Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 81 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Lincoln Aviator. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 81 · page 1 of 4
MY SUV MISFIRES, SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEARS, STALLS AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS, ACCELERATES AT STOP LIGHTS. OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE AC IS TURNED ON, THERE IS A VERY LOUD CLUNK SOUND.
HIT A GUARDRAIL ON THE PARKWAY AND ONLY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
BACKED UP VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTED TRANSMISSION TO DRIVE PRESSED ACCELERATOR VEHICLE ROCKETED BACKWARD BECAUSE SHIFT CABLE DISLODGED FROM ATTACHMENT ON TRANSMISSION.
BATTERY KEEPS GETTING DRAINED, I HAVE HAVE HAD SIX NEW BATTERY'S WITHIN TWO YEARS. ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED.
SHIFTER DOES NOT COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT TRYING MANY MANY TIMES BEFORE IT RELEASES.
THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFT WHEN TURNING INTO THE FIRST AS IT GOES INTO SECOND MAKES IN AWFUL NOISE. WHEN I PARKED IT AND TRIED TO START IT AND IT WAS DEAD.THE MECHANIC FIGURE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STARTER HE GOT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO APPLIED STARTER TOLD ME TO START IT AND IT DID AND IT PINNED HIM UNDER THE VEHICLE.THEY LATER SAID THE BELT HAD POPPED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEN LEAKING A LITE FLUID THEY BELIEVED IT TO BE THE DIFFERENTIAL OIL. ITS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I HAD IT TOWED TO BOHN FORD 6/5/17THEY ARE CHARGING 350.00 TO REPLACE THE BELT.CITY ST. LATER PARK IT AT WALMART PARKING LOT WHERE THE PEOPLE HELPED PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE MECHANIC.THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACK WHEN PUT IN DRIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 08/29/17*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THERE WAS NO CRASH INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRASH DETECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
THE BACK LIFT GATE WAS CRACK WITH OUT ACCIDENT, FORD SHOULD RECALL. *TR
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
I TRIED TO PULL OFF AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND NOTHING. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING INTO A CRASH. I AM NOW TOLD FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASE MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR LUX WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT AND ALWAYS HAD IT SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT I WAS MAKING A GOOD DECISION WHEN PURCHASING A LINCOLN. I'M A SINGLE PARENT AND WANTED A RELIABLE VEHICLE. WORST DECISION I EVER MADE!!! FIRST IT STARTED WITH THE GEAR SHIFT GETTING STUCK AND NEEDING REPLACED. THEN I HAD TO REPLACE ALL COIL PACKS. THE AIR CONDITION STARTED MAKING A FUNNY NOISE WHEN YOU TURN IT ON BUT HASN'T BEEN FIXED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CAN NEVER GET IT TO DUPLICATE BUT HAPPENS TO ME ALL THE TIME! NEXT BOTH WHEEL HUBS. THE SECOND ONE BREAKING ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE PENNSYLVANIA. THANKFULLY I NOTICED A WEIRD NOISE AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER (I HAD TO WAIT ON FOR 2 HOURS) SAID HAD I EVEN DROVE 30 MORE FEET I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT WITH BOTH OF MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT 70 MILES/HR. LAST WEEK BOTH CONTROL ARMS 3 DAYS LATER LEAVES ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME ONLY COMING INCHES FROM HITTING ME AFTER I RELEASE THE BREAK AND PRESS THE GAS HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND NOTHING HAPPENS! DID I MENTION THIS HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO WORK! AGAIN WAITED FOR 45 MIN FOR A TOW TRUCK. NOW I HAVE A ESTIMATED OF $4850 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!!!!!!! I THANKFULLY WASN'T IN ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENT BUT CAME VERY CLOSE TWICE. I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I'M GOING TO DO NOW BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE $4850 AND IF I DID I THINK I WOULD RATHER SUE FORD! LAST BUT NOT LEAST I STILL OWE $6850 ON MY LOAN! THIS IS SO UNFAIR! *TR
SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK FROM REVERSE SOMETIMES WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM PARK POSITION. SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN YOUR SHIFTER SHOWS IN DRIVE AND YOU END UP STILL GOING IN REVERSE. READ OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
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
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
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
THE CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN 4-20-07 JUST OVER 50,000 MILES. WE WERE TOLD BY FORD TWO CYLINDER HEADS7 &8 HAD ISSUES AND WOULD REQUIRE A $5900.00 O.H. THEY DID OFFER US $1500.00 TOWARDS THE ENGINE. WE LEARNED LATTER, FORD HAD A INTER-OFFICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS DID ALL-DATA. NOW AT 126,00 WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE ENGINE OVERHAULED. FORD SHOULD BE MANDATED TO COVER THE FULL COST OF THESE REPAIRS. THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 2004. *TR
