2010-2017 Lincoln Navigator ABS Light On: Common Causes and Fixes

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

An ABS light on a 2010-2017 Lincoln Navigator means the anti-lock brake module has found a fault and switched the anti-lock function off. Your normal brakes still work as long as the red brake warning light is not also on. On these trucks the fault is most often a wheel speed sensor, its wiring, or the tone ring it reads, followed by low brake fluid or a module or fuse problem.

What the ABS Light Actually Tells You on a Navigator

Lincoln's 2015 Navigator owner's manual is direct about it: the ABS lamp comes on briefly when you turn the key, and if it stays on, flashes, or never lights at start-up, the anti-lock system may be disabled. When that happens you keep ordinary braking, but the wheels can lock under a hard stop because the module is no longer pulsing pressure to them.

The key detail is which lights are on together:

The manual warns that driving with the brake system warning light on is dangerous and that stopping distances can get noticeably longer. The Navigator uses a foot-applied parking brake with a release lever under the left side of the dash, so first confirm the pedal is fully released before assuming a hydraulic fault.

Most Common Causes of an ABS Light

1. Wheel speed sensor or its signal

Each wheel speed sensor watches a toothed or magnetic tone ring turning with the hub and sends that speed to the ABS module. Bosch, which builds these sensors for many manufacturers, explains that the same signal feeds both anti-lock braking and electronic stability control. That is why a single bad sensor on a Navigator can bring up the ABS light and an AdvanceTrac warning at the same time.

Sensors fail in a few predictable ways:

• Debris on the sensor tip - metallic brake and rust particles stick to the magnetic tip and distort the signal.
• Wrong air gap - a sensor that was not seated fully after a hub or brake job reads weakly or not at all. The trade publication Brake and Front End calls improper installation one of the most common sensor problems.
• Damaged tone ring - a cracked, rusted or chipped ring gives an erratic signal.
• Wiring and connectors - harnesses near the wheels take road salt, heat and suspension movement. A chafed wire or corroded pin sets a code just like a dead sensor.

2. Wheel hub and bearing problems

On many trucks the tone ring is part of, or pressed onto, the hub assembly. A worn bearing lets the ring wobble relative to the sensor, which the module reads as an erratic speed. If you hear a hum that changes with road speed or feel play in the wheel along with the ABS light, check the hub before buying a sensor.

3. Low brake fluid or a hydraulic fault

Low fluid normally lights the red brake warning and can show a brake fluid level low message, not just the ABS lamp. Fluid drops slowly as pads wear, but a sudden drop points to a leak at a caliper, hose, line or the master cylinder. Ford specifies Motorcraft High Performance DOT 3 fluid, or an equivalent meeting Ford specification WSS-M6C65-A1, for the 2015 Navigator. Do not top up with a different fluid type, and keep the fluid clean and dry.

4. Fuses, battery voltage and the ABS module

The 2015 Navigator fuse box has separate fuses for the ABS run/start feed, the ABS valves and the ABS pump. A blown fuse turns the light on with no wheel speed code at all. Low system voltage from a weak battery or charging fault can also set ABS codes. Only after sensors, wiring, fuses and voltage check out should the module or hydraulic control unit itself be suspected.

The 2016-2017 Master Cylinder Recall

If your Navigator is a 2016 or 2017, check the recall status before anything else. NHTSA campaign 22V-150 (Ford recall 22S11) covers 2016-2017 Lincoln Navigator, 2016-2017 Ford Expedition and 2016-2018 Ford F-150 trucks with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. The brake master cylinder may leak fluid from the front circuit into the brake booster. NHTSA lists the consequence as a change in pedal travel, higher pedal effort and reduced front brake function. Dealers replace the master cylinder, and the booster too if the master cylinder is found leaking, free of charge. The recall expanded an earlier campaign, 20V-332.

This leak shows up mainly as a change in pedal feel and the red brake warning rather than a pure ABS fault, but the lights can come on together as fluid drops. Enter your VIN on nhtsa.gov to see whether the work has been done on your truck.

How to Diagnose It Step by Step

1. Check the fluid. The level should sit between MIN and MAX on the reservoir. Below MIN, find the leak before driving further.
2. Check the parking brake and fuses. Make sure the pedal is fully released and inspect the ABS fuses listed in the owner's manual.
3. Read the codes. A basic engine-code reader often cannot see the ABS module. You need a scan tool that reads ABS codes, which will name the wheel and the fault type, such as an open circuit, an erratic signal or no signal.
4. Watch live wheel speeds. On a test drive, all four speeds should track together. One that drops out or jumps points to that corner.
5. Inspect the corner. Pull the named sensor, clean the tip, look at the tone ring and follow the harness back to the frame looking for rubbed or corroded spots.
6. Test the sensor correctly. Brake and Front End notes that a simple resistance check only suits passive sensors, while active sensors need to be tested powered up, ideally with a scope while the wheel turns. Look up the correct test for your model year before condemning a sensor.

Fixes and What to Replace at the Same Time

A wheel speed sensor is usually a single bolt and a connector, so it is one of the easier brake-system repairs. Seat the new sensor fully so the air gap is correct, route the lead exactly as the old one ran, and clear the codes. If the tone ring is part of the hub, replace the hub assembly instead.

If the light came on right after a brake job, look for a sensor lead pinched by the caliper or knocked loose during rotor removal. If you are already into the brakes for a sensor, it is a good time to check pad thickness and rotor condition. Our 2010-2017 Lincoln Navigator front and rear brake kit covers both axles in one order, and you can also browse brake pads and brake rotors separately.

For hydraulic faults, replace the leaking part and bleed the system with the specified fluid. If a master cylinder or booster is the cause and your truck is outside the recall, see our master cylinders and brake boosters. Worn or cracked flexible lines are covered in brake hoses. After work on the hydraulic side, the ABS unit may need a scan-tool bleed procedure to purge air from its valves; follow the factory service manual for your year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drive a Navigator with the ABS light on?

If only the amber ABS light is on, the owner's manual says normal braking is still effective, but the wheels can lock in a panic stop. Drive gently and get it diagnosed. If the red brake light is also on, stop driving and have it checked immediately.

Why did my ABS and AdvanceTrac lights come on together?

Both systems rely on the same wheel speed signals. When the ABS module loses one, it shuts down stability and traction control too. A single wheel speed sensor or its wiring is the most common cause.

Will disconnecting the battery clear the ABS light?

It may turn the light off for a short time, but the module re-tests the system as soon as you drive. If the fault is real, the light returns. Read the stored code first so you know what to fix.

Can new brake pads or rotors cause an ABS light?

Pads and rotors themselves do not, but the work can. A sensor that was pulled out, a lead that got pinched or stretched, or a tone ring damaged during rotor or hub removal will all set a code.

Does the 2016-2017 master cylinder recall apply to every Navigator?

NHTSA campaign 22V-150 lists 2016-2017 Navigators equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine. Check your VIN on nhtsa.gov or with a Lincoln dealer to confirm.

Sources

1. 2015 Lincoln Navigator Owner's Manual (Ford) - ABS and brake warning lamp meanings, parking brake operation, ABS fuses, DOT 3 fluid specification
2. NHTSA Recall Acknowledgement 22V-150 - 2016-2017 Navigator master cylinder leak into booster, consequence and remedy
3. Bosch Mobility - Wheel-speed sensor - how wheel speed sensors work and that ABS and stability control share the signal
4. Brake and Front End - Understanding ABS Wheel Speed Sensors - air gap, tone ring, debris and wiring faults and how to test sensors