2004 Lincoln Aviator Body & structure Problems

THE BACK LIFT GATE WAS CRACK WITH OUT ACCIDENT, FORD SHOULD RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702523

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING EAST ON THE 202 FWY IN PHOENIX AT A SPEED BETWEEN 65-68 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND BOTH SIDE AIR CURTAINS DEPLOYED. TIME: 9:30 P.M. FEB. 20, 2015. *TR

NHTSA ID

10689877

Incident

Feb 20, 2015

Mileage

129,802 mi

AS I WAS EXITING A STORE AND WALKING TOWARD MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A BLACK STREAK ON THE BACK OF MY LIFTGATE. WHEN I WAS CLOSER, I SAW THAT IT WAS A CRACK IN THE BACK OF THE LIFT GATE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE EMBLEM OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFT GATE. THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE TO ENTER THE GROCERY STORE BECAUSE I HAD TO WALK AROUND THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO MAKE MY WAY INTO THE STORE AND ALWAYS LOOK AT THE BACK END TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD PULLED IN FAR ENOUGH FOR OTHERS TO PASS. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE HAD BACKED INTO MY VEHICLE BUT THERE WERE NO OTHER MARKS, DENTS, SCUFFS, ETC. I WAS CURIOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND FOUND THAT THIS SAME CRACK HAS OCCURRED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF LINCOLN AVIATORS AND WELL AS FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. FURTHER RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS FRACTURE WAS, IN FACT, A DESIGN FLAW THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE. SO DISAPPOINTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568568

Incident

Dec 19, 2013

Mileage

71,000 mi

WHY WASHING SUV NOTICED A STRESS CRACK ON MY REAR LIFT GATE. BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I NOTICED THIS CRACK ON OTHER LINCOLN/FORD SUV'S. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566746

Incident

Jan 5, 2010

Mileage

73,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ONCE IT EXPIRED I'VE EXPERIENCED EVERY SINGLE COMPLAINT PEOPLE HAVE STATED ONLINE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. AS OF TODAY (12/02/13) IT STILL HAS ONLY 74,000 MILES ON IT AND THE LATEST PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. I AM A STAY AT HOME MOM AND WEAR-AND-TEAR ON IT IS VERY MINIMAL (GROCERY SHOPPING, TO AND FROM SCHOOL, ETC.). I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS ON A "SO CALLED" LUXURY VEHICLE BEFORE! I'VE HAD BAD COILS IN CYLINDERS 3, 4, 5 (TWICE), AND 7 REPLACED UNDER LINCOLN'S RECALL. THE TAILGATE PANEL CRACKED (JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS VEHICLE AND THE MOUNTAINEERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT), BUT THEY WON'T FIX IT. IN ADDITION, A WHITE PLASTIC PIECE FELL OUT OF THE TOP HALF OF THE TAILGATE AND NOW IT WILL NOT CLOSE ANYMORE THEREFORE I CAN NO LONGER TAKE IT THROUGH CAR WASHES. THE BRACKET FOR THE SUN VISOR ON MY PASSENGER SIDE COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AND CAUSED THE VISOR TO SUDDENLY DANGLE FROM THE ROOF OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. NOW, I CANNOT FLIP IT UP AND IT CAUSES A BLIND SPOT. THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH DRAINS MY BATTERY ON A REGULAR BASIS AND I HAVE TO HAVE MY JUMPED. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES NOW BECAUSE IT IS HAS SHORTED OUT. TO COMPLICATE MATTERS, EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THESE REPAIRS, THEY INSIST ON DOING A "DIAGNOSTICS CHECK" AND EVERY TIME THEY WANT TO CHARGE A FEE FOR THIS SERVICE. EVERY TIME THE PRICE IS DIFFERENT...SOME TIMES ITS $50, SOMETIMES ITS $100. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554425

Incident

Jul 23, 2013

Mileage

72,614 mi

THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW ON THE HATCH HAS CRACKED AROUND THE EMBLEM. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF AVIATOR'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. WE PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THIS CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE KEPT IT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ACCORDING TO LINCOLN, THIS IS ONLY COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS HATCH WAS NOT ENGINEERED CORRECTLY AND LINCOLN SHOULD FIX IT.

NHTSA ID

10397679

Incident

Apr 14, 2010

MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR, REAR WINDOW PANEL DEVELOPED A CRACK, WHICH I PAID FOR REPAIR. NOW AT 52,000 MILES WITH A PREMIUM EXTENDED WARRANTY IT HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER CRACK. MY LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW RELATED TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND YET LINCOLN WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. IF THE CRACK CONTINUES IT COULD BECOME A PEDESTRIAN HAZARD AND QUITE DANGEROUS. THIS IS MY 5TH. LINCOLN AND MY LAST UNLESS LINCOLN STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370469

