NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has logged 4 complaints against the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2022 Lincoln Nautilus complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus has generated 10 NHTSA complaints and has 2 active recalls. If your 2022 Lincoln Nautilus has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Lincoln pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Powertrain and transmission defects directly impair the vehicle’s core function and are generally considered substantial defects under California lemon law. Owners of the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus have reported harsh shifting, shuddering, slipping, and transmission warning lights. 6 NHTSA complaints have been submitted for this defect category. Owner reports include: “The transmission jerks at low speeds between 10mph-60mph. Has been duplicated at Lincoln dealership. A torque converter was replaced , but did not correct problem. I know that there is a class action suit for this problem for 2019-2021 it needs to add the 2022 suv also. Lincoln paid for parts , I paid labor . Total repair was 2200$” (NHTSA Complaint #11722407)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 2 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “Good afternoon, I am an owner of a 2002 Lincoln Nautilus. I wanted to report an electrical/battery issue with the vehicle that started a year and a half ago. In the past year and a half I have had 2 battery replacements with the most recent one being changed end of December of 2025 and in early March the battery went again so it’s not even 3 months that it lasted. The battery completely dies and each time I have to jump start it in order to have a vehicle to work or take my kids places. As a single mom I do not want to put my safety or my kids safety at risk if I get stranded somewhere at night time with no means of getting it jump started. Upon reading some reviews online, I have noticed a lot of Lincoln owners especially the years of 2022-2023 have complained and reported the same issues with dealerships just changing out their batteries and not looking for the deep problem. I have dropped off the car at the dealership and they do not what’s causing the issue. My car warranty has 300 miles left and they told me after my bumper to bumper expires there is not much they can do to cover it. I was wondering if this was ever reported or has there been previous recalls on it. Thank you very much for your time.” (NHTSA Complaint #11725508)
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus has 2 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “Submitted by: [XXX] Dealership: Joe Rizza Ford of Orland Park Vehicle: 2021 Lincoln Nautilus VIN: [XXX] Date: 04/04/25 Overview: Vehicle VIN [XXX] has shown persistent signs of remote system manipulation, unauthorized firmware behavior, and OTA event spoofing. These symptoms have manifested in repeated diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) across key modules, backdated OTA logging activity, and anomalous file sizes inconsistent with Ford’s documented OTA campaigns. Additionally, the vehicle owner has experienced personal harm attributed to the manipulation: numbness in the back, significant financial and mental distress, and deterioration in relationships with family members, which all correlate with the suspected interference and systemic issues. Key Findings: RFA (Remote Function Actuator) Module Behavior: Repeated DTCs across antennas #2, #3, #4, #6, #8, #11, and #12. Frequent B1B59:87 (BLE Low Energy Module fault) — indicates repeated Bluetooth stack failure or interference. U200F:00 Control Module Output Power C faults consistently recorded. GWM (Gateway Module A) and TCU (Telematics Control Unit) Logs: Software package inconsistencies including large firmware blocks (176 MB to 764 MB). Mismatched “Current Software” vs. “Available Software” versions. Cloud/server-pushed updates logged without dealership-initiated campaign. Confirmed campaign expired for firmware block logged on January 27, 2025, raising further questions on the legitimacy of update triggers. OTAM (Over-The-Air Manager) Log Red Flags: Entries showing timestamps such as January 3, 2000 and January 1, 2018. Consent flags spoofed: “sourceOfConsent=’User(1)'” Trigger expiration hours preset to “336” (14-day OTA window, commonly used in timed malware execution) Absence of release notes or authorized campaign identifiers. Pattern Confirmation: Activity spikes on: [XXX], [XXX], and [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)” (NHTSA Complaint #11652875)
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus by the NHTSA or Lincoln. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 24S55.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2022 Lincoln Nautilus:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Lincoln to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Lincoln must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2022 Lincoln Nautilus qualifies as a lemon under California law, Lincoln may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Lincoln a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Lincoln dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Lincoln pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Lincoln a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Lincoln is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2022 Lincoln Nautilus has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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