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Lincoln Navigator Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Lincoln Navigator car check

Is the Lincoln Navigator reliable? We analysed 2,452 real MOT tests across 271 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,452 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.1%
Typical Mileage
78,614mi
Annual Mileage
3,599mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Lincoln Navigator is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lincoln Navigator.

Lincoln Navigator Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Lincoln Navigator. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Lincoln Navigator MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Lincoln Navigator to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

72.7%
2010
83.5%
2008
76.6%
2007
82.8%
2006
79.2%
2005
73.6%
2004
78.4%
2003
80.4%
2002
71.5%
2001
67.3%
2000
67.5%
1999
74.9%
1998

Lincoln Navigator Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Lincoln Navigator fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

fog lamp not working 61
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 51
Brake pipe excessively corroded 50
parking brake recording little or no effort 41
suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint 39
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 37
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 30
Direction indicator incorrect colour 28
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 27
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 26

Lincoln Navigator Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Lincoln Navigator owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,435 mi/yr
Typical
3,599 mi/yr
Average
5,018 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,017 mi/yr

Lincoln Navigator MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lincoln Navigator year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 55 72.7% 65,930 81,633 106,202
2008 97 83.5% 55,803 76,556 109,345
2007 137 76.6% 56,216 81,796 98,584
2006 116 82.8% 31,730 53,580 79,087
2005 274 79.2% 57,246 83,965 111,813
2004 554 73.6% 50,965 73,414 95,624
2003 324 78.4% 48,557 70,012 103,932
2002 102 80.4% 57,071 70,580 95,722
2001 200 71.5% 57,401 84,107 122,748
2000 156 67.3% 73,396 97,517 116,556
1999 117 67.5% 69,816 83,960 101,283
1998 195 74.9% 80,248 100,126 123,506

How Long Does a Lincoln Navigator Last?

Based on 271 Lincoln Navigator vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.2 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Lincoln Navigator Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Lincoln Navigator MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
78,614 mi
75th Percentile
107,656 mi
95th Percentile
156,408 mi
Max Recorded
926,273 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Lincoln Navigator

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2008

83.5% MOT pass rate from 97 tests

Year to avoid
2000

67.3% MOT pass rate from 156 tests

The best year to buy a used Lincoln Navigator is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.5% across 97 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Lincoln Navigator Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Lincoln Navigator THIS CAR 76.1% 2,452 78,614 mi 28 yrs
Lincoln Town Car Auto 72.1% 7,129 123,648 mi 31 yrs
Lincoln Towncar 69.4% 3,290 128,422 mi 34 yrs
Lincoln Town Car 73.7% 2,774 113,266 mi 38 yrs
Humber S. Snipe Series Ii-v 83.9% 757 56,669 mi 66 yrs

Compared to the Lincoln Town Car Auto (72.1% pass rate) and the Lincoln Towncar (69.4% pass rate), the Lincoln Navigator outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Lincoln Navigator?

The Lincoln Navigator has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.1% across 2,452 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Lincoln Navigator are fog lamp not working (61 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (51), and brake pipe excessively corroded (50). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Lincoln Navigator owner drives around 3,599 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Lincoln Navigator models stay on UK roads for around 28 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Lincoln Navigator — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Lincoln Navigator reliable?
Based on 2,452 MOT tests, the Lincoln Navigator has a 76.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Lincoln Navigator?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Lincoln Navigator do per year?
The typical Lincoln Navigator does around 3,599 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Lincoln Navigator last?
Most Lincoln Navigator models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 271 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Lincoln Navigator?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Lincoln Navigator?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Lincoln Navigator is 2008 with a 83.5% pass rate across 97 tests.