and the brakes (3) close behind. Its first model year, the 2025, drew more complaints than any other (12 of 12).

What Navigator owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2018–2024 (4th generation)

NHTSA data is moderate and CarComplaints has few reports, so owner data is thin. The 2019 draws the most complaints, and about a fifth of NHTSA owners describe front seat belt pretensioners that fire or lock without a crash, while others report rough or delayed transmission shifts. CarComplaints lists a screen that reboots and a liftgate that opens on its own for 2018, and a frozen screen, stalling and a shifter stuck in Park for 2019. Lincoln replaced this generation for 2025. Recalls cover those pretensioners on 2018–2022 models, transmission park pawls on 2018–2021 models that may engage while moving and rearview cameras on some 2018–2021 models. [1] [2] [3]

2007–2017 (3rd generation)

Complaint totals are low across these years, peaking with the 2007, so owner data is thin. NHTSA owners of the 2007 and 2008 most often mention brake concerns. CarComplaints lists stalling, spark plug trouble and running board motor failure for 2007, and rust, an air suspension compressor that runs constantly and steering rack failure for 2008. Recalls cover fuel rail hoses on 2007 models with the 5.4 liter engine that may crack and leak fuel, interior door handles on 2007–2008 models that may not return to the closed position and brake master cylinders on 2016–2017 models with the 3.5 liter engine. [4] [5] [6] [7]

What to check before buying

Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the seat belt pretensioner and park pawl recalls on newer trucks.
Ask for transmission, air suspension and brake repair records.
On the drive, feel for harsh or late shifts, check that every seat belt extends and retracts freely, and confirm the running boards and liftgate work normally.

Sources (7) 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

Navigator complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Navigator version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

1,351complaints, 1998–2026

88mention a crash

92mention a fire

123injuries reported

4complaints report a death

Most complaints: 1998 (192), 1999 (132), 2003 (127)

1998 · 192 complaints

Crashes 14 · fires 22 · injuries 26 · complaints reporting a death 1

Tires48

Suspension25

Steering22

Electrical system21

Vehicle speed control18

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

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Navigator CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 62 Navigator versions for model years 1998–2026. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 462 g/mi (2023). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

UN1731998–2002

12–13 mpg · CO₂ 684–741 g/mi

U2282003–2006

13 mpg · CO₂ 684 g/mi

U3262007–2017

13–18 mpg · CO₂ 491–684 g/mi

U5542018–2024

17–19 mpg · CO₂ 462–510 g/mi

U7182025–2026

17 mpg · CO₂ 510–512 g/mi

Model year2025

17combined MPG

510CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$3,950EPA yearly fuel cost

6/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

3/10Greenhouse gas rating

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

Cleanest gas version of 2025: 4WD · Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo — 17 MPG · 510 g/mi

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

Gas

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. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Navigator vs Cadillac Escalade vs Chevrolet Tahoe

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2007–2017. NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns for the Navigator, against 25 for the Cadillac Escalade and 33 for the Chevrolet Tahoe. Pick a range to compare.

Lincoln NavigatorU718

Model years 2025–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 7
NHTSA owner complaints: 12
EPA combined mpg: 17–17
Engines (EPA): 6-cyl 3.5 L
Also listed: turbo
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2025)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 3
Forward collision avoidance 3
Brakes 3

Cadillac Escalade

Model years 2025–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 4
NHTSA owner complaints: 80
EPA combined mpg: 13–17
Engines (EPA): 8-cyl 6.2 L
Also listed: supercharged
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2025)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Engine and cooling 64
Electrical system 18
Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 11

Chevrolet Tahoe

Model years 2025–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 3
NHTSA owner complaints: 75
EPA combined mpg: 16–24
Engines (EPA): 6-cyl 3.0 L · 8-cyl 5.3, 6.2 L
Also listed: turbo, diesel
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2025)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Engine and cooling 49
Forward collision avoidance 15
Brakes 11

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 Navigator VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Navigator

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

White Lincoln Navigator (fourth generation) SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

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

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

As Lincoln's flagship SUV, Navigator carries its VIN at the lower driver's side windshield, on the door jamb sticker, on the B-pillar label, and near the cargo area floor. Body-on-frame construction adds a frame rail stamp on the driver's side near the front axle. The U718 generation starts with the 2025 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (S for 2025) 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 Navigator VIN questions

Which Lincoln Navigator model years have the most owner complaints?

The 1998 leads with 192, ahead of the 1999 (132) and 2003 (127). Those first two alone make up 24% of the 1,351 Navigator complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Lincoln Navigator had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 68 vehicle campaigns for model years 1998–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, U554 leads with 37. Then come the U326 (13), UN173 (11), U718 (7) and U228 (3), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Lincoln Navigator recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 05V-388, 98V-312, 05V-017, 08V-057, 22V-648, 25V-091, 18V-392, 25V-628 and 3 more. Park-outside advisories came with 25V-628 and 22V-346. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which Navigator generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the UN173 is 1998–2002 and the U228 2003–2006. U326 spans 2007–2017, U554 2018–2024 and U718 2025–2026. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (S is 2025).

What fuel economy does the Lincoln Navigator get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2025–2026 U718 at 17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 12–13 mpg for the 1998–2002 UN173 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Lincoln Navigator compare with the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Tahoe on recalls?

For 2025–2026 models the Navigator has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Cadillac Escalade has 4, the Chevrolet Tahoe 3. Complaints run 12, 80 and 75 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Lincoln Navigator have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2025 Navigator 5 stars overall. One version, 4WD, is rated.

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