NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2025 Lincoln Nautilus Safety Ratings
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus scores 89 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Strong), with a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 6 recalls, and 20 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, despite its NHTSA Safety Index of 89/100, which places it firmly in the Strong band, is affected by six recall campaigns. All three key crash-avoidance technologies are equipped as standard on this model. These recalls temper an otherwise impressive safety profile, based on the ratings NHTSA published.
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus received a five-star overall crash-test rating and a NHTSA Safety Index of 89/100 based on NHTSA data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 153 SUVs from 2025 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus ranks 77 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- new and teen drivers who want standard crash-avoidance tech
- urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
| NHTSA Safety Index | 89 / 100 (Strong) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 5 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 5 / 5 / 4 stars |
| Rollover risk | 16.9% |
| Recalls on file | 6 |
| Owner complaints | 20 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 77 of 153 SUVs tested for 2025 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus?
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus arrives as a first-year entry in the MotorCaliber index with no prior-year figure to benchmark against, so the 89/100 Strong rating stands on its own merits. That score is built on a crash-protection sub-score of 66 out of a possible 70, which reflects the clean five-star sweep across overall, frontal, and side categories from NHTSA. The avoidance-tech sub-score is a perfect 10 out of 10, driven by forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and electronic stability control all being standard equipment rather than optional add-ons. The softer number is the defect record sub-score of 13.25 out of 20, a direct consequence of six active recall campaigns in a vehicle that has been on the market for only one model year. Those campaigns span a wide range of systems, from back-over prevention software shared with other Lincoln and Ford nameplates, to EGR valve emissions hardware, to LED lighting modules and electrical system concerns. The concentration of owner complaints in the very safety-tech systems that boosted the avoidance-tech sub-score, specifically lane departure and forward collision avoidance, is a tension worth noting. The structural crash performance is among the strongest in the MotorCaliber dataset, but the defect record and complaint pattern mean this year deserves active monitoring.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus perform in crash tests?
NHTSA awarded the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus five stars overall, five stars for frontal protection, and five stars for side protection. Rollover is the relative weak point at four out of five stars, with a measured rollover risk of 17 percent and a dynamic tip-test result of No Tip. No crash-test category is unrated.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 20363
Index breakdown
NCAP // CRASH IMAGESCrash-test images
Crash-test images are US federal government works (NHTSA / NCAP), public domain.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus have any recalls?
Yes, six recall campaigns cover this model year. Components involved include back-over prevention software, the EGR valve exhaust emission control system, LED lighting control modules, power window devices and controls linked to an incorrect prior repair under recall 24V953, and the broader electrical system. No park-outside or do-not-drive directive appears in the data provided, but owners should verify remedy status by VIN.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE26V165000
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image and certain driver assistance features, can reduce the driver’s ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The Image Processing Module A software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2025 Aviator, 2025 Explorer, 2025 Nautilus notified owners on 4/13/2026. Phase 2 will include 2025 Navigator will notify owners on or about 4/20/2026. Phase 3 will include 2022-2024 Navigator will notify owners on or about 6/8/
Reported 2026-03-19
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)26V122000
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
Reported 2026-03-03
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE25V519000
Risk: Exterior lighting failure can reduce visibility for the driver and other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the LED Driver Modules, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C39.
Reported 2025-08-08
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS25V518000
Risk: A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the driver door module (DDM) and the passenger door module (PDM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C36.
Reported 2025-08-08
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25V343000
Risk: An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Reported 2025-05-23
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS24V953000
Risk: A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the driver door module (DDM) and the passenger door module (PDM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C43.
Reported 2024-12-20
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus?
Twenty owner complaints have been reported to NHTSA for this model year, all unverified allegations. The most frequently alleged problem areas are lane departure systems (6 reports), forward collision avoidance (5 reports), and service brakes (3 reports). One alleged crash and one alleged injury appear in the filed reports.
20 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus?
Before purchasing a used 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, prospective owners should confirm with a franchised dealer that all six recall campaigns have been completed and documented, as at least one addresses a correction to a prior incorrect repair. All six of these recalls are recent.
- The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus is the first model year with a NHTSA Safety Index on file, scoring 89/100 in the Strong band with no prior-year comparison available.
- Six recall campaigns are tied to this specific model year, covering back-over prevention software, EGR valve hardware, LED lighting control modules, power window controls, and the electrical system.
- Owner-reported complaints to NHTSA disproportionately target the lane departure and forward collision avoidance systems, the same technologies that earned a perfect avoidance-tech sub-score of 10/10, suggesting real-world performance questions that the sub-score alone does not capture.
- The rollover rating of four out of five stars, with a 17 percent rollover risk and a No Tip result on the dynamic test, is the only NHTSA crash-test category where the 2025 Nautilus fell short of the maximum score.
RANKINGSWhere the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus places
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2025 Lincoln Nautilus safety questions
Was the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 89 out of 100, placing it in the Strong band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall, 5 out of 5 stars for frontal, 5 out of 5 stars for side, and 4 out of 5 stars for rollover. Its measured rollover risk is 16.9%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 6 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 20 owner complaints are on file for the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Nautilus years
Rivals in SUV (2025)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Lexus GX 550 | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2025 Lexus Rz 300e | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2025 Tesla Model X | 96/100 | not rated | 3 |
| 2025 Acura ADX | 96/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2025 Buick Envision | 96/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 20363), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Lincoln Nautilus 2025.
- SCORE The NHTSA Safety Index (0-100) weights crash protection, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the defect record. Full formula on the methodology page. It ranks 77 of 153 in the SUV class for 2025.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.