2005 Lincoln Aviator Problems
- Complaints
- 51filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 70,976miles, 40 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 13 mpgcombined, 4.6L 8-cyl RWD · 11 city / 17 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Lincoln Aviator (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this 2005 model year most often describe cracks in the plastic rear liftgate panel, many of which appeared with no accident near the emblem below the rear window. Problems with the liftgate glass hinges and window mechanism come next, followed by gear shifters that stick, detach, or break. Complaints were filed between 2009 and 2020, and for the complaints in these groups, reported mileage ranges from 35,000 to 133,400 miles.
- Body and structure
Cracks in the rear liftgate plastic panel
- 23 complaints (45%)
- median 70,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (15 state mileage)
- filed 2009–2020
Owners describe a crack or split in the plastic rear liftgate panel, usually running vertically near the emblem and below the rear window, and sometimes spanning the full height of the panel. Many say the crack appeared with no accident or impact, and some report water entering through it or a trim piece breaking off and striking another vehicle's windshield. According to complaints, the dealer sometimes acknowledged the crack as a common problem, but repairs were often declined or charged to the owner because the vehicle was out of warranty. Where mileage is given, these reports range from 35,000 to 133,400 miles, and the complaints were filed between 2009 and 2020.
What to check: Look for vertical cracks in the plastic panel near the emblem and below the rear window, and check for water staining inside the liftgate. Ask whether the panel has been inspected and whether any repair was covered, since warranty status is often cited in these complaints.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My power steering goes out, at start up the power steering is not working, can cut the car off and back on and it is ok been to the shop 3 times changed hose, modular, and steering gear, and today it happened again, also there is a crack down the middle of my back hatch under the glass, I have read 4 other peoples complaints that said the same thing in the same place.”
NHTSA complaint #10269647, filed 2009-05, 35,000 miles“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 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Gear shifter sticking, detaching, or breaking
- 9 complaints (18%)
- median 76,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2010–2015
Owners describe the gear shifter sticking in park, drive, or reverse, detaching while being moved, or breaking at the knob or unlock lever. Some say they could not move the shifter out of park, and another report describes a parked vehicle rolling backward and crashing into another vehicle. According to complaints, the dealer has found a dislodged gear selector and quoted repair charges for the shifter, and some owners report the manufacturer offered no help. Where mileage is given, these reports range from 56,000 to 92,000 miles, and the complaints were filed between 2010 and 2015.
What to check: On a test drive, shift through park, reverse, neutral, and drive with the brake applied, and check that the shifter does not stick or feel loose. Ask whether the shifter or its unlock lever has been replaced and request any dealer repair records.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I have a 2005 Lincoln Aviator and the shifter, transmission,and ball joints, drive shaft all fell apart at 56,000 miles my wife and 2 young children were in the vehicle when the drive shaft came loose almost causing us to be rear ended by a 18 wheeler something has to be done. I have read thousands of complaints from others having similar complaints.”
NHTSA complaint #10345732, filed 2010-07, 56,000 miles“Shift lever became stuck in drive in our garage. We were not able to move the shifter out of drive to park or any other gear. We were able to turn the car engine off but the key remained lodged in the column. This occurred on a 2005 Aviator as was discussed in another report in the database. The dealer has quoted a $950 repair charge. No coverage by ford/Lincoln.”
NHTSA complaint #10362559, filed 2010-10, 85,000 miles - Body and structure
Liftgate glass hinges and window mechanism failing
- 11 complaints (22%)
- median 80,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
- filed 2010–2020
Owners describe the hinges that hold the liftgate glass breaking, cracking, or shifting, so the window no longer closes or locks properly. Some complaints say the window mechanism corroded or broke, and another describes the rear glass shattering while the vehicle was parked. Some say replacement hinges could only be bought from the manufacturer, and the dealer has declined to cover the repair when the vehicle was out of warranty. All of these were filed between 2011 and 2016, and where mileage is given it ranges from 60,000 to 133,400 miles.
What to check: Open and close the liftgate and check that the glass closes and locks evenly, and look for cracks near the hinge mounts. Ask whether the hinges or window mechanism have been replaced and request any repair records.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I noticed a crack on the back panel of my tailgate. There was no accident or incident and since then I have noticed at least 3 other cars in my small town with the same defect. I have written to ford and gotten no response. From what I have seen on the internet, this is not an isolated problem. I feel that ford/Lincoln should recall the affected models of car (including ford explorers) and make these repairs. …”
NHTSA complaint #10672178, filed 2015-01, 110,000 miles“The hinges that hold the liftgate glass have broken and are no longer holding the rear liftgate window in place properly. I can no longer open the window because I will not be able to close it. I took it to the dealer and event though they acknowledge the fact that this is an issue on Lincoln aviators and that they have had to fix numerous Aviator in the past for this same issue they will not cover the repair if the vehicle is out of warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #10433109, filed 2011-10, 60,000 miles
Buying note. Someone considering this model year may want to inspect the rear liftgate panel and hinges closely and ask for records of any repairs or dealer inspections. A test drive that checks the shifter in every gear is also a practical step, since shifter complaints appear in the sample alongside the liftgate ones.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 51 consumer complaints for the 2005 Lincoln Aviator. 40 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,976 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 27 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Body and structure28 55%
- Air bags3 5.9%
- Steering3 5.9%
- Suspension2 3.9%
- Vehicle speed control2 3.9%
- Wheels2 3.9%
- Electrical system1 2.0%
- Engine1 2.0%
Also reported: Engine cooling (1), Other or unknown (1).
