Summary
The Lincoln Aviator has 38 recalls spanning 2003 through 2026, with the most serious recent issue being a 2025 model year transmission crossmember where missing or under-tightened bolts can allow the transmission to shift position and cut drive power without warning.
The 2025 model year also has a front subframe mounting bolt that may not have been tightened properly, reducing crash protection, rear side windows that can close with excessive force and pinch an occupant when using the global close feature, windshield glass with air bubbles that can reduce visibility, and an HVAC system shared with the 2026 model year that can fail and leave the windshield defroster and defogger inoperative. The 2026 model year is affected by that same HVAC issue.
The 2020 through 2022 plug-in hybrid models carry a cluster of high-voltage battery recalls. On those PHEV-equipped vehicles, a cell within the battery pack can short circuit internally, cutting drive power or creating a fire risk. Earlier repair attempts under one of those campaigns did not fully resolve the issue on some 2020-2021 PHEV examples, requiring a second round of repairs. The 2022 PHEV models have a separate issue where the charge port harness connection can come unseated and drop drive power. The 2022 model year also has front driver and passenger head restraint cushions that can detach when moved to the full forward position, reducing protection in a crash.
The 2021 model year has a steering knuckle that can fracture and reduce steering control, intake valves on 2.7L and 3.0L EcoBoost engines that can break and cause sudden engine failure, and a low-pressure fuel pump that can fail and cut engine power while driving. Incorrect rear suspension components installed due to a labeling error on some 2021 vehicles can affect handling, ride height, and braking.
Across the 2020 through 2021 span, an engine wiring harness routed near the air conditioning compressor pulley can chafe, short circuit, and start a fire. The 2020 model year specifically has a drive shaft that can fracture at its weld seam on all-wheel drive models with the 2.0L or 3.3L engine, potentially causing the vehicle to roll away in park or lose drive. A loose or missing right-side motor mount bolt on 2020-2021 models can allow the axle to separate from the engine. Some 2020 vehicles left the factory without the manual park release cover installed and with warning alerts disabled, allowing unintended rollaway. Seat belt anchor bolts at second-row outer positions on 2020 through 2026 models may be improperly secured, and similar seat belt anchor issues exist more broadly across 2020-2021 vehicles. Side airbag mounting fasteners on some 2020 models may be loose, affecting airbag deployment in a crash.
Rearview camera reliability is a recurring issue across the model run. Cell phone interference can cause the camera image to flicker or distort on 2020-2024 vehicles, and the camera can fail to display entirely in reverse on 2020-2023 models. Rear door C-pillar trim and window division bars can detach and become road hazards on 2020-2025 vehicles. On 2020-2023 models with a Revel audio system, the seat belt warning chime may not sound long enough to remind an unbelted driver; an earlier repair attempt for that
