Lincoln Navigator U554

The Navigator U554 is Lincoln's full-size luxury SUV and, since 2018, the brand's flagship. Built on Ford's Expedition platform, it sets itself apart with far more lavish appointments, an imposing footprint and a high-quality interior. This is where Lincoln takes its premium ambitions genuinely seriously. The giant is powered exclusively by the 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 in its revised Gen-2 form with combined port and direct injection, paired with the 10R80 10-speed automatic. It is a commanding, muscular powertrain that handles the vehicle's considerable weight with ease.

On the engine, the most important point is cam phaser wear. The camshaft phasers were a documented problem on the early 2018 to 2020 model years, for which Ford issued goodwill program 21N03. Before buying an early Navigator, it should be clear whether the phasers have already been reworked, as the repair is involved. Other known concerns include warping exhaust manifolds with breaking bolts, cracking plastic valve covers and leaking turbo coolant hoses. The 10R80 automatic shows a characteristic torque converter shudder at low speeds due to converter slip, which software can often reduce but not always fully eliminate.

The most expensive vehicle-level weakness is the air suspension: the air springs and compressor typically fail between 50,000 and 75,000 miles, and the repair is costly. On a used Navigator the suspension condition must be checked, because a pending air suspension repair can offset the entire purchase price. Add to that failing power-deploying running boards caused by moisture and corrosion, the panoramic roof issue common to almost every model with clogged drain channels and water intrusion, and the freezing SYNC infotainment. Safety-relevant is recall 24S06 for the pyrotechnic seatbelt pretensioner, which can deploy at the wrong moment and must be completed.

Bottom line, the Navigator U554 is an impressive, comfortable luxury behemoth, but one with expensive follow-on costs. Anyone buying an early model year needs clarity on the cam phaser history, the open pretensioner recall and, above all, the state of the air suspension. A well-maintained example with closed-out recalls and a healthy suspension is a commanding, effortless road car; a neglected one quickly becomes a money pit.