Lincoln Aviator years to avoid (and the best years)
232 NHTSA owner complaints and 49 recalls across 5 model years, 2020 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 232complaints
- 49recalls
- 8reported crashes
- 3reported fires
- 5reported injuries
Which Lincoln Aviator years should you avoid?
No Lincoln Aviator model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Lincoln Aviator year has 39 complaints on file. The busiest year is the 2020 (108).
What are the best Lincoln Aviator years?
The Lincoln Aviator years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2023 (24), 2021 (39) and 2022 (45). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | 0.4× | 15 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 24 | 0.6× | 16 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 45 | 1.2× | 21 | 4 | 3 | Few red flags | Fuel system |
| 2021 | 39 | 1.0× | 28 | 1 | 2 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2020 | 108 | 2.8× | 30 | 2 | 0 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 232 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Electrical & infotainment86 (37%)
- Engine & powertrain52 (22%)
- Structure & body37 (16%)
- Other systems22 (9%)
- Brakes18 (8%)
Recalls (49)
Safety · 26V470000 · Jul 2026 · model year 2025
Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 26V451000 · Jul 2026 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Transmission · 26V402000 · Jun 2026 · model years 2020, 2021
Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 26V165000 · Mar 2026 · model year 2025
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.
Seat belts · 26V159000 · Mar 2026 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Body & glass · 26V117000 · Mar 2026 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 26V123000 · Mar 2026 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Body & glass · 25V730000 · Oct 2025 · model year 2025
Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V687000 · Oct 2025 · model year 2025
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.
Exterior lighting · 25V543000 · Aug 2025 · model year 2025
Trailer tail lights that do not illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Body & glass · 25V484000 · Jul 2025 · model year 2025
A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 25V455000 · Jul 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V442000 · Jun 2025 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V393000 · Jun 2025 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Structure · 25V407000 · Jun 2025 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 25V338000 · May 2025 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
An audible warning chime that does not properly alert of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Electrical system · 25V349000 · May 2025 · model years 2020, 2021
Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Structure · 25V316000 · May 2025 · model year 2025
A loose subframe bolt may reduce the vehicle's performance in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 25V159000 · Mar 2025 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 25V164000 · Mar 2025 · model year 2025
Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 25V093000 · Feb 2025 · model years 2020, 2021
A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Transmission · 25V020000 · Jan 2025 · model year 2025
An improperly secured transmission can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V852000 · Nov 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
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.
Safety · 24V801000 · Oct 2024 · model year 2025
The loss of the rearview camera image while in reverse can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Engine · 24V635000 · Aug 2024 · model years 2021, 2022
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V368000 · May 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
A flickering or distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 23V626000 · Sep 2023 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Safety · 23V598000 · Aug 2023 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V342000 · May 2023 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 23V070000 · Feb 2023 · model year 2023
The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Safety · 23V022000 · Jan 2023 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 22V953000 · Dec 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
An audible warning chime that does not properly alert of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Structure · 22V454000 · Jun 2022 · model year 2022
Improperly heat-treated engine rails may reduce the vehicle's structural protection in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. In addition, an engine rail may detach and contact the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 22V247000 · Apr 2022 · model year 2022
A detached head restraint cushion can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fuel system · 22V088000 · Feb 2022 · model year 2022
A detached fuel filler tube can result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Suspension · 21V870000 · Nov 2021 · model year 2021
A rear suspension module with incorrect components may affect vehicle handling, ride height, and braking characteristics, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 21V735000 · Sep 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 21V652000 · Aug 2021 · model year 2021
Improper deployment of a side air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Body & glass · 21V534000 · Jul 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
Damaged electrical wires may short-circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Safety · 21V223000 · Mar 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
A backup camera that displays a blank or distorted image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 21V154000 · Mar 2021 · model year 2020
Broken RLCA bolts can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Body & glass · 21V014000 · Jan 2021 · model year 2020
A washer system contaminated with brake fluid can reduce the driver's ability to clear windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 20V788000 · Dec 2020 · model years 2020, 2021
With a loose motor mount, motor vibration may cause the axle to disconnect from the engine and could result in loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 20V726000 · Nov 2020 · model year 2021
The improperly manufactured knuckle may fracture, reducing steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 20V693000 · Nov 2020 · model year 2020
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.
Airbags · 20V497000 · Aug 2020 · model year 2020
If the side air bag or seat back fasteners were not properly tightened, the side air bag deployment could be affected, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fuel system · 19V859000 · Dec 2019 · model year 2020
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Safety · 19V633000 · Aug 2019 · model year 2020
A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Transmission · 19V575000 · Aug 2019 · model year 2020
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.