Lincoln Aviator Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Lincoln Aviator across 8 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (55). The words owners use most often: “gear shift” (17% of reports).
- 120power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 7related recalls
- $1,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 33%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.
- Gear shift: mentioned in 20 of 120 complaints (17%)
- Rear end: mentioned in 9 of 120 complaints (8%)
- Cable bracket: mentioned in 6 of 120 complaints (5%)
- Transfer case: mentioned in 6 of 120 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Lincoln Aviator at $1,800, and half of them between $1,500 and $4,400.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2007–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 82 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 120 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
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 (7)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2020, 2021
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
Power train:automatic transmission:fluid/lubricant:valves/valve body
Model years: 2025
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 transmission
Model years: 2025
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.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2023
Problem: 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."
Risk: The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: 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.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Model years: 2020
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 2.0L or 3.3L engine and a 10 Speed Automatic Transmission with the All Wheel Drive package. The drive shaft may fracture along the weld seam.
Risk: Defective drive shafts may fail and cause a loss of connection between the transfer case and rear axle, possibly resulting in a vehicle rollaway when in Park or a loss of drive. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash. The drive shafts can also deform and separate from the driveline and potentially contact the fuel tank, increasing the risk of fuel leaks and/or fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shaft label inspected and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S65.
Parking brake; electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Model years: 2020
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) cover may not be installed. In addition, the vehicles may be in Factory Mode, which disables warning alerts and does not display the transmission gear selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 114, "Theft Prevention" and 102, "Trans Shift Lever Seq/Starter Interlock/Trans Braking Effect."
Risk: Without the cover, the MPR lever may be unintentionally moved, allowing the vehicle to roll away. Being in Factory Mode, the vehicle will not display warnings and/or gear selection on the instrument cluster. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install a MPR cover. Dealers will verify the instrument cluster is not in Factory Mode and clear any fault codes, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C06.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2003
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.
Transmission died at 92000 miles. The car shifted to park while my wife was driving it. Shortly after the transmission started jerking in gears 1,2 and 7. Took it to the dealership and had to have the whole transmission replaced at about $7200. A transmission should last more than 92000 miles and…
Transmission started shifting hard when going from 1-2, up and down shifting. Sometimes there is a grinding sound and then a very hard shift into 2nd gear. 1 time it would not shift at all after coming to a stop. Diagnosed by Ford as bad A clutch and needing to be replaced.
My car slammed into park while I was driving on the highway and now is in limp mode only going into neutral and I am stranded without a vehicle. The Lincoln dealership wants to charge me 1500 to diagnose it but thatâs the problem.
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while the vehicle was unoccupied and parked on an incline, the vehicle rolled backwards several feet and then came to a complete stop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Lincoln Aviators have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 120 owner complaints about power train for the Lincoln Aviator. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Lincoln Aviator power train?
Yes: 7 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Lincoln Aviator?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,800 (half paid between $1,500 and $4,400), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Lincoln Aviator?
The most frequent phrase is “gear shift”, in 20 of 120 complaints, followed by “rear end” (9).
See all Lincoln Aviator problems.