RoadVitals

2023 Lincoln Aviator PHEV

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Jul 2, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Lincoln Aviator PHEV, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and engine categories. 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance323.1%
  • Electrical323.1%
  • Engine323.1%
  • Brakes215.4%
  • Powertrain (other)17.7%
  • Visibility17.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 2, 2026
Crash reported

I was backing into my garage and the rear collision sensor beeped. I opened the door and took one foot out of car and since the driveway is up a hill, the car started rolling forward. I must of taken pressure off the brake. I tried to stop the car but was unable. The forward collision sensor did go off and my car hit my back neighbor fence and gas supply line. Thank goodness there was no one behind the fence. No one has confirmed or inspected the problem. A warning of “ car is not in park” went on when I opened the door while backing into garage.

NHTSA ID
11748044
Incident
Jul 2, 2026
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 11, 2023

Once again, my vehicle exhibited immediate and sudden power loss while at highway speeds. Ironically, I was in transit to my dealer for the third time for this issue within my vehicle's 3,000 miles. This is incredibly unsafe at any speed, especially at highway speeds without warning. An uncommanded slowdown without any response from the accelerator pedal, and a warning on the gauge cluster stating "vehicle is slowing down". Cruise control at this time was not operational in the vehicle (another issue) and I was using my foot to control the speed. Additionally, the Bluetooth connection was not functioning, the Navigation screen nor map would even load, and I was unable to use cruise control due to an error message "cruise unavailable". We get a separate Lincoln Aviator for a loaner, and not only does reverse park assist not work, the rear camera doesn't function, either. These cars are dangerous and need to be recalled immediately and taken off the road. We plan to sell/trade ours as the soonest possibility and incur whatever financial burden that may come with it. It's not worth my family's safety, or that of someone else.

NHTSA ID
11537923
Incident
Aug 11, 2023
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 12, 2023

The rear camera is janky, the collision alert fires off at random times, and now, the main safety issue! Received a huge red triangle on the HUD and NAV screen stating that the "vehicle is shutting down" and then poof, the damn thing shut down immediately without warning. The message was on the HUD and NAV for about a second and a half and it died. The rear camera is janky, the collision alert fires off at random times, and now, the main safety issue! Received a huge red triangle on the HUD and NAV screen stating that the "vehicle is shutting down" and then poof, the [XXX] thing shut down immediately without warning. The message was on the HUD and NAV for about a second and a half and it died. Thankfully we were at surface street speeds of around 30-35 and I was in command of the vehicle. This issue has been reported on other GRAND TOURING models of the Lincoln Aviator where people are at higher speeds, such as the highway or expressway. That said, this is my wife's main vehicle and I am terrified, as well as she, to have her driving this at all hours of the day responding to emergencies at her hospital. PLEASE HELP US ALL that own this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11531764
Incident
Jun 22, 2023
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 12, 2023

Went to get in it this morning, and said no key was detected. Okay, whatever, we'll use a backup code. The screen never prompted for a backup code. We had the key inside the vehicle, so we use the Lincoln Way App to start the car and figured we can get it going from there. Nope, the car was running and everything was going, yet it won't allow us to select Drive, Reverse, or Neutral. Sat there for a bit, fumbling around and nothing worked to get the vehicle in motion. We finally hit enough buttons for the vehicle to shut off, we got out, locked the doors, plugged it in, and just allowed it a few minutes to reset. Notta. Got all this on video. I finally had to pop the hood and use the freaking 2021-2023 Explorer / Aviator Hybrid Vehicle Emergency Response Guide to kill 12v power to the thing. After all that, it allowed us to get in and drive normally. However just a few hours later... 2,600 miles on the odometer and we were driving approx 55mph and the Aviator engaged the parking brake for about half a second. Nasty noise, huge bucking from the chassis, and just a split second of extreme confusion and wondering WTF. The red "park brake" was illuminated on the dashboard, and everything seemed normal afterward. However, immediately after that incident it then disabled adaptive cruise control via a message on the dashboard (no cruise worked). We drove home without further incident, called the dealer, and they stated to call Lincoln Roadside Assistance, get it towed back to the dealer that it was just a few days ago, and they'll deliver a loaner to us. A few hours later, it's on the tow truck. This is the second time this vehicle has placed us in danger. The first issue I'll report after this is submitted. Thank you.

NHTSA ID
11531763
Incident
Jul 6, 2023
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Jul 6, 2023

On the 10th day of ownership (April 30, 2023), all cameras became inoperative. This is a known/continuing defect since 2020 yet Lincoln/Ford continue to sell these vehicles. My new car has been in and out of the shop on numerous occasions and it had no recalls according to the NHSTA and Ford websites. They have replaced 2 modules and wiring harness and, finally they agreed it was the same 360 degree camera issue that has plagued them since 2020. As of today, my VIN is listed under the 360 degree camera recall with no solution available. I'm told it is a software issue. As repairs were attempted, I also lost rear & forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control which may have since been corrected.

NHTSA ID
11530640
Incident
Apr 30, 2023

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SSM 54275

ENGINE

Some 2021-2023 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.0L EcoBoost engine, 2021-2023 Aviator vehicles equipped with a 3.0L EcoBoost or 3.0L plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) engine, 2021-2023 Edge/Nautilus vehicles equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost, 2021-2024 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost, and 2021-2024 Bronco and 2024 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a ticking/tapping or rattle type noise from the top front cover area of the engine. This noise may occur on initial start-up after a cold soak of 6 hours or more that may last for 2-5 seconds. This may be due to an internal component of the variable cam timing (VCT) unit. Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 > Diagnosis and Testing > Engine > Pinpoint Test F has been updated to include additional steps along with a video to identify the affected VCT unit that requires replacement.

TSB 24-2082

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This article supersedes TSB 24-2069 to update the vehicles affected. Some 2020-2023 Aviator 3.0L plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and/or powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P084B stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software thresholds in the PCM.

TSB 24-2069

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Some 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator 3.0L plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and/or powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P084B stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software thresholds in the PCM. To correct this condition, perform the Service Procedure below to reprogram the PCM to the latest software level via the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This TSB is superceded by TSB 24-2082

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lincoln Aviator PHEV by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023Viewing500
2022131150.3
2021401
2020100140.9

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.