Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, wheels and tires, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Lincoln Nautilus: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2020's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
High-mount brake light failure
8,000–13,400 miles
Transmission jerking and failure
75,000–94,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Jerking, stuttering, and hard shifts at low speed lead these reports, usually below 35 to 45 mph, in stop-and-go traffic, or when pulling away from a light. Some drivers describe a slow, humming takeoff that leaves them exposed to rear-end hits. Most say no warning light or code appears. Dealer software updates and resets often fail to fix it. Several cases end in a diagnosis of transmission failure, often between 75,000 and 94,000 miles, and one involves a full loss of drive on the highway. One crash report describes the SUV surging forward instead of reversing.
Wheel fasteners are the main concern. One crash report with an injury describes a wheel loosening and coming off because of broken or missing wheel studs. Another reports that all 20 lug nuts swelled until a tire rotation could not be finished, which also makes a roadside tire change impossible. A separate complaint involves flat towing behind a motor home, where the manual park release cable slipped out of position, locked the front brakes, and dragged the wheels with heavy smoke.
Starting trouble is the serious complaint here. The start button flashes instead of staying lit, the car will not start without repeated attempts, and in one case the engine stalled at a green light and would not restart. Service visits did not fix it for good. A second report covers a dead third brake light, the same failure described under exterior lighting. Only 2 complaints are on file, so no mileage pattern is visible.
Cruise control fails to hold the set speed on downhill grades, letting the SUV climb from 55 to 70-75 mph. A dealer repair did not cure it in that case. A separate report describes traction control cutting in while merging onto the interstate on dry pavement, with no warning light and no actual loss of grip. It lets go once the driver lifts off the accelerator. Both problems can catch a driver off guard at highway speed.
High-mount brake light failure is the only issue reported, and it repeats. The third brake light went out at 8,000 miles and again at 13,400 miles, with both repairs covered by warranty. No dashboard warning appears, so the failure can go unnoticed for a long time. A dead third brake light raises the chance of being rear-ended, especially in poor visibility. Expect the replacement lamp to fail as well.
Backup camera faults show up as a distorted image while reversing in the rain or a camera that stops working entirely. A dealer suggested a leak could explain the rain-related distortion, but that car was never diagnosed. The second report is mostly about repair delays: the dealer repeatedly said the camera part was unavailable, leaving the owner without a working camera. Reported mileages range from about 2,000 to 40,009, so there is no clear onset pattern.
Excerpts from complaints Nautilus owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I bought my 2020 Lincoln nautilus in February 2025 soon after I noticed a jerking from my lower gears,it has 80000 miles.i took it to the dealer I bought it from and they said the transmission is falling and will cost $10,188 to replace. They told me there was no recall and it wasn't covered under any warranty.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2026
Transmission bucking and slow under 40 mph. brought to dealers attention. Car only 5 years old. Diagnostics resulted in internal fault , excessive slippage and torque converter chatter. Told that I could easily breakdown at any time if transmission not replaced.!!!! No warnings or messages. Occurring approx 2 months. Noted a class action investigation into this issue on 2020 Nautilus !
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
3rd brake light not working , they have had this issue over several years such as recall on 2025 (25C39) burnt diode in the LED Driver Modules and may cause other lighting failures
Filed with NHTSA, April 2026
When accelerating onto the interstate the traction control engages without a warning light. It occurs on dry pavement. The acceleration is not excessive and there is no loss of traction. The traction control disengages when the accelerator pedal is released.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2022
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 Nautilus years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the second model year of the Nautilus's first generation (2019–2023).
Lincoln updated the Nautilus for 2021, so a 2020 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2021 (not on a 2020)
Recall repairs are free at any Lincoln dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
Risk: If the rear drive unit seizes, there may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level. Axles found to be below the minimum lubricant fill level will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S02.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.
Risk: Missing or loose bolts on the start stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission fluid leak and may progress to a loss of transmission function. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S49.
Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which can result in either inadvertent deployment of the air bag or nondeployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.
Cars shoppers compare with the Lincoln Nautilus, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
