Lincoln Aviator Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 490 consumer complaints across the 9 model years of the Lincoln Aviator (2003–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2003 has the most, with 111. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (120 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Aviator years →
All Aviator model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | 9,000 | 15 | 142 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 7 | 62,000 | 8 | 56 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 24 | 20,990 | 16 | 129 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 48 | 34,000 | 21 | 193 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 40 | 60,000 | 28 | 261 | 35 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 110 | 11,000 | 30 | 317 | 87 · More | Rising |
| 2005 | 51 | 70,976 | 0 | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 81 | 70,500 | 0 | 31 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 111 | 64,000 | 1 | 30 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain120 24%
- Electrical system91 18%
- Body and structure82 17%
- Other or unknown56 11%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)42 8.5%
- Engine cooling34 6.9%
- Brakes34 6.9%
- Engine33 6.7%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2020: “With my car in park, I have shifted to drive and reverse, and while maintaining my foot on the brake after transferring to drive or reverse the car has moved by itself by approximately 3 feet before coming to a stop. Each time this has happened I was on a level surface. The dealership inspected my car but could not find anything that would cause this to happen.”
NHTSA complaint #11322349, filed 2020-04, 11,000 miles2005: “While parked at the gas station getting ready to pump gas the rear window exploded, glass shattered everywhere, left hinge cracked and frame around liftgate bend and curled up. My rear liftgate has the same cracked as previously reported. I replaced the entire liftgate in 2011 & on the new liftgate the same crack came back”
NHTSA complaint #10916449, filed 2016-10, 133,400 miles2003: “I was leaving my residence on a neighborhood street, when I heard a loud noise which sound like a gunshot. Upon recovering from the initial shock, I observed the side window/curtain air bags had deployed. The vehicle hadn't been hit or involved in an accident. I had to stop the vehicle to calm my son and we returned to the house.”
NHTSA complaint #10758828, filed 2015-08, 127,300 milesOther Lincoln models
3,298 complaintsLincoln Continental
1,670 complaintsLincoln MKZ
1,667 complaintsLincoln MKX
1,418 complaintsLincoln Navigator
1,357 complaintsLincoln LS
982 complaintsLincoln Mark Viii
821 complaintsLincoln MKC
603 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology