Brakes failed while driving. I could not stop. Thank goodness I didn’t run anyone over. First time it happened I had it towed to the dealership- they said they fixed the problem. These are the warnings I got during the loss of my brakes the 2nd time: Antilock Brake Fault Yesterday at 8:22 PM Anti-lock Brake System Fault Yesterday at 8:22 PM Pre-Collision Assist Not Available Yesterday at 8:22 PM Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power Yesterday at 8:22 PM Electronic Parking Brake Yesterday at 8:22 PM Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced. There was no warning that this would happen. Second time was very terrifying as I was on the beltway.
Lincoln Navigator brake failure problems
25 of the 1,361 owner complaints about the Lincoln Navigator describe brake failure, most of them for the 2007 model year.
- owner complaints
- 25
- worst model year
- 2007
- typical mileage
- 60,000
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20251
- 20171
- 20162
- 20083
- 20075
- 20062
- 20051
- 20041
- 20031
- 20013
- 20002
- 19992
- 19981
Often reported together
Loss of power 3Stalling 2Overheating 2Engine failure 2Grinding brakes 2Check engine light 1
What owners say
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal due to traffic ahead; however, the brake pedal went to the floorboard. The contact stated he was forced to swerve into the next lane to avoid a crash. The contact stated that the "Check Brakes" warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and advised the contact that the brake master cylinder was leaking and needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V150000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and informed to take the vehicle to a local dealer. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake master cylinder needed to be replaced; however, the contact was informed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
Airbags for now completely so does the air compressor cars without airbags went out brakes went out radiator went out completely the car is falling apart
I was driving down the road and the check brakes light came on simultaneously with a low brake fluid warning. I went to push the brakes and the pedal went all the way to the floor. Luckily, I was driving slow enough in a low traffic area that I was able to bring the vehicle safely to a stop. There were no signs of a brake fluid leak and the vehicle received regular service (oil, fluids, tire rotation etc.) less than a month prior at a ford dealership. We had the vehicle towed to the same ford dealership where we paid over $900 for a new master cylinder and brake booster. The $900 bill hurt, but this could have been much worse. Through additional research, this appears to be a common problem among f-150s and expeditions (same parts) and somebody is going to get killed if the problem is not addressed.
While driving the low brake fluid light illuminated and check brake fluid warning alerted me, as I was looking for a place to pull over the brake pedal went to the floor board and no brakes were present. I had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. After stopping I opened the hood to check the brake fluid level and it was completely empty. No visible signs of a leak under vehicle or inside engine bay. It appears to be a total failure of the master cylinder and brake booster as noted in hundreds of other complaints on this ford lincoln brake system.
There wasnt a recall on my airbags per my VIN number however just yesterdaymy vehicle was totaled due to brake failure which upon impact only the passenger side airbag deployed while the driver side didnt. There was no passenger...
Vehicle had complete brake failure 5 times during normal operations. Vehicle was serviced by ford dealership and recommended brake repairs and/or unable to reproduce. Upon last time, technician found a ford service bulletin that covered other similar models and years having exact same problem. They replaced the traction control module, but stated that it was a voluntary replacement. Losing brakes on a 6,000 pound car going 30mph is a recipe for serious death or injury. This component should be recalled. The car has full paperwork from previous brake repairs, previous request for brake repairs and the current replacement of the traction control module black box. There are other car owners online that have experienced the same issue including several that won lemon law lawsuits. Lincoln refuses to acknowledge the faulty component and states that the replacement was customer requested and voluntary with no concern that their vehicle loses brakes. Discussions with the lincoln "concierge" customer service are recorded. Failures happened when car was traveling 30mph and braking on a downhill slope. Technician suggested that during such a brake failure to turn off the traction control which is an unreasonable request. The company does not seem to be taking the loss of brakes that could result in death or injury seriously.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 lincoln navigator. The contact stated at low speeds the vehicle brake pedal went to the floorboard and failed to respond. In addition, the traction control and the maintenance warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated after a few minutes, the brake pedal functioned normally and after restarting the vehicle, it operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 lincoln navigator. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine fail safe mode warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. Also, the steering wheel seized and the brakes failed. The vehicle restarted immediately. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 lincoln navigator. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle overheated and exhibited numerous other mechanical issues. The contact stated that the tires were bald, the air bag light illuminated, and the brakes failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the brakes, tires, and parts of the engine needed to be repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: electric: control module
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
- Risk
- An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 26, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on December 3, 2025.
Recall number 25V823000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: electric: control module: software
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
- Risk
- An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The EBB module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S77.
Recall number 25V488000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The front brake lines may contact the engine air cleaner outlet pipe and become damaged, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak and reduced brake function.
- Risk
- A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the front brake line and replace the brake line or air cleaner outlet pipe, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S47.
Recall number 25V314000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
- Risk
- A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S37. This recall is an expansion of the federal safety agency recall number 22V‑150.
Recall number 25V236000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and 2016-2018 F-150 vehicles equipped with 3.5L Ecoboost engines. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
- Risk
- A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. These conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter notifying customers of the safety defect were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed April 29, 2022. This recall is an expansion of the federal safety agency recall number 20V‑332. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S11.
Recall number 22V150000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. These vehicles may have a missing or partially installed retainer clip that holds the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal arm.
- Risk
- Increased brake stopping distance can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect these vehicles to see if the retainer clip was installed, and repair, if necessary.
Recall number 98V296000 · Recall details
Questions about the Lincoln Navigator brake failure
Which Lincoln Navigator years have brake failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2007 (5 complaints), 2001 (3 complaints) and 2008 (3 complaints).
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