Lincoln Aviator Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Recent Safety Incidents — Last 5 Model Years
Own a Lincoln Aviator? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Lincoln Aviator — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Best | Excellent | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2025 | Good | 6 | 7 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2024 | Good | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | Unknown Or Other | Full report → |
| 2023 | Caution | 6 | 20 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2022 | Avoid | 9 | 39 | 6 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2021 | Avoid | 14 | 34 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2020 | Avoid | 12 | 61 | 2 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2005 | Good | — | 33 | 3 | — | — | Structure | Full report → |
| 2004 | Avoid | — | 64 | 1 | 4 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2003Worst | Avoid | 1 | 90 | 4 | 5 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
10 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Lincoln Aviator Problems
Based on 354 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Recent Safety Recalls — Lincoln Aviator (2022–2026)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The fuel filler tube may detach during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Remedy: Dealers will install a fuel vapor line redundant locking clip, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C02.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The front-row driver and passenger seat power head restraint cushion may detach from the head restraint assembly when adjusted to the full forward position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front-row passenger and driver head restraints, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters to notify owners of the safety risk were mailed May 11, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S23.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Remedy: Dealers will perform an engine rail strength test and replace the rails as necessary, free of charge. If the engine rails require replacement, owners will have the option for a vehicle replacement or buyback. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C13.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a Revel Audio System. When the driver's seat belt is not buckled and the vehicle is started, the seat belt warning system may activate the audible warning chime for an insufficient amount of time of less than 4 seconds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy: Dealers will update the audio control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C35.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Remedy: Dealers will update the image processing module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 25, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S02. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 21V-735. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-735 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S23. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 23V-022. Vehicles previously repaired under 23V-022 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator, 2018-2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2022-2023 Ford Transit, and 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. The rearview camera, or 360-degree view camera if equipped, may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, and update the software and wiring as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023 to Lincoln owners. Ford vehicle owners notification letters were mailed March 4, 2024. Ford remedy parts are anticipated 2nd Quarter 2024. Ford's number for this recall is 23S48.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.0L PHEV engines. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Remedy: Dealers will perform a Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) diagnostic test and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford Motor Company's number for this recall is 23S53.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The accessory protocol image module (APIM) can be affected by electromagnetic interference with a cell phone in the vehicle, causing the rearview camera image to flicker or become distorted.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to use their cell phones while reversing until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install shielding on the accessory protocol image module (APIM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S35.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V-342. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Image Processing Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S27.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator and Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a Revel Audio System that were repaired incorrectly under recall 22V-953. When the driver's seat belt is not buckled and the vehicle is started, the seat belt warning system may activate the audible warning chime for an insufficient amount of time of less than 4 seconds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy: Dealers will update the audio control module software, 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 25C18.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator vehicles. The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may have insufficient adhesive bonding, which can allow the trim to detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace C-pillar appliques and window division bars, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S66.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in May 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: The remedy is currently under development. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated second quarter of 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. A mounting bolt for the front subframe may have been tightened improperly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the subframe bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2025. Ford's number for this recall is 25S43.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
Remedy: The remedy is under development. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 16, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated 2nd Quarter 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S06.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The rearview camera image may fail when the vehicle speed reaches 10 MPH or greater. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C34.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The transmission may be improperly secured due to loose cross member bolts.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission cross member bolts as necessary, free of charge. If the cross member bolts are missing, dealers will replace the cross member and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S03.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. When closing the windows with the global closing feature, the side rear windows may exert excessive force when encountering an object, before they automatically reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
Remedy: Dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C33.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. When towing a trailer, the tail lights on the trailer may fail to illuminate due to an improperly manufactured body control module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the body control module C on vehicles with less than 9,000 miles. For vehicles over 9,000 miles, dealers will perform a functional check on the body control module C and replace it as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Aviator 2025 owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2025. Explorer 2025 owner letters were mailed November 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C42.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 27, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The Image Processing Module A (IPMA) may experience multiple unexpected resets, resulting in loss of the rearview camera image and advanced driver assistance (ADAS) features, including pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Remedy: The Image Processing Module A software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2025 Aviator, 2025 Explorer, 2025 Nautilus notified owners on 4/13/2026. Phase 2 will include 2025 Navigator will notify owners on or about 4/20/2026. Phase 3 will include 2022-2024 Navigator will notify owners on or about 6/8/2026. Phase 4 will include 2024 Nautilus will notify owners on or about 6/22/2026. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S21. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 25, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may fail, which can cause the defrosting and defogging system to become inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure the instrument panel joints as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S22. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 3, 2026.
Showing 31 recalls from 2022–2026 model years. See the full year-specific pages for older recalls.
Recent Owner Complaints
Direct reports filed with NHTSA by Lincoln Aviator owners — 2022–2026 model years.
