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ProblemsByVin File / 2020-LINCOLN-NAUTILUS NHTSA data synced 3 days ago
2020 · Lincoln

Lincoln Nautilus problems

Light NHTSA footprint — 28 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.

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Reliability score
8.2 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

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Critical
1
Severe
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Moderate
Should you avoid this 2020 Nautilus?
Generally reliable

Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

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Top trouble spots 2 categories with 3+ complaints

powertrain
11 reports · fails ~75,000 mi · avg $2,500
severe
wheels
3 reports · avg $400
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2020 Nautilus's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2020 Nautilus?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
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What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2020 Nautilus · fuel system
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle jerked upon starting and shifting to drive(D) intermittently. The contact stated that the failure initially occurred after refueling the vehicle, but the failure had become…
12/30/2025 · at 85,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11707732.0
2020 Nautilus · lighting
High mount brake light failure (2nd occurrence) November 2023 at 13,400 miles. Vehicle was repaired under warranty. This occurrence appears to be a repeated faulty part. Failure of high mount brake light creates rear collision potential in low visibility scenarios. The part…
12/25/2023 · NHTSA ODI #11561745.0
2020 Nautilus · wheels
Manual Park--release cable escaped its locking position, locking front wheel brakes ON. The locked brakes resulted in the car being dragged until we noticed the problem and exited the motor home to reinstate the cable into its locking position (to re-seat the metal bead in the…
2020 Nautilus · powertrain
Hard shift stuttering when driving About 30000 miles ago Called Lincoln they said $150 to diagnose it No warning lights
View all 28 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2020 Lincoln Nautilus? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

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At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 20V414000 July 17, 2020

Ford Motor Company, Inc

An air bag that deploys inadvertently increases the risk of a crash. An air bag that does not deploy in the event of a crash increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective flocking tape onto the exposed edge of the 16-way seat cushion frames, and inspect the wire harness for damage, and repair or replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began August 12, 2020. Owners may contact Ford/Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S37.

Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA

RQ Back Over Prevention › Sensing System · opened August 2021

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. RQ21002 on NHTSA →

How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →

Common questions

Is the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus?

On the NHTSA data, the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What's the most common problem on the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 11 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 75,000 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 75,000 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Lincoln Nautilus has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2020 Lincoln Nautilus?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 28 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 3 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Lincoln/Nautilus. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Lincoln. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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