1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE AT 52,000 -REPLACED COILS (RECALLED) , BRAKE SWITCH, COST JUST TO LEAD AND FIND ISSUES AFTER FULL SERVICE MAINTENANCE, $1500. 2 YRS IN, TRANSMISSION DUE TO THING THAT IS ATTACHED AND LOOKS LIKE A BRAIN PLATE TO THE TRANSMISSION, (SMS PACK)STILL OWING PLUS NOW, UPCOMING ON LATEST TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER/ AT 84,000 :( S CAR HAS TAKEN ME COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN AND IN THE HOLE OWING $12,000 + $3000 FOR NEWEST REPAIR. JUST GOT CAR BACK AND NOW IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A POTENTIAL SMALL DELAY AND WANTS TO JUMP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHICH I JUST EXPERIENCED YESTERDAY. WHY IS THIS CAR STILL ON THE ROAD AND NOT RECALLED. THE PROBLEMS GO ON AND ON AND ON. I EMAILED FORD AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THEIR DEALERSHIP WHERE I CAN BE ROBBED EVEN FURTHER. SAD!! THESE ARE ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF LINKS THAT ARE OUT THERE DUE TO LINCOLN HAVING KNOWN ISSUES. I SPOKE WITH A CAR SALESMAN THIS LAST WEEK AND HE HAS A 2005 AVIATOR AND JUST REPLACED THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION AT 92,000 MILES. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2004/LINCOLN/LS/POWER_TRAIN/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T936173-POSSIBLE_SOLUTION_FOR_THE_COMMON_LINCOLN_LS_TRANS_PROBLEMS.HTML HTTP://VIN.CENTRALCLEARINGHOUSE.COM/CENTRAL/VIN.NSF/0/22BFF5BE198030B78825777D002F814D HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/SHIFT-LEVER-STUCK-IN-DRIVE- *TR
I HAD JUST GOTTEN ONTO THE HIGHWAY,AT ABOUT 40 MPH THE REAR WHEELS STARTED TO SKIP AND JERK ALSO THERE WAS A LOUD CLUCK FROM UNDER THE FRONT....THE MECHANIC FOUND THE TRANSFER CASE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO CHEAP FORD PARTS..... *TR
I PURCHASED MY TRUCK USED IN DECEMBER 2011 AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT CONSTANT PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD RANDOMLY ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN. OR IF BUTTON PUSHED NOTHING AT ALL WOULD HAPPEN. WHILE THE HEATER WORKS, IT EMITS A DEATH RATTLE BEFORE BLOWING AIR. MY AC DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR. THE MOST DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR HAS BEEN REPLACING THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING AND WHEEL BARING. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ONLY MOUNTED ON ONE SIDE AND WAS LEAKING AND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. THE MECHANIC WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO SHAKE MY WHEELS WITH HIS BARE HANDS. THE FRONT END STUFF ACTUALLY DROPPED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS I AS DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND HAD TO BE TOWED ON A FLAT BED BECAUSE THE FRONT END WAS SO DAMAGED. REPAIR COSTS $1400. AND I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN! PRIOR TO THIS I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARING AND BALL JOINTS. FORD DOES NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT! *TR
MY LINCOLN AVIATOR STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2011. MY WIFE TOOK THE AVIATOR TO THE AAA CAR CARE CENTER TO FIND AND REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE AAA CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN PLACED THE AVIATOR ON THE LIFT AND DISCOVERED THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WAS HANGING FREELY AND LITERALLY SWINGING UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE WELDING THAT HOLDS THE MOUNT TO WHICH THE DIFFERENTIAL UNTIL IS BOLTED, BROKE FROM THE FRAME. THIS ISSUE OF A DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT WELD BREAKING FREE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BY THE AAA CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN OR THE AAA SERVICE MANAGER WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. FURTHERMORE, THE MOUNT WAS ONLY WELDED ON ONE SIDE (SIDE CLOSEST TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE). I VISITED THE LOCAL LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE WITH MY AVIATOR?S DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ONLY BEING WELDED ON ONE SIDE AND ASKED TO SEE AN AVIATOR OR EXPLORER THAT WOULD HAVE THE SAME DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING SYSTEM. THIS LINCOLN DEALERSHIP HAD AN EXPLORER UP ON THE LIFT AND SHOWED ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ON ALL AVIATORS AND EXPLORERS DO INDEED HAVE THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT WELDED ON BOTH SIDES TO THE FRAME. THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVE SHAFT BECOMING DISLODGED IS EXCEEDINGLY HIGH AND COULD POSE A FATAL SCENARIO. I AM ASKING FOR LINCOLN TO INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL ERROR OF ONLY HAVING ONE WELD SEAM HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT MOUNT TO THE FRAME AND INSPECT FOR ANY FURTHER DAMAGES AS A RESULT, IN ADDITION TO INSPECTING FOR OTHER AREAS OF FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS IN NO WAY THE ERROR OF THE CONSUMER OR DRIVING BEHAVIOR. THIS ISSUE POINTS DIRECTLY TO THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND INTEGRITY OF THE WELD AND QUALITY CONTROL OF LINCOLN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TRIED TO CHANGE GEARS BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BUT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,291.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM DROPPED THE VEHICLE DOWN UPON STARTING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE AND DRIVE LOW TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
THE LEVER (AN "L" SHAPED LEVER) ON THE MIDDLE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE. WHILE PRESSING DOWN ON THE LEVER, THE LEVER SWUNG OVER AND HIT MY THUMB WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT FRACTURED MY THUMB. IT APPEARS THAT THE COIL/SPRING ACTION IN THE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. UPDATED 11/25/11 *BF UPDATED 11/30/11 *TR
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.
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