2020 Lincoln Aviator Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2020 Aviator most often describe electrical and electronic troubles — door release buttons that stop working, cameras and center screens that blank or flicker, and occasional loss of power or starting problems — many of them showing up in the first few thousand miles. A second, later cluster involves the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners reporting harsh or delayed shifts, slipping out of gear and, in some cases, transmission replacement in the 78,000-96,000 mile range.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Harsh, delayed or slipping 10-speed transmission

   • 15 complaints (14%)
   • median 81,232 mi at 6.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe clunking or hard shifts between gears, delayed engagement after a stop, the transmission slipping out of gear at highway speed, and in some cases a downshift that feels like being hit from behind. Several owners report the dealer diagnosed internal transmission failure and replaced the unit; others were told a specific clutch pack had failed. Mostly later in life — reports cluster from roughly 35,000 up to 96,000 miles, and several involve long highway drives.

   Recall 26V4020004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive long enough to reach highway speed and include several stops; feel for clunks, hesitation or a delayed engagement into drive. Ask whether the transmission has been serviced or replaced, and whether recall 26V402000 work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle has 4960 miles and the transmission started to slow down as if I was driving a stick shift car, then 2 or 3 days later began to kick and lose power when increasing speed after a stop sign. Dealer diagnosed an internal failure on the transmission and it needs to be replaced. A couple of times in the morning after starting the vehicle, when putting the reverse gear I had my foot on the brake but the car still moved and the brakes were very stiff, I had to release the brake and apply it again in order to stop the car from moving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11331333, filed 2020-06, 4,800 miles

   “Without notice the transmission would downshift and lunge forward. So hard that it felt like we were hit from behind. When trying to accelerate it would stay in gear longer than normal and clunk forward again. Smelled burning through the vents. Also when accelerating it would slip out of gear and the rpms would increase without me being able to move and then shift hard into gear again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11538750, filed 2023-08
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Power loss or no-start with electrical faults

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off or all power dropping while driving, a no-crank condition where the starter keeps clicking, smoke or a burning smell from under the vehicle, and warning messages such as service AdvanceTrac or pre-collision assist not available appearing and clearing at random. Some owners report the vehicle shifted to neutral or failed to shift into park, and that a wiring harness replacement was diagnosed. Reported from a few hundred miles up to very high mileage; several instances occurred at low speed or shortly after start-up.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the service history for battery, alternator and wiring harness repairs, and check whether any stored codes or warning messages appear on a test drive; have a pre-purchase inspection scan the modules.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving car on side street - going about 30 mph and car lost ALL power. Stopped completely in middle of road. No power - would not restart. NO FLASHERS. Since Aviator has piano keys , the car would not go into Neutral and once we figured how to manually put car in neutral, we could not get the driver's door to close and latch. Car was placed on flatbed wrecker and driver had to tape the door shut for transportation. Luckily this happened during daylight hours and Sherriff's office sent a car to park behind us. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11606713, filed 2024-08

   “My fiance went out to start the car. The car wouldn't start, but the starter kept clicking for around 5 minutes even when she was out of the vehicle with the door shut. During that 5 minutes the car started to smoke really bad and you could smell an electrical fire. She ran in the house to get me. We started moving our other cars away from the Lincoln. As I was getting ready to call 911 the starter stopped clicking and the smoke from underneath the car went away. It has currently been at a Ford/Lincoln dealership for the past 2 weeks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11754312, filed 2026-08
3. 3
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Camera and center screen flicker, blank or invert

   • 19 complaints (17%)
   • median 1,500 mi at 0.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe the rearview image flickering between picture and black screen, flipping or inverting, or the center display going blank, sometimes at start-up and sometimes repeatedly in reverse. Several owners say the camera or image processor was replaced once or more without a lasting fix. A few link the camera trouble to a separate screen problem where the display stays bright at night or locks up. Mixed mileage — reported on new vehicles under 5,000 miles as well as later in life; described as intermittent.

