Lincoln Nautilus Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Every Lincoln Nautilus model year (20192026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Lincoln Nautilus Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2019

5 recalls · 85 complaints

Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 100

#2 WORST
2020

4 recalls · 25 complaints

Top issue: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 37

#3 WORST
2024

6 recalls · 14 complaints

1 reported injury

Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES

Problem score: 34

Best Lincoln Nautilus Years to Buy

#1 BEST
2026

0 recalls · 1 complaint

Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Problem score: 1

#2 BEST
2022

2 recalls · 4 complaints

Main area: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 10

#3 BEST
2023

3 recalls · 6 complaints

Main area: SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Problem score: 15

Found the right year? Verify that specific Nautilus with a free VIN report.

Lincoln Nautilus — Year-by-Year Problem Report

YearRecallsComplaintsProblem ScoreVerdict
202601
1
Excellent
202558
23
Good
2024614
34
Good
202336
15
Good
202224
10
Good
2021215
21
Good
2020425
37
Caution
2019585
100
Avoid

Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.

Lincoln Nautilus Shopping Guide by Era

2018–Present

Best: 2026

Recent Nautilus models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. Lower problem scores typically appear in this era. The 2026 stands out with just 1 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Nautilus should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus if possible. It has 5 recalls, 85 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. The overall problem score is 100 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Nautilus to buy?+

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 1. It has only 0 recalls and 1 complaint on record with NHTSA.

Which Nautilus has the fewest problems?+

The 2026, 2022, 2023 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Lincoln Nautilus Research

Check a Specific Lincoln Nautilus VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

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