2023 Lincoln Nautilus reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus over 4 years — 2 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Nautilus years here — over the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Back-over prevention, software, Rear shock absorber, and Tether anchor.

2019 Lincoln Nautilus — Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (3 of 7), then Back-over prevention (1) and Engine (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.

Next to 2022 and 2024

The 2022 Nautilus has 13 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2024 has 22 complaints, 7 per year. The 2023 has more complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2024.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2023 Lincoln Nautilus. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-05-09 · NHTSA campaign 25V315000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.

Remedy The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

Recall Rear shock absorber 2023-06-23 · NHTSA campaign 23V439000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The rear shock absorbers may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in damage to the rear brake hose, rear axle half shaft, wheel speed sensor, and/or stabilizer bar end links.

Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the rear shocks, rear brake hoses, rear wheel speed sensor, and rear half shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S32.

Recall child seat, tether anchor 2023-03-24 · NHTSA campaign 23V198000

Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Edge and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The child seat tether wire welds on the second-row left-side seat back frame may be insufficient, which can reduce the seat's ability to properly restrain a child during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

Remedy Dealers will replace the left-side second-row seat back frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C09.

Complaints by component (7 total)

Electrical system

Back-over prevention

Engine

Forward collision avoidance

Seat belts

Service brakes

Speed control

Steering

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Rear passenger side seat belt buckle sits so low in the seat that it is almost impossible for some passengers (elderly or children) to buckle it. Lincoln and Ford and everyone else do not make a seat belt extender that…"
Seat belts · filed 2026-08-28
"During an emergency break, when applying full force to the break, and the vehicle is traveling at 20 or less mph, the vehicle cannot come to a full stop. Automatic Emergency Braking and pre-collision warning failed to…"
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2025-05-19
"When vehicle is started, intermittently, rear view camera does not come on for approximately 45-60 seconds later. The screen remains completely black then appears to reboot The camera issue happens about once every two…"
Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2025-03-21
"The backup camera freezes to a single still frame and does not show the accurate view of the rear of the vehicle while backing. Since the camera is frozen to a still frame, any moving object that moves to the rear of…"
Unknown or other, Back-over prevention · filed 2024-12-27
"when connected to apple carPlay GPS is very unreliable and sometimes it stops following the car in seconds sending changing directions in seconds which sometimes if am not careful makes my driving very unsafe when…"
Unknown or other · filed 2024-01-02

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2023 Lincoln Nautilus SUV AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2023 Lincoln Nautilus SUV FWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Nautilus all-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic 8-speed	All-wheel drive	20	25	22 MPG	$2950
Nautilus all-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	20	25	22 MPG	$2950
Nautilus all-wheel drive	2.7L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	All-wheel drive	19	25	21 MPG	$3100
Nautilus front-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Front-wheel drive	21	26	23 MPG	$2800
Nautilus front-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic 8-speed	Front-wheel drive	21	26	23 MPG	$2800

Specs and fitment

Nautilus (CD4), 2019–present

Body styles SUV

Oil 5W-30 (2.0L turbo or 2.7L turbo V6) , 5.5 qt capacity

Tire size 245/60R18

Known issues for this generation

Recall 24V635000 covers certain 2021-2022 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles (with Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, and Aviator) equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine whose intake valves may break while driving, which can cause engine failure and loss of drive power; dealers perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as needed. Recall 20V414000 covers certain 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles (with 2016-2018 MKX) equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats where the seat cushion frame edge may contact and damage the wire harness; dealers install protective flocking tape and inspect the harness. Recall 25V442000 covers certain 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles among a large multi-model rearview-camera software campaign; dealers update rearview camera software.

Compare

Previous year 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Next year 2024 Lincoln Nautilus See every Lincoln Nautilus model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus reliable?

What are common problems with a 2023 Lincoln Nautilus?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (3 of 7), then Back-over prevention (1) and Engine (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash.

Is the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 Nautilus has 13 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2024 has 22 complaints, 7 per year. The 2023 has more complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2024.

Has the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus been recalled?

The 2023 Lincoln Nautilus has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus?

Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Lincoln Nautilus get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus is 22.2 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Lincoln Nautilus take?

5W-30 for the 2.0L turbo or 2.7L turbo V6; capacity about 5.5 qt—confirm in the owner’s manual for your engine.

Is there an EcoBoost engine recall on the Nautilus?

Recall 24V635000 covers certain 2021-2022 Nautilus vehicles (with Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, and Aviator) with 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engines whose intake valves may break.