There are 6 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2008 Lincoln Navigatorin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The brake booster vacuum hose attached to the intake manifold fitting swelled over time and was close to detaching from the intake manifold fitting. This condition could allow the hose to detach from the fitting during an engine backfire, resulting in loss of power brake assist and increased brake pedal effort. As a result, stopping distance may increase and potentially result in a crash.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND PEDAL SHUDDER WAS FELT. BRAKE POWER DIMINISHED, AND THE ANTI-SKID LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ONCE OFF THE PEDAL, THE CAR COASTED FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, AND THE SYSTEM WENT BACK TO NORMAL. FORD IS UNABLE TO FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE SYSTEM OR DUPLICATE THE EVENT. ABS WAS NOT ENGAGED IN THIS SITUATION. GRADUAL BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, NOT COME TO ABRUPT STOP. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION.
THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION. PEDAL GOES DOWN TO FLOOR. BROUGHT TO LINCOLNS ATTENTION LAST APRIL, JUNE AND JULY. WE HAVE NOTES AND LETTERS WITH HEATHER CARLYLE FROM LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY
MY BRAKES WILL FAIL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I WILL BE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKES WON'T WORK. THE ANTI-SKID LIGHT WILL GO ON ALONG WITH GRINDING NOISES. IT FEELS LIKE I AM PRESSING A STAKE DOWN THROUGH ROCKS AS I PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. DURING THIS TIME, I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE BRAKES AND I PANIC THAT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE BRAKES WORK ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. THE SITUATION KEEPS HAPPENING. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS IN JANUARY, 2012. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT ANOTHER CAR HASN'T BEEN CLOSE BY WHEN MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-45 MPH, THE TRACTION LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
2008 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SOMETIMES HAS NO BRAKES. HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. TOOK THE NAVIGATOR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WROTE FORD A LETTER AND THEY REPLIED "THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH YOU OUTLINED CONCERNING YOUR NAVIGATOR, HAVE BEEN GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSIDERS THE SATISFACTION OF ITS OWNERS TO BE ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES. WE COMMIT VERY SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES AND EFFORT IN A SINCERE ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE CONCERNS OF OUR OWNERS. HOWEVER, LIMITS MUST BE PLACED ON THOSE EFFORTS. ALTHOUGH WE REGREST NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS, OUR REVIEW INDICATES THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOUR DEALER IS APPROPRIATE. THEREFORE, WE ARE UNABLE TO BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER." THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! I PAID $60,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026