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2013 Lincoln Navigator El
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
13 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 16, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Complaints are still coming in strong late in this car's life, a chronic-problem pattern, not early teething.
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Lincoln Navigator SUV 4x4
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 20%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 Lincoln Navigator El, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Transmission & drivetrain (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
46%6 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED WHILE DRIVING. SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR UPON ACCELERATION. CLUSTER SHOWED …”
Electrical system
23%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“WHILE DRIVING ON ACCESS ROAD ABOUT 45 MPH THE CAR JOLTED VERY HARD CAUSING ME TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL COMPLETELY. THE SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO AND IT SEEMED LIKED THE T…”
Engine
15%2 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“While driving at approximately 65-70 mph on a major interstate, the engine experienced a sudden catastrophic failure without warning. This caused an immediate loss of …”
Speed control
15%2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“WHILE DRIVING ON ACCESS ROAD ABOUT 45 MPH THE CAR JOLTED VERY HARD CAUSING ME TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL COMPLETELY. THE SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO AND IT SEEMED LIKED THE T…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Lincoln NAVIGATOR EL beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every Navigator El model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Lincoln Navigator El against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.