1998 Lincoln Navigator Base
5LMRU27L8WLJ57511
Vehicle history report for the 1998 Lincoln Navigator Base (VIN 5LMRU27L8WLJ57511). Beige, sport utility vehicle [suv]/multipurpose vehicle [mpv], 5.4L 8-cyl 230 hp, gasoline. 149,610 mi reported. Registered in Ga. 6 open safety recalls. Unlock full title, salvage, lien & accident history.
At a glance
Vehicle identity & specifications
What's a 1998 Lincoln Navigator worth?
What comparable 1998 Lincoln Navigator vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.
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What a full report checks for VIN 5LMRU27L8WLJ57511
A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.
Safety recalls 6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
NHTSA Campaign #09E012000 · 07/04/2009VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO
NHTSA Campaign #05V388000 · 07/09/2005TRAILER HITCHES
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.
NHTSA Campaign #00V073000 · 07/03/2000WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
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.
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 VE
NHTSA Campaign #98V095000 · 13/05/1998POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR S…
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.
NHTSA Campaign #97V171000 · 07/10/1997EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA Campaign #98V028000 · 10/02/1998We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Common problems & what to inspect
Based on 209 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Lincoln Navigator, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.
💥 4 involved a crash 🔥 3 involved a fire 🚑 4 reported injuries
🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
🔍 Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
🔍 Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
🔍 Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
🔍 Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
- Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
- Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
- Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
- Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
- Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
- Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Owner complaints 209
Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1998 Lincoln Navigator.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, DEPENDING ON IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON AN INCLINE OR A DECLINE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ROLLAWAY POSSIBILITIES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN…
NHTSA ODI #11084696SUSPENSION,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SCRAPE ACROSS THE GROUND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE ST…
NHTSA ODI #10885556AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT IN PLACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A MILD CONCUSSION AND A WHIPLASH, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED…
Crash · 1 injured · NHTSA ODI #10875996SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,WHEELS
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A RODE A DROVE EVERYDAY SOMETHING BROKE ON MY 98 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR . THE GUYS WHO FLIPPED IT BACK OVER SAID THE SUSPENSION BROKE I SCRAPED A GUARDRAIL THEN STRAIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD HEAD ON WITH A TREE I FLIPPED UP ON MY HEADLIGHTS SPUN LIKE THAT THEN ROLLED 50 MORE FEET DOWN THE ROAD IT KNOCKED ME OUT ON IMPACT BUT A FRIEND WAS …
Crash · 1 injured · NHTSA ODI #10860549SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS
WHEELS ARE NOT SAFE AND VERY DANGEROUS AND RANDOMLY BREAKING OFF ALL SCREWS WHILE DRIVING AND RUINED THE FRAME AND DRIVE SHAFT TRANSMISSION SUSPENSION ETC... HIGHWAY 10 WEST AND VEHICLE BECAME UNSTOPPABLE AS BRAKES ALSO NEW BUT FAILED WITHOUT 4TH WHEEL THIS OCCURRED 1ST ON MORNING AFTER ST PATRICKS DAY 2016 AND THE TIRES WERE GOOD AND WHEELS WERE BOLTED WITH…
Crash · 2 injured · NHTSA ODI #10854253POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO DISPLAY THE DESIRED GEAR SELECTION. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR LEVER WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE…
NHTSA ODI #10839942POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO GO INTO THE PARK POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
NHTSA ODI #10693836EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STARTED WITH THE LIGHT IN VEHICLE STAYING ON FOR HOURS AT A TIME CAUSING A LOUD NOISE UNDER HOOD. WHILE DRIVING AND PICKING UP MY GIRLFRIEND, WE WERE SCARED BY THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE. WE HIT ANOTHER CAR CAUSING OUR HEADS TO HIT THE DASH BOARD. THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP SO AFTER WE HIT A CAR WHILE ON BREAKS, I THROUGH CAR IN PARK AND THAT JUST MAD…
Crash · NHTSA ODI #10692397+ 201 more complaints on record.