   Recall 21V735000Recall 23V342000Recall 23V022000Recall 23V598000Recall 24V368000Recall 25V159000Recall 25V442000Recall 26V1230001 related service bulletin

   What to check: In reverse, watch whether the image is stable, correctly oriented and free of blue or black frames; ask the dealer whether the camera-related recalls and any software updates have been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This vehicle has been recalled at least twice for a faulty rear camera system. When vehicle is put in reverse the image on the screen flips so bad you cannot see what is behind you. The previous recalls were for this, we had it in the shop twice before the 2 recalls plus the two recalls (4 times) and cannot get a properly working rear camera. This is a safety issue because we rely on the camera for blind spots during reverse and to see behind this large vehicle. Ford cannot figure out how to fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #11446837, filed 2022-01

   “I have taken my car into the dealer at least five times due to the blue backup camera issue, I have been told by the techs that the camera has been replaced however I am still having the issue on occasion. On the early morning of Feb 16, 2024 around 5:30am, As I was backing out of my driveway I actually backed into my husband and knocked him down, he was walking behind my car, Due to the blue backup camera I was unable to see him and none of the warning lamps or messages alerted me prior to impact.”

   NHTSA complaint #11608468, filed 2024-08
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal feels stiff, vehicle creeps or rolls

   • 10 complaints (9%)
   • median 12,500 mi at 1.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe pressing the brake after shifting into drive or reverse and finding the pedal stiff or unresponsive, with the vehicle continuing to move a short distance before stopping. A few describe using the parking brake or shifting back to park to stop the vehicle, and others report the parking brake not holding on an incline. Scattered across the range — from delivery mileage up to about 90,000 miles; several describe it happening in the morning or after start-up.

   What to check: On a level surface, shift into drive and reverse with light brake pressure and confirm the pedal stays firm and the vehicle holds; also test the electronic parking brake on a slope.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 miles

   “When putting the vehicle into gear (with the brake pedal pressed) it some times begins moving and the brake pedal does not engage the brakes. This forces the driver to quickly put the car back into park to stop the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11340578, filed 2020-07, 14,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Interior door release button stops working

   • 11 complaints (10%)
   • median 2,200 mi at 0.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report the electronic button that opens the door from inside stops responding, sometimes on the driver's door and sometimes on a passenger door, leaving the manual override or reaching for the outside handle as the only way out. Some note the failure appeared within the first few thousand miles, and that a switch replacement was the repair. Others mention battery drain tied to door lock and latch faults. Often early — several complaints cite under 3,000 miles, with others at 11,000-15,000 miles.

   What to check: Open and close each door two or three times from inside using the button and confirm it releases every time; ask whether any door switch or latch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On delivery of the vehicle (6/5/2020), there was an error message on the console indicating an issue with a door lock sensor (according to the dealer). The dealership had the car for 3 days to make the repair. On 6/26/2020, we reported to the dealership that the front passenger door lock was not working and the button to open the door was inoperable. Today, 6/29/2020, the auto is completely dead. Apparently, the electrical issue drained the battery. This is a safety issue. What are we to do if we cannot get out of the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11331521, filed 2020-06, 60 miles

   “When I am inside the car, the button to open the door from the inside (drivers side) is not working. As of right now there is no way to exit the vehicle from the drivers side. When we called Galpin Lincoln to make an urgent appointment since this is a safety issue - they said there was nothing they could do and we go online and make an appointment for a month++ out. My safety is currently at risk as there is no way for me to safely get out of my car since the door does not open from the inside.”

   NHTSA complaint #11530726, filed 2023-07

Buying note. The 2020 Aviator draws a wide spread of electrical and camera complaints, many in the first few thousand miles, plus transmission reports once the vehicle is past about 75,000 miles. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes, confirmation that the open camera, seat belt and transmission recalls were completed, and a thorough test drive through all gears are the most useful checks.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.