On 12/4/25, I visited Corley's Lincoln and reported several issues. One issue was that the vehicle would accelerate or decelerate while using cruise control. There were several other issues, but the following two issues are safety issues. I visited again on 3/5/26 with several of the same issues, although the speed issue was not listed on the work order. They could not find any issues, but I encountered the same issues on my drive home. I immediately returned to the dealer, and they kept the vehicle from 3/6/2026 to 4/2/26. Again, the speed issue was not listed on the work order. At this point, I began to keep a log. On 4/19/26, I set the speed at 56 MPH while driving on [XXX] , and within a short time the speed increased to 65 MPH before I stepped on the brakes. I have tested the cruise control several times since with the same result. Also on 4/19/26. I was braking to a stop on [XXX] , when the crash warning was activated. There was no one in front of me and no cross traffic. The only cars were in the opposite left-turn lane, 6 lanes away and completely stopped. This has happened several times, usually while slowing to a stop. I did not report the crash alert to the dealer until 4/20/26. As of 4/27/26, I am still awaiting to hear of a resolution from the dealer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2023 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated while reversing, the rear-view camera did not function as intended. The contact stated that the rear-view camera display flipped the image to the front of the vehicle. In addition, the rear-view camera system did not alert the contact. The contact's vehicle crashed into a trailer. No injuries were sustained. No police report was filed. The contact vehicle sustained damage to the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the back hatch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact later received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V368000 (Back Over Prevention) however the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
THIS REQUIRES A RECALL ASAP. Dealers are well aware of this problem as is Lincoln CHQ but Lincoln refuses to address it. Rear camera cannot differentiate between steady rain & an object which then causes car to engage the collision avoidance system which then prevents ability to drive in reverse gear. There have been many rearview camera recalls on this car & each has made things worse. The ONLY way I can drive car in reverse (in rain) is to TURN OFF collision avoidance system (insane). Having to turn off this safety feature when it’s needed the most (in rain) is VERY dangerous. I tapped a person backing out of a parking spot. He was walking in blind spot, couldn’t see him on rearview camera, parking sensor alerts failed, collision avoidance was off because I can’t drive in reverse in rain. Thank God he wasn’t injured. BEGGING NHTSA TO FORCE A RECALL BEFORE A HUMAN GETS RUN OVER.
REF C PILLAR RECALL & NHTSA Complaint # 11713372 by another owner on 11/18/25. NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUE RECALL FOR A PILLARS. Have had wind noise issue on front passenger side since I bought car. Dealer looked at numerous times in 3 yrs & always stated ‘unable to recreate condition’ (likely due to not testing on Hwy at 65mph which is when this noise can be heard). Took car in for C Pillar recall fall 2025. Dealer said they weren’t loose so didn’t replace them. Left w/car 12/22/25 & immed heard wind noise on Hwy. Returned to service & this time, DEALER INSPECTED A PILLARS & FOUND RIGHT SIDE WAS LOOSE so replaced both. Tried to charge me (was 2 wks out of warranty) but given multiple attempted repairs during warranty & my open case w/CHQ they split repair cost. Thankfully A pillars didn’t break loose & injure human or another driver in past 3 yrs. Dealer told me Ford had A pillar recall but Lincoln’s weren’t included in it. There appears to be a pervasive issue with failure of the adhesive used for many parts by the assembly plant.
REF RECALL 26V117 (Wiper Motor failure) & MY (2) PRIOR NHTSA COMPLAINTS; 11681607 & 11688314 (Autosense wiper operation failure). Autosense wiping does not clear wIndshield enough for visibility & therefore can’t be relied upon for safe driving. The only way to get MANUAL INTERMITTENT wiper operation is to go to SYNC settings & turn off auto wiper while driving in rain on Hwy at 65+ mph. Seriously?! THIS IS DISTRACTED DRIVING AT ITS WORST. Took dealer 2+ yrs to discover the shipping protective film used on wiper sensor was NOT removed by Chicago assembly plant prior to installing the sensor. Apr 2025, dealer replaced my sensor however it failed again by Aug 2025. Dealer had car 10/28/25-12/22/25 to fix multiple issues incl Autosense wiping. No codes appear & they can’t ID root cause of problem. Took car back for service 12/29/25-2/13/26 (multiple issues incl this) & they still can’t ID root cause. Given there’s now also a recall for wiper motor failure I requested a loaner from Lincoln CHQ but they have refused. I’M REQUESTING NHTSA REQUIRE LINCOLN TO PROVIDE LOANERS UNTIL THEY FIX ALL WIPER OPERATION FAILURES.
