Lincoln Aviator Problems by Year
NHTSA has 491 owner complaints and 51 safety recalls on file for the Lincoln Aviator, across 11 model years (2003–2027). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (111). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
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Lincoln Aviator years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Aviator year: 2003, 2004, 2020. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Aviator: 111 complaints, 1 recall
- 2020 Aviator: 110 complaints, 30 recalls
- 2004 Aviator: 81 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Aviator: 4 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2024 Aviator: 7 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2025 Aviator: 18 complaints, 15 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Lincoln Aviator problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 120 | 8 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 90 | 9 | 1 |
| Structure | 81 | 8 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 34 | 6 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 33 | 5 | 2 |
| Engine | 33 | 8 | 1 |
| Visibility | 24 | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 23 | 7 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 22 | 6 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 | 7 | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 20 | 5 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 20 | 5 | 1 |
| Seats | 19 | 7 | 0 |
| Suspension | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 7 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Wheels | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Lincoln Aviator problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2003: power train (55)
All Lincoln Aviator model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Aviator | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2026 Aviator | 4 | 6 | — | Seats | |
| 2025 Aviator | 18 | 15 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Aviator | 7 | 8 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | |
| 2023 Aviator | 24 | 16 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Aviator | 45 | 21 | 5★ | Back Over Prevention | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2021 Aviator | 40 | 28 | 5★ | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2020 Aviator | 110 | 30 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 Aviator | 51 | 0 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 Aviator | 81 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 Aviator | 111 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Lincoln: all Lincoln models · Lincoln VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln Aviator years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (111), 2004 (81), 2020 (110) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Aviator year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Lincoln Aviator?
Power Train, with 120 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Lincoln Aviator have?
51 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.