NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2019 Lincoln Navigator Safety Ratings
The 2019 Lincoln Navigator scores 79 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Average), with a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 10 recalls, and 67 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2019 Lincoln Navigator achieves a NHTSA Safety Index of 79/100, landing in the Average safety band. While the vehicle demonstrates strong crash-test performance, a record of 10 recalls and the optional status of key crash-avoidance technologies prevent a higher overall safety designation.
The 2019 Lincoln Navigator holds a NHTSA Safety Index of 79 out of 100 and an NHTSA overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars, according to NHTSA data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 93 SUVs from 2019 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2019 Lincoln Navigator ranks 67 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
| NHTSA Safety Index | 79 / 100 (Average) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 5 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 5 / 5 / 4 stars |
| Rollover risk | 19.3% |
| Recalls on file | 10 |
| Owner complaints | 67 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 67 of 93 SUVs tested for 2019 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2019 Lincoln Navigator?
A clear internal tension shapes the 2019 Lincoln Navigator's Safety Index of 79/100, placing it in the Average band. Its crash-protection sub-score stands at a genuinely strong 66 out of 70, reflecting the NHTSA 5-star overall, frontal, and side ratings. This represents the strongest aspect of the vehicle's safety profile for this model year. However, the defect-record sub-score of 7.25 out of 20 significantly drags down the overall index. Ten recalls across a single model year is a meaningful number. The presence of two distinct seat belt pretensioner campaigns, one filed in 2025 and one in 2026, indicates that recall activity for this 2019 model year has continued well past its original sale period. The 67 unverified owner complaints, citing powertrain and seat belts as the top two alleged problem areas, align closely with these active recall categories. The avoidance-tech sub-score of 6 out of 10 further contributes to the vehicle's average standing. Both forward collision warning and lane departure warning were offered only as options for this model year, meaning not every 2019 Navigator on the road is equipped with these safety features. No prior-year Safety Index is on file for comparison.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2019 Lincoln Navigator perform in crash tests?
The 2019 Lincoln Navigator achieved a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, reflecting strong performance in core crashworthiness evaluations. This full-size SUV earned perfect 5-star scores in both frontal and side impact crash tests. Its rollover resistance rating, however, stands at 4 out of 5 stars, with NHTSA reporting a 19-percent rollover risk probability. The Navigator did complete the dynamic tip-test without tipping.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 13313
Index breakdown
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2019 Lincoln Navigator have any recalls?
Yes, 10 recall campaigns cover this model year. Active component areas include the automatic transmission, the instrument cluster and panel, and two separate seat belt pretensioner campaigns affecting the driver position. A tire and wheel label campaign also applies. Shoppers should verify remedy completion for every open campaign, particularly the two seat belt pretensioner recalls, by running the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup tool.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION26V402000
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th
Reported 2026-06-24
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL26V372000
Risk: A blank instrument cluster that fails to display critical safety information, such as vehicle speed or safety system warnings, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C27. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 6, 2026.
Reported 2026-06-09
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER26V344000
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous
Reported 2026-05-27
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER25V197000
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.
Reported 2025-05-23
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS24V852000
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Reported 2024-11-08
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER24V099000
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.
Reported 2024-02-09
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA23V598000
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, and update the software and wiring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023 to Lincoln owners. Ford vehicle owners notification letters were mailed March 4, 2024. Ford remedy parts are anticipated 2nd Quarter 2024. Ford's number for this recall is 23S48.
Reported 2023-08-25
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL23V420000
Risk: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.
Reported 2023-06-09
SUSPENSION:REAR19V773000
Risk: A disconnected toe link can cause a sudden change to vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the rear toe link fasteners, check and adjust the rear toe alignment, and inspect the rear tires for abnormal tire wear, replacing them if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S36.
Reported 2019-10-28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL19V076000
Risk: A blank instrument cluster will not show important information like vehicle speed, fuel or temperature level, or safety system warnings. Driving with an inoperative cluster can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC), free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C03.
Reported 2019-02-11
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2019 Lincoln Navigator?
Owners have filed 67 unverified complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported alleged problem areas are the power train (19 reports), seat belts (15), engine (11), and electrical system (10). These are unverified consumer allegations and have not been established as defects by NHTSA.
67 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2019 Lincoln Navigator?
The 2019 Lincoln Navigator was subject to three safety recalls, two involving seat belt pretensioners and one for the transmission, making recall clearance a primary consideration for prospective buyers. Shoppers should run the vehicle's VIN through NHTSA's free recall lookup to confirm these critical safety actions have been completed. Documentation from the selling party is advisable to verify all recall repairs.
- Two separate seat belt pretensioner recall campaigns, one issued in 2025 and one in 2026, specifically target 2019 Navigator vehicles and remain among the most safety-critical open items to verify by VIN.
- The 2019 Navigator's rollover rating is 4 out of 5 stars with a 19-percent rollover risk probability, the one area where NHTSA scoring fell short of the otherwise perfect frontal and side results.
- Forward collision warning and lane departure warning were optional, not standard, on this model year, meaning the avoidance-tech sub-score of 6 out of 10 applies only to units that were optioned with those systems.
- A transmission recall covering 2018 through 2021 Navigator vehicles was issued in 2026, meaning this 2019 model year is included and buyers of used examples should confirm whether the remedy has been completed.
RANKINGSWhere the 2019 Lincoln Navigator places
The 2019 Lincoln Navigator qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2019 Lincoln Navigator safety questions
Was the 2019 Lincoln Navigator crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2019 Lincoln Navigator, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 79 out of 100, placing it in the Average band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2019 Lincoln Navigator crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2019 Lincoln Navigator 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 19.3%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2019 Lincoln Navigator have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 10 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2019 Lincoln Navigator. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Lincoln Navigator?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 67 owner complaints are on file for the 2019 Lincoln Navigator. 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 Navigator years
Rivals in SUV (2019)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Tesla Model X 60d | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2019 Tesla Model X 75d | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2019 Tesla Model X 90d | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2019 Tesla Model X P100d | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2019 Tesla Model X P90d | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2019 Nissan Murano | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 1 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 13313), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Lincoln Navigator 2019.
- 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 67 of 93 in the SUV class for 2019.
- 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.