Example complaints
Body and structure: “I was driving along and suddenly heard a loud crack coming from the rear of the vehicle. Something like the sound of a rock hitting it. Later I was checking around for signs of damage and found that the upper liftgate section had cracked completely in half from the emblem by the window down to the lower edge of the panel.”
NHTSA complaint #10475484, filed 2012-09, 102,300 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “The gear knob on my 2005 Lincoln Aviator broke causing the vehicle to get stuck in reverse. This is a major safety hazard. This appears to be a poor design by ford. Based on my research, several Lincoln Aviator owners are having the same problem. Ford needs to do a recall and fix this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10594186, filed 2014-05, 92,000 milesAir bags: “Tl-the contact owns a 2005 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag deployed independently onto her face. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000. Djr”
NHTSA complaint #10670682, filed 2015-01, 88,000 milesSteering: “This vehicles steering shudders while making low speed turns, usually left turns. Dealers has bled the system once and it seemed to correct the issues. After about 3 weeks the steering began shuddering again while making left turns and even lane changes would cause the steering wheel to shudder. Upon second trip to dealer they stated they could not replicate the problem and the shudder was normal for the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10142715, filed 2005-11, 3,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
20% of the 40 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 56,000 and 88,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2005 Lincoln Aviator version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator 2WD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 11 | 17 | 13 | $6,300 |
| Aviator 4WD | 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 11 | 16 | 13 | $6,300 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2005 Lincoln Aviator in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 27 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016Engine cooling, Engine. The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB…
- 10028736May 1, 2009Transmission and drivetrain. Ford: some vehicles may exhibit oil separation from the internal lube found in the unitized cartridge seal. Oil separation appears to be and is often misdiagnosed, as an axle lube leak.
- 10019912Jan 1, 2006Engine cooling. Engine misfire with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) pewee, p0302, p0303, p0304, p0305, p0306, p0307, p0308, and p0316.
- 10019384Jan 1, 2006Tires. Low tire indicator on - tpms system sensor wake up.
- 10019379Jan 1, 2006Fuel system. Malfunction indicator lamp on with pcm diagnostic trouble code p0463 and/or ic diagnostic trouble code b1201 - fuel gauge drops to empty or slow to update after refueling.
- 10018745Nov 14, 2005Engine cooling. Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running.
- 10018064Oct 7, 2005Suspension. Noise from rear wheel hub bearings.
- 10018069Sep 1, 2005Transmission and drivetrain. A tiny crack, or cracks, around the transfer case drain plug hole.
- 10014138Jun 7, 2005Seat belts. Safety belt retraction speed.
- 10012952Jun 7, 2005Transmission and drivetrain. Driveline 1st order vibration/boom/drone.
Other model years of the Lincoln Aviator
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | 9,000 | 15 | 5 | 21 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 7 | 62,000 | 8 | 5 | 21 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 24 | 20,990 | 16 | 5 | 21 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 49 | 34,000 | 21 | 5 | 21 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 40 | 60,000 | 28 | 5 | 21 | 35 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 110 | 11,000 | 30 | 5 | 21 | 87 · More | Rising |
| 2005 | 51 | 70,976 | 0 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 81 | 70,500 | 0 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 111 | 64,000 | 1 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Lincoln Aviator model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Lincoln Aviator?
Owners of this 2005 model year most often describe cracks in the plastic rear liftgate panel, many of which appeared with no accident near the emblem below the rear window. The issues reported most often: Cracks in the rear liftgate plastic panel; Gear shifter sticking, detaching, or breaking; Liftgate glass hinges and window mechanism failing.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Lincoln Aviator have?
NHTSA recorded 51 consumer complaints for the 2005 Lincoln Aviator as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2005 Lincoln Aviator is reported most often?
Body and structure is named most often, in 28 complaints (55% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 12.
Has the 2005 Lincoln Aviator been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Lincoln Aviator get?
The EPA rates the 2005 Lincoln Aviator (Aviator 2WD, 4.6L 8-cyl) at 13 mpg combined, 11 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $6,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Lincoln Aviator reported?
Among the 40 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,976 miles and the middle half falls between 56,000 and 88,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.