Most common 2020 Lincoln Nautilus problems
Share of the 34 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lincoln Nautilus complaints by model year
Best Nautilus years: 2021, 2022. Years to avoid: 2025, 2024. Compare all years →
2020 Lincoln Nautilus recalls (5)
Back over prevention › Software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and…
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level.
Back over prevention › Sensing system › Camera
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Edge, Transit Connect and Lincoln MKX and 2020 Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing or loose bolts.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the start/stop accumulator, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
Ford Motor Company, Inc. (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019-2020 Nautilus vehicles equipped with 16-way electric tilt seats. The seat cushion frame edge may contact the wire harness when the seat occupant uses the tilt function of the seat, potentially damaging one or more wires within the harness, which…
Remedy: 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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus:
Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility.
What 2020 Lincoln Nautilus owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
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 consistent and was occurring erratically. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving and accelerating between 35-40 MPH, the vehicle jerked. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had added a fuel additive to the vehicle, and the failure was reduced temporarily. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The dealer was contacted and advised that there would be a charge for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
MILEAGE: 487,615 27TAWD On [redacted] at [redacted]., the weather was wet from rain. I pushed the reverse button and the car accelerated quickly forward with engine revving. The car kept moving forward while the brake pedal was not responsive for at least 10 times as the car drove through my fence and damaged my neighbor's garage. The car finally stopped when it hit the garage. Estimate for repairs on vehicle $1485.25. Estimate for damage to wooden fence $2560, neighbor's garage $8000. Engine code scan report on Oct 10, 2025 engine code U3003-16 Battery Voltage Below Threshold. EEC test at dealer on Oct 14, 2025: "no codes in any systems..." Vehicle damage noted. No indicated warning lamps
Engine & cooling
My car won't start when I press the brake and hit the start button, which then flashes green instead of staying green. I have to go through the same steps several times before it will turn on. The menu goes through the entire functions of the engine. For me, I never know if the engine will start or I will be stranded. I thought after two visits to service, it was fixed. Today, it stalled at a green light, and when I powered off and powered back on, the start button started the flashing light, the function menu again. My car wouldn't start and there was a long line behind me. I bought my car in Feb 2021 and only have 17,500 miles because I'm afraid of being stranded. I paid $52,000 cash for this car and expect that when I turn it on, I'll be able to drive to my destination without problem. This will be the THIRD TIME MY CAR IS IN SERVICE. …
Hennessey Lincoln in Atlanta repaired my car in June 2026. My Torque converter needed to be replaced. My car was there over 20 days. Two weeks after getting it back from shop it started jerking and smoking. It needed another torque converter replacement. Two weeks after getting this car back it did the same thing again. I contacted Ford Warranty they did not help. Lincoln iin Michigan did not attempt to help. I couldn't even get the car in the shop for repair because of lack of employees that work on transmissions and no loaner cars.
Brakes
MILEAGE: 487,615 27TAWD On [redacted] at [redacted]., the weather was wet from rain. I pushed the reverse button and the car accelerated quickly forward with engine revving. The car kept moving forward while the brake pedal was not responsive for at least 10 times as the car drove through my fence and damaged my neighbor's garage. The car finally stopped when it hit the garage. Estimate for repairs on vehicle $1485.25. Estimate for damage to wooden fence $2560, neighbor's garage $8000. Engine code scan report on Oct 10, 2025 engine code U3003-16 Battery Voltage Below Threshold. EEC test at dealer on Oct 14, 2025: "no codes in any systems..." Vehicle damage noted. No indicated warning lamps
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 pocket, locking it in the override position). Dragging the locked wheels creates a fire and traffic hazard with large plumes of blue smoke, potential towed-vehicle fish-tail out of control affecting nearby/adjacent traffic lanes. This issue was confirmed by my long-time mechanic (Deckard Pham) as a design deficiency that could fail due to road vibrations, that it was intended for limited use for emergency towing. This incident has occurred four times over the past year; twice, at low speed (so tire damage was minimal). …
2020 Lincoln Nautilus engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 26 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 25 / 22 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Nautilus to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus?
The transmission & drivetrain — 17 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2020 Lincoln Nautilus, the most recent from June 27, 2025 (software). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lincoln Nautilus?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025 and 2024. See the full Lincoln Nautilus years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Lincoln Nautilus problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.