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1997 Lincoln Navigator problems

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
78

The worst 1997 Lincoln Navigator problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

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Recalls 2

Trailer hitchesReported March 7, 2000 · 565,800 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly to the frame attaching bolts could lose the clamp load.
Risk
The trailer hitch could then separate from the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the trailer hitch mounting bolts and nut plates.

Recall number 00V073000 · Recall details

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studsReported May 13, 1998 · 1,520,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.
Risk
This can result in the loosening of lug nuts, stud fatigue failure, and the potential for a wheel separation from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in may 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available. This interim procedure can be completed by owners or their dealers. It specifies that the lug nut torque must be verified to be 100 lbs. Then the lug nuts need to be tightened an additional 1/8 to 1/4 turn more. There will be a second owner notification, which is expected to begin july 20, 1998, under which dealers will inspect the wheel studs and replace the wheel lug nuts.

Recall number 98V095000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 1997 Lincoln Navigator

Defect investigations

Spark plug ejection from cylinder headOpened September 22, 2005, closed January 4, 2006

On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi?s analysis showed, it is possible for a spark plug to detach from the engine cylinder threads in the subject vehicles.however, odi?s analysis of 474 complaints describing such incidents found only a very few alleged any safety-related consequences.none of these showed any evidence of a serious safety consequence.given the large population and relatively long exposure time of the subject vehicles, the complaint analysis indicates that the risk to motor vehicle safety from the alleged defect is very low.in view of the foregoing, it is unlikely that the federal safety agency would issue an order for the notification and remedy of the alleged defect at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency?s safety mission, the petition is denied.

DP05005

Factory installed towing hitch separatioOpened September 27, 1999, closed March 8, 2000

This investigation was opened on september 27, 1999 based on five consumer reports alleging that some of the eight hitch mounting bolts either became loose or came completely out of its retaining plate.one of the complaints indicated that while towig a trailer the hitch actually separated from the frame on the passenger's side of the vehicle when the four mounting bolts on that side came completely out. This allowed the hitch and trailer to contact the road surface.in its response to the agency, ford provided information regarding nine additional reports of loose or missing bolts, two of those alleging separation of the hitch on one side.there were no reports of vehicle crshes, injuries, or a complete separation of a hitch assembly.scope:1997 throurgh 2000 model year expeditions and 1998 through 2000 model year navigators built at michigan truch assemblly plant from july 22,1 996 through december 9, 1999.defect: loss of clamping load of hitch attachment bolts.remedy:the hitch mounting bolts and nut plates will be replace with higher strength bolts and plates.additionally , the torque value for the mounting bolts will be increased and an adhesive will be added to the bolts.

PE99060

Tie rod end failuresOpened April 21, 1998, closed July 21, 1998

There is no summary currently available

PE98024

Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Lincoln Navigator 78

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 78 bulletins for the 1997 Lincoln Navigator

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Questions about the 1997 Lincoln Navigator

Is the 1997 Lincoln Navigator reliable?

Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 1997 Lincoln Navigator.

What is the most common problem with the 1997 Lincoln Navigator?

There are not enough complaints to tell.

How many recalls does the 1997 Lincoln Navigator have?

2 recalls, covering trailer hitches and wheels.

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