2020 Lincoln Nautilus Problems And Complaints

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Rating7.3

Ranked #11 in 

Midsize SUV
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$41,040 - $63,800
Starting Price 

Users Opinions on 2020 Lincoln Nautilus

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  • AC

    Alexander Toronto Ontario Cana

    05/06/2023

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... my auto pilot 360 engaged, and cruising along at 77 miles an hour. There are no cars or trucks in front of or beside me. Suddenly the brakes jam on, bringing me down to about 37 mph before I can get my foot onto the gas and floor the accelerator to get up to some kind of a safe speed. So far there have been no vehicles really close to the back of me. This is a recipe for disaster. Not only that there’sRead More

    Source: edmunds

  • KA

    Kenny Albert

    13/10/2021

    Rating:

    (2 Out Of 5 stars)

    At low speeds the transmission jerks as if it is a manual transmission driven by a first time driver. Been in for service three times on this same issue. Re programmed each time. Latest recommendation is thaRead More

    Source: edmunds

  • BB

    bob b

    18/12/2019

    Rating:

    (2 Out Of 5 stars)

    My 2020 Nautilus 2.0T AWD Reserve did not come with adaptive suspension even though it clearly says on window sticker that it is standard equipment. Had a 2019 with identical equipment and it had it.

    Source: edmunds

2020 Lincoln Nautilus SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and Which Year to Avoid

4

Recalls

1

Investigations

19

Complaints
Overall Safety Rating
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on August 7, 2024

The Lincoln Nautilus is a stark reminder of the old-gen Lincoln sedans that used to carry all the hip back in the days. The SUV brings in a massive cabin and super-luxurious interior appointments with a price of $42,000. The rivals for the Nautilus include the Genesis GV80, the BMW X5, and the Volvo XC90. Though complaints track record goes, the 2020 Nautilus has been recalled thrice already. It also has one open investigation pending. Let’s see why the SUV was recalled and what complaints the owners have to share.

2020 Lincoln Nautilus Problems

Electrical issues:

  • Instrument panel issues: People have reported the 2020 Nautilus instrument panel to go blank for some time while driving. This issue pops up randomly and causes a lot of distraction. The blacking out also hides various information while driving which can lead to a collision. 
  • Battery issues: Many 2020 Nautilus owners have reported the battery in the SUV draining out while it is completely shut down. People say that the inactivity of a meager two days drains the battery and the SUV has to be jumpstarted to get working again.
  • Erroneous headlight operation: People have reported the SUV flashing the high beams while on automatic mode. This causes distraction for the oncoming vehicles. It also blinds the oncoming drivers momentarily with the high output.
  • Loose headlight seals: Owners have reported the 2020 Nautilus headlight seals to come loose and let water enter the area. This also affects the DRLs and the turn signal operation as well, causing confusion and affecting visibility. 

Mechanical issues:

  • Inconsistent transmission: People have reported the 2020 Nautilus transmission to be very inconsistent when shifting gears. The transmission is said to shift to neutral and rev up the SUV. there have been numerous complaints stating how the SUV struggles to pick pace. The transmission is also reported to give noise when shifted to drive from reverse.

Safety issues:

  • Automatic disablement of driver-assistance features: People have reported the driver-assistance features to get disabled automatically. This causes issues and increases the risk of a crash.
  • Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) issues: The AEB in the Nautilus malfunctions and applies brakes while driving at low speeds. This issue has also cropped up while at highway speeds despite nothing in proximity. 

2020 Lincoln Nautilus Recalls

S. No

Date

NHTSA ID

Issues Noticed

Additional Remarks

Remedy

1.

July 17, 2020

20V414000

Seats

Inadvertent deployment of airbag due to damage in the wiring harness increases the risk of a crash. 

The recall for this issue began on August 12, 2020. The dealers will install protective tape on the exposed wire. 

2.

September 23, 2020

20V575000

Visibility

An intermittent blank image in the rear-view camera affects rearward visibility. The affected units fail to comply with FMVSS Number 111, “Rear Visibility”. 

The recall for this issue began on November 17, 2020. The dealers will replace the rear-view camera. 

3.

January 15, 2021

21V011000

Powertrain

Inadequately lubricated in the rear drive unit might seize the rear drive axle. This causes a loss of drive and increases the risk of a crash. 

The recall for this issue began on March 12, 2021. The dealers will lubricate the drive axle. 

Should you buy the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus?

The 2020 Lincoln Nautilus is a very impressive vehicle that exudes American luxury. The SUV gets a lot of eyeballs and the owners are very satisfied with the overall reliability. The complainants do have some niggles with the transmission but the response is satisfactory. If you want to go for a used 2020 Lincoln Nautilus, keep an eye on the recalls history and see for the commonly reported problems. 

  • Complaints
  • Recalls
  • Investigations
  • Manufacturer Communications

September 22, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11689032

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11689032

Incident Date:
September 22, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
2LMPJ8K91LB

Consumer Location:
OLD FORGE, PA

Summary
Transmission bucking and slow under 40 mph. brought to dealers attention. Car only 5 years old. Diagnost...

August 30, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11684050

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11684050

Incident Date:
August 30, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
2LMPJ6J94LB

Consumer Location:
VENUS, FL

Summary
Car jerks/ shifts hard up to 35 miles per hour.

August 28, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11683754

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11683754

Incident Date:
August 28, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
2LMPJ8K90LB

Consumer Location:
VANCOUVER, WA

Summary
2/4/25 purchased 2020 Nautilus from Dick Hannah Jeep Vancouver, WA 3/12/25 I noticed some issues develop...

May 5, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11659120

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11659120

Incident Date:
May 5, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
2LMPJ6J9XLB

Consumer Location:
TUPELO, MS

Summary
When taking my car in for diagnostics, I was informed of a transmission failure. My VIN was not included ...

April 14, 2025, NHTSA ID Number: 11654454

Components: 100000 POWER TRAIN

NHTSA ID Number:
11654454

Incident Date:
April 14, 2025

Vehicle Identification Number:
2LMPJ6K9XLB

Consumer Location:
JACKSONVILLE, FL

Summary
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds in stop-an...

85/100Best

Quality & Reliability

Assesses the extent of issues, glitches, and design imperfections encountered by...

81/100Best

Driving Experience

Owners' assessments regarding the vehicle's design, performance, comfort, functi...

76/100Best

Resale

CARHP's projection of depreciation, which estimates the probable decrease in the...

79/100Best

Dealership Experience

Owners' interactions with dealerships associated with this brand, encompassing b...

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