2003 Lincoln Aviator Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2003 Lincoln Aviator, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 67,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “shift cable” (20% of reports).
- 55power train complaints
- 67,500median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 21%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Shift cable: mentioned in 11 of 55 complaints (20%)
- Rear end: mentioned in 8 of 55 complaints (15%)
- Entire shifter: mentioned in 5 of 55 complaints (9%)
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 5 of 55 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 44 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 55 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Lincoln Aviator power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Aviator | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2023 Aviator | 2 | 8% | 20,990 |
| 2022 Aviator | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2021 Aviator | 4 | 10% | 98,000 |
| 2020 Aviator | 23 | 21% | 82,000 |
| 2005 Aviator | 12 | 24% | 76,000 |
| 2004 Aviator | 21 | 26% | 79,000 |
| 2003 Aviator | 55 | 50% | 67,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the transmission shift cable can become dislodged from the shift cable bracket.
Risk: This could result resulting in incorrect gear indication.
Fix: Dealers will add a strap to the shift cable adjuster to prevent the shift cable from becoming dislodged. Ford has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
A year ago noticed when shifting and up to date my shifter gear indicator not shift to correct gear indicator and fail to work properly, i believed the transmission shift cable may become dislodged from the shift cable bracket. I take my truck to an transmission shop and the technician recommended…
I'm having problems with the front in that's control arm. The transfer case. *tr
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER POSITION WAS NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDICATOR DID NOT DISPLAY THE CORRECT GEAR THAT WAS BEING UTILIZED. ANTELOPE VALLEY FORD (LOCATED AT 1155 AUTO MALL DR…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Lincoln Aviators have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 55 owner complaints about power train for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator (50% of the 111 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Lincoln Aviator power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 67,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2003 Lincoln Aviator?
The most frequent phrase is “shift cable”, in 11 of 55 complaints, followed by “rear end” (8).
See all 2003 Lincoln Aviator problems or power train problems across all Aviator years.