2025 Lincoln Aviator Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · 18 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Aviator years
Far fewer complaints than other years 8th of 11 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
5 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2025 Lincoln Aviator. That ranks 8th out of 11 Aviator model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 28%). There are 15 safety recalls covering this model year.

Lincoln Aviator
Lincoln_Aviator_(U611) at IAA 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2025 Lincoln Aviator problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System5
Forward Collision Avoidance4
Service Brakes4
Seats3
Engine2
Steering2
Visibility2 · ~47,500 mi
Back Over Prevention1
Exterior Lighting1
Fuel/propulsion System1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System528%———
Forward Collision Avoidance422%———
Service Brakes422%———
Seats317%———
Engine211%———
Steering211%———
Visibility211%47,500——
Back Over Prevention16%———
Exterior Lighting16%———
Fuel/propulsion System16%———
Lane Departure16%———
Power Train16%———
Service Brakes, Hydraulic16%2,000——
Unknown or Other16%———
Vehicle Speed Control16%———
Visibility/wiper16%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2026, with 10 complaints
2025: 8202582026: 10202610

n = 18 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2025 Lincoln Aviator recalls (15)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Seats:front assembly:power adjustJul 21, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V470000 · 76,748 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.

Risk: Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S53.

Seats:mid/rear assemblyJul 14, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V451000 · 387,911 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.

Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

Electrical system:adas; back over prevention:softwareMar 18, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V165000 · 254,640 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image and certain driver assistance features, can reduce the driver’s ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Seat beltsMar 17, 2026 · NHTSA campaign 26V159000 · 561 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Visibility:windshieldOct 24, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V730000 · 56,841 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Trailer hitchesOct 10, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V687000 · 1,412 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.

Risk: While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Exterior lighting:tail lightsAug 22, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V543000 · 213,121 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: Trailer tail lights that do not illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Visibility:power window devices and controlsJul 25, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V484000 · 23,111 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Seats:mid/rear assemblyJun 13, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V393000 · 304,662 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Structure:bodyJun 13, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V407000 · 132,914 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Structure:frame and membersMay 9, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V316000 · 206 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. A mounting bolt for the front subframe may have been tightened improperly.

Risk: A loose subframe bolt may reduce the vehicle's performance in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve bodyMar 14, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V164000 · 269 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Structure:frame and members; power train:automatic transmissionJan 17, 2025 · NHTSA campaign 25V020000 · 259 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: An improperly secured transmission can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Equipment:other:labelsNov 8, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V852000 · 27,678 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Back over prevention:softwareOct 25, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V801000 · 391 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: The loss of the rearview camera image while in reverse can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Unpredictable Steering and Potential Loss of Vehicle Control My 2025 Lincoln Aviator is experiencing a serious and ongoing steering malfunction that makes it extremely difficult to maintain control of the vehicle. While driving, the steering unexpectedly pulls aggressively to one side, almost as…

Steering · received Oct 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11771282

My 2025 Lincoln Aviator is experiencing a serious and dangerous malfunction involving the forward collision detection and automatic emergency braking system. The vehicle falsely detects an object or obstruction in front of it when the roadway is completely clear and then unexpectedly slams on the…

Service Brakes · received Oct 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11771283

This has now occurred on 2021 Lincoln Aviator and then Mark McLarty Ford Lincoln tricked me into buying a second Lincoln 2025 Aviator claiming the problem was a one-off incident. Our 2021 was traded for new 2025 Aviator and both have the exact problem, and we have since learned this affects another…

Unknown or Other · received Sep 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11764304

Multiple loss of power, misfires, rough running and abnormal shifting. These events have put my family and I at risk as well as posing a significant risk to other drivers sharing the road due to the sudden loss of power while on the highway. Lincoln is dismissive and not taking this seriously. The…

Electrical System · received Sep 15, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11764477

The contact owns a 2025 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that the front passenger's side window failed to roll up or down as needed. The contact stated that the front driver's side window motor was previously replaced due to the same failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the…

Visibility · received Aug 18, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11757628

Other Lincoln Aviator years

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See all Lincoln Aviator problems by year, every Lincoln model, or the Lincoln VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?

Owners most often report electrical system, forward collision avoidance, service brakes problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 5 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?

Yes, 15 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2025 Lincoln Aviator a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Aviator model years, the 2025 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.