Incident

Oct 28, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi

WITHOUT IMPACT THE TAILGATE APPLIQUE OF MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR CRACKED. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS COMMON AMONG FORD EXPLORERS MERC. MOUNTAINEERS AND AVIATORS AS REPORTED BY MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND VARIOUS BODYSHOPS AND THOUSANDS ON THE INTERNET WITH SIMILAR DEFECTS. FORD WONT FIX IF ITS OUT OF WARRANTY . THE BROKEN TAILGATE SECTION CAN DISLODGE AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO PEDESTRIANS OR MOTORISTS. PLEASE ADVISE AS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD MANUFACTURES DEFECT. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10363862

Incident

Nov 2, 2010

Mileage

30,292 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH SMOKE CIRCULATED THROUGH THE VENTS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE; AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THE SMOKE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL HAD DETERIORATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. AFTER THE SERVICE REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHICH WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL FAILURES AND THEY ACCEPTED LIABILITY FOR THE RADIO AND STEERING COLUMN REPAIRS THAT FAILED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY DUE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILURES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED IN MARCH OF 2009; AND FIVE MONTHS LATER THE TIRES HAD WORN TO THE METAL IN RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED FROM INEXPENSIVE KOREAN PARTS IN THE TRANSFER CASE. THE TRANSFER CASE AND U JOINT WERE REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED ANYONE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LIFE WAS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ALSO, THERE WAS A CRACK UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE. THERE WAS RECALL ON THE REARLIFT. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMERS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE ENTIRE SHIFTING MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE WHILE MAKING A TURN. UPDATED 12/17/10

NHTSA ID

10339762

Incident

Mar 1, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE LIFTGATE ON THE BACK OF MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR CRACKED ON ONE SIDE OF THE LINCOLN SYMBOL. TOOK IT TO LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FROM THE COLD BECAUSE THERE WAS A WEAK SPOT THERE. WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW OF THE WEAK SPOT, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. AT THE TIME I DECLINED TO FIX IT. I JUST NOTICED THE OTHER DAY THAT THERE IS NOW A CRACK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LINCOLN SYMBOL. I WAS TOLD IF I DON'T HAVE IT FIXED, THAT THE BACK GLASS COULD FALL OUT. SO NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT LINCOLN IS AWARE OF FIXED. THIS IS THE SECOND LINCOLN THAT I HAVE OWNED AND I DON'T THINK I WILL BE PURCHASING ANOTHER ONE AFTER THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10302235

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE SIDE OF THE TAILGATE NEAR THE LINCOLN EMBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE; HOWEVER, THERE IS ANOTHER CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION. HER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRACK IS DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AGAIN AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51525. UPDATED 04/16/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/13/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10298723

Incident

Apr 15, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE DAMAGED/CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247451

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

58,000 mi

OUR 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR HAS DEVELOPED A SMALL 6 INCH CRACK IN THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING AND BELOW THE BACK WINDOW. WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE WERE THEN TOLD TO CALL FORD DIRECTLY AND WERE TOLD THAT YES THEY KNOW ABOUT IT BUT THEY ARE NOT OFFERING ANY HELP TO CUSTOMERS. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE THERE ARE 100'S IF NOT 1,000'S OF FORUM POSTS DISCUSSING THIS DEFECT. A PRIMARY FORUM WOULD BE ON THE EDMUNDS CAR SITE. MY ISSUE IS THAT THIS CRACK COULD NOT BE CAUSED BY ANYTHING BUT A DEFECT AND THEREFORE FORD SHOULD BE LIABLE. THE LOCATION IS SUCH THAT DEBRIS, ETC. COULD NOT CAUSE THIS CRACK. FORD HAS QUOTED US OVER $ 1,000 TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM AND UNTIL WE DO THE CAR IS NOW SUSPECT TO WATER DAMAGE IF IT WERE TO RAIN. THANK YOU . *TR

NHTSA ID

10247391

Incident

Oct 30, 2008

Mileage

56,000 mi

THE BACK HATCH PANEL CRACKED WAS FIXED , THE STEERING NOT RIGHT SOME TIMES ITS HARD TO STEER. MAIN PROBLEM IS CYLINDER COILS GOING BAD ALOT. NOW #8 COIL WENT BAD AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 2TIMES, AND ITS STILL IN THE SHOP THEY CANT FIND OUT WHY IT KEEPS COMING UP #8 STILL MISFIRING .. THEY THINK ITS THE HEAD NOW. I UNDERSTAND LINCOLN HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS THAT THEY HAVE ALLOWED A 10YR. EXTENDED WARRANTY ON ALL THE COILS. IS THIS RIGHT ? I WANT LINCOLN TO DO SOMETHING. I AM SO MAD RIGHT NOW . I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER LINCOLN. HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240361

Incident

Jun 20, 2008

Mileage

48,000 mi

2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LIFTGATE CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR. THE CRACK IS ABOUT AS LONG AS AN INDEX FINGER. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CRACK WAS STRESS AND SEVERAL PANELS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST. *MC *JB

NHTSA ID

10187890

Incident

Jan 1, 1901