Lincoln Way App team bricked (some) users by deploying an App update early Feb 2026 that was not backwards compatible for use of basic features/function. I last used App Jan 2026 while car was at dealer but when I picked up car 2/13/26 I was BRICKED with no ability to use App since. Checked Lincoln website & compatibility reqmt stated IOS 16.0 is min req’d, updates are optional & not required to continue use for basic features like lock/unlock, remote start, chk tire pressure, etc. (see screenshot attached). Opened case w/Lincoln Way App team 2/17/26. Ops mgr confirmed my iphone was compatible & iOS 16.0 was still min. reqmt. Said he’d escalate. Suddenly, wks later Lincoln updated website & changed compatibility requirements with NO NOTICE TO USERS (before or since) they’ve changed compatibility reqmts (they have users names, email, addr & phone #s since they’re req’d upon setup). In addition, NONE of the App version release notes shown in App Store indicate any change to Min compatibility reqmts. Development team is negligent & Lincoln needs to fix.
My 2023 Lincoln Aviator has a grinding noise when I back up. Also a rattle has begun at all speeds. I had vehicled check and the axles were found to be totally rusted. Prior to having it towed to the detail i did some research and found the following -- A 2023 Lincoln Aviator recall regarding a "rusted" or breaking axle generally refers to a serious issue where the rear axle bolt can fracture, causing the rear subframe to disconnect, potentially leading to a loss of control or rollaway . This issue often stems from stress corrosion, prompting recalls for subframe inspections and repairs. [XXX] +4 Key Information regarding 2023 Lincoln Aviator Recalls: Safety Risk: A fractured rear axle bolt can cause the axle to disconnect, causing sudden power loss, severe vibration, and increased crash risk. Scope: While often associated with the 2020-2022 Ford Explorer/Aviator, owners should check for 2023 model year issues relating to rear axle subframe integrity. What to Do: Visit the official Lincoln Recall Page and enter your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to check for this or other active recalls. Repair: Authorized Lincoln Dealerships will inspect the axle bolt and rear subframe, performing necessary repairs at no cost to the owner. I had vehicle towed to dealer and was told that there is no recall for this issue. see video link of axles. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Regarding safety recall notice 25S66/NHTSA recall 25V407 - we took our car to the local Lincoln dealer in Lubbock (Gene Messer Ford/Lincoln) in late November for the repair of the recall "C-Pillar Applique Delamination." There was considerable wind/rattle noise coming from the passenger side, which is a component of the recall. After completing the recall we noticed the wind/rattle noise is still there and even slightly worse. We have contacted the service representative at Gene Messer Ford/Lincoln regarding this and have yet to receive a reply. We are reaching out to you for a solution to the noise problem. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks for your time, [XXX] and [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2022 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH and entering the on-ramp, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera displayed a glitching screen. The vehicle was serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V022000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION) by the previous owner; however, the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that failure had occurred after the recall repair the first time, and the failure had occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,300.
I purchased a brand new 2025 Lincoln Aviator on 9/27/25, with 33 miles on it. I do not even make it home from the dealer before it started making a scrubbing/grinding noise, which subsequently led to the replacement of the transfer case and transmission on a vehicle with approx 180 miles on it. It calls into question the safety, reliability and quality of the vehicle
I have taken my car more times than I can count for recalls in the little time that I have owned my can bought new. My work requires me to drive a lot covering 6 states. Scheduling recall repairs has become a serious issue for me in a two year old car. As it seems that most of the recalls have been fixed except one small one where it sounds like wind is blowing in and the rear view camera and display work whenever it wants. A lot of time the screen just goes dark when it’s needed the most. I just recently took my car to the dealership bec the engine light came on and my car started sputtering g while driving. Ford serviced it and within a week it did the same thing and light was back on. This time it started not cranking easy time I had to get gas. As I was driving on hwy after fuel up my car started jerking and just shut down engine. I rolled over to shoulder and it took a hand full of tries to start and I got it home asap. I took back to ford and they said it was due to a fuel pump and needed to go to Lincoln. It’s been weeks now and my car is getting worse. I dont trust it to drive as I have had now two stalls and multiple hard starts where engine won’t turn over. With me on highway a lot and no recall repairs i. Sore as Lincoln said I’m not sure what to do. This is very dangerous. I was lucky I wasn’t in Heavy traffic or crossing over lanes.
74 total complaints retrieved from NHTSA for 2022–2026. For older model years, see individual year pages.
Aviator Years to Avoid
Best Aviator Years to Buy
Lincoln Aviator Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Lincoln Aviator Reliability
What year Aviator has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2003 Lincoln Aviator had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 90 complaints and 1 safety recalls. See the full 2003 report for specific defects.
Is the Lincoln Aviator reliable?
The Lincoln Aviator has accumulated 354 owner-filed complaints and 52 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2026 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Aviator.
What are the most common Aviator problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Power Train (52 reports), Structure (44 reports), Electrical System (43 reports), Unknown Or Other (27 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my Aviator has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Lincoln Aviator VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Lincoln Aviator VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily