NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
This page covers 16 recalls, 10 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2025 Lincoln Aviator.
20–21 mpg combined
11.2–11.8 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The most consistent pattern owners of the 2025 Lincoln Aviator report centers on the second-row seats. Multiple owners describe the seats sliding forward or reclining on their own while the vehicle is in motion, with at least one report pointing to a stuck control button as a possible trigger. Steering draws a notable single report of the wheel locking up during low-speed maneuvers, with the owner noting it happened repeatedly within the first few hundred miles. Forward collision avoidance also surfaces across a couple of complaints, with owners describing unintended acceleration or deceleration while using cruise control. One isolated report describes early drivetrain trouble, grinding noises leading to transfer case and transmission replacement on a vehicle with under 200 miles, though that appears to be a single occurrence. The self-moving second-row seats remain the clearest repeated pattern in this complaint set.
10
Total Complaints
By System
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator has 16 recalls, the most serious involving the transmission valve body, which can cause reverse gear to fail or the vehicle to lurch forward unexpectedly while in reverse or neutral.
Several other drivetrain and structural fastener concerns exist alongside that issue. The transmission crossmember bolts may be loose or missing, allowing the transmission to shift and cut drive power without warning. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may also be loose, which can cause loss of vehicle control or a trailer to detach while towing. A front subframe mounting bolt may not be properly tightened, which can reduce crash protection. On the occupant restraint side, second-row outer seat belt anchor bolts may be loose and unable to hold an occupant in a crash, and second-row seat switches can bind and cause seats to unlatch, fold, or slide while the vehicle is moving.
Visibility and electronic issues make up another cluster. Air bubbles in the windshield glass can obstruct the driver's view, and the rearview camera image can drop out while reversing, including when speed reaches 10 mph. Certain driver assistance features can also go offline alongside the camera. Rear windows closed remotely via the key fob or the Lincoln app may not reverse direction quickly enough when they contact an object, raising a pinch risk. When towing, the body control module may prevent trailer tail lights from illuminating. Rear door window bar and C-pillar trim can shed from the vehicle and become a road hazard, and a missing airbag warning label rounds out the list.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The Image Processing Module A may unexpectedly restart, causing the rearview camera and advanced safety features—including collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring—to stop working.
What the fix does
A software update will be installed in the Image Processing Module A at no cost, either at a dealership or wirelessly to your vehicle.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts securing the seat belt anchors at the second-row outer seats may not be properly tightened, potentially allowing the seat belts to come loose.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten, repair, or replace the second-row outer seat belt anchor bolts as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield glass contains visible air bubbles that can block the driver's view through the windshield.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the windshield and replace it if necessary at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield glass may contain manufacturing defects that cause air bubbles to form in the glass.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership for windshield inspection and replacement if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts that attach the trailer hitch assembly may become loose, which could cause the hitch to separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The body control module may be improperly manufactured, causing trailer tail lights to not illuminate when towing.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the body control module. Vehicles with under 9,000 miles get automatic replacement; higher-mileage vehicles receive a functional check first.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software problem may prevent the rear window auto-reversal system from working when closing windows with the key fob or LincolnWay app. A rear window may not stop and retract if it detects an object.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership to update the body control module software.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side rear windows may apply excessive force to objects before reversing when closed using the global closing feature.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the Body Control Module software to correct the window closing behavior.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may not be bonded securely enough, allowing the trim to separate and detach from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair or replace the C-pillar trim and window bars at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, causing the seats to unlatch, fold, or slide unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch and replace the bezel around the switch as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A mounting bolt that secures the front subframe may not have been tightened properly during manufacturing, potentially causing it to loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the subframe bolts and tighten them as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, causing reverse gear to fail or the vehicle to move forward unexpectedly when in reverse or neutral.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts securing the transmission crossmember may be missing or loose, allowing the transmission to shift and cut power to the wheels.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the transmission crossmember and replace any loose or missing bolts or the crossmember itself if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission may not be properly secured because the cross member bolts holding it in place are loose or missing.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the bolts and replace them if loose. If bolts are missing, they'll replace the entire cross member and install new bolts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image stops displaying when the vehicle reaches 10 MPH or faster, blocking the rear visibility required by federal safety standards.
What the fix does
Ford will update the accessory protocol interface module software through an over-the-air update or at a dealer, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
