2020 Lincoln Aviator Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 Lincoln Aviator, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical3827.5%
- Driver assistance2618.8%
- Powertrain (other)1813.0%
- Brakes107.2%
- Body & structure85.8%
- Engine85.8%
- Visibility85.8%
- Interior & seats53.6%
- Steering42.9%
- Exterior lighting42.9%
- Suspension32.2%
- Seat belts21.4%
- Other / unspecified21.4%
- Fuel system21.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
My fiance went out to start the car. The car wouldn't start, but the starter kept clicking for around 5 minutes even when she was out of the vehicle with the door shut. During that 5 minutes the car started to smoke really bad and you could smell an electrical fire. She ran in the house to get me. We started moving our other cars away from the Lincoln. As I was getting ready to call 911 the starter stopped clicking and the smoke from underneath the car went away. It has currently been at a Ford/Lincoln dealership for the past 2 weeks. They said that the starter fried that battery. This was really traumatic for my fiance because she constantly drives our kids around in the car. Now she's terrified that the car will catch fire again. We have video but it will not let me upload.
I own a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. After starting the vehicle, I exited without intentionally placing the vehicle in gear. The vehicle began rolling backward unexpectedly after I exited. I was struck and injured by the vehicle, resulting in a laceration to my shin requiring eight stitches. At no point did I intentionally place the vehicle in a position that would allow it to move. The vehicle did not adequately engage Park or activate any automatic safety features to prevent movement when the driver exited. This incident raises serious concerns about the reliability of the electronic shifter system and automatic park/braking safety features. This failure created a dangerous condition and resulted in physical injury. The dealership states it cannot reproduce the problem nor can they determine what caused the vehicle to roll back. There were no warnings prior to the failure.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am filing a safety complaint regarding a 2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve VIN [XXX] involving recurring safety-related electrical and visibility concerns. The vehicle has experienced repeated service-related issues involving suspension systems, electrical inspections, camera/display concerns, and manufacturer customer satisfaction programs. Most significantly, the vehicle is subject to an active manufacturer safety recall involving the SYNC/rearview camera display system. The recall states that the rearview camera image and display may become inverted or flipped, impairing rear visibility and increasing crash risk. This defect directly impacts driver visibility and safe vehicle operation while reversing. The vehicle has undergone repeated dealership servicing and diagnostic evaluations, yet the broader operational and safety concerns remain unresolved. The vehicle was also sold as a Lincoln Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, creating reasonable reliance that the vehicle met enhanced inspection and safety standards. I believe the recurring nature of these defects, combined with the active recall and repeated repair activity, demonstrates a broader safety-related defect pattern warranting regulatory review and investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
To Whom It May Concern, Please see attached formal notice regarding recurring defects, safety-related recall issues, Certified Pre-Owned representations, and financing concerns associated with my 2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve VIN [XXX] . This matter involves: • recurring suspension and electrical concerns; • safety-related rearview camera/SYNC recall issues; • repeated dealership repair activity; • diminished reliability and value; • Certified Pre-Owned reliance; • and unresolved manufacturer-level concerns despite extensive servicing history. Please escalate this matter immediately to executive customer relations and manufacturer review. I am requesting: • a formal manufacturer investigation, • preservation of all records associated with this VIN, • and review for buyback, goodwill compensation, warranty relief, or other global resolution options. Please confirm receipt and provide a case number immediately. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into park(P), and the gear shifter could not be shifted out of park(P). The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired, and the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Upon taking the vehicle to a collision repair shop, the contact was informed that the gear shifter had failed to shift out of park(P). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the failure was associated with the recall. The contact was advised that the vehicle would be repaired at the owner's expense because the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the transmission was shifted to drive (D), but the vehicle failed to move while the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the engine was revving. The messages "Park Brake Malfunction Service", "System Braking Issue", "Service Advancetrac", "Park Malfunction Service Now", and "Check Brake System" were displayed. Additionally, the vehicle previously hesitated to accelerate while driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,635.
while moving in reverse, the vehicle automatic breaking system engages on and off giving a jerking movement of the car and makes you feel like you hit something. Once the vehicle is placed into Drive mode the same thing happens with the breaking system. because of this the check vehicle lights come on and gives a "Hill start assist warning" also "Pre-collision Assist Not Available". Also all wheel drive mode is not available and the drive mode selection no longer works. Took the car to the Lincoln dealership and they said it is a known problem and that there is a TSB out on this issue. The vehicle has only 66,000 miles on it and it is out of warranty. How can there not be a recall on this issue? They said they need to replace two shafts in the front end costing $5,000.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Glass portion of passenger side rear view mirror fell off as vehicle was exiting driveway possibly due to defective adhesive much like the safety recall on the door pillar trim. Incident was captured on home surveillance camera.
No one was in the back seat when this happened. The back passenger door flung open while driving down the road. Immediately pulled off the road and it would not latch! Drove immediately to the dealership and got a loaner. Dealership stated it was the latch and repaired in a day or two.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION MAY BRIEFLY ENGAGE IN PARK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL MOVING.
My wife went to a friends house to drop something off, pulled in the driveway, pushed the Park button, got out of the vehicle, as she was walking away the car drove through their garage door. We paid about $3300 to have their door replaced. We just recently received a recall 26V402 that talks about this issue and it currently says there is not a remedy for it at this point.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a humming sound coming from the sunroof. Additionally, the contact noticed a fluttering sound coming from underneath the vehicle and the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the sunroof assembly needed to be adjusted. In addition, the contact was informed that the undershields on the front under-carriage of the vehicle were warped due to fractured bolts. The contact was informed that the bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 59,928.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The 3rd row headrest will no longer stay in the up position, creating a safety hazard during a accident. I've already had to repair it once. Seems to be a common problem in Ford's.
Driver side and passenger seats will not recline. The back will move forward and all other parts will adjust properly, but it always stops at a certain point that is clearly not as far as it will recline. I had this issue fixed at the dealership under warranty in December and less than a month later, the drivers side it doing the same thing. I see that the car's system automatically updated on 12/29 and I'm wondering if the system updates are causing this. This could be a safety issue if someone was stuck in a position where the seat is leaned too far forward.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated while pulling out of a driveway at 5 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, the tires locked up, and the vehicle veered to the right into rocks and bushes, causing damages to the front passenger's side axle. The message "Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where a mobile independent mechanic replaced the front passenger's side axle. Additionally, the mechanic informed the contact that the battery had experienced an electrical shortage, and the battery was replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering harness and knuckle had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for the VIN to be added in Ford Campaign Number: 20S69. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
AWD, Adaptive Cruise Control, infoTrac, and Collisiom assistance lights continue going off while on freeways. Have brought in several times in less than a year and I can’t imagine that the ABS module is the issue as they reinstalled and it didn’t work along with replacement of numerous sensors. Please look into this
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The map light on the front passenger side would intermittently turn on while driving. This was concerning at night as it was quite distracting. It required driver intervention when operating the vehicle alone and limited visibility in the cabin at night while driving.
the radio screen at night will not dim/switch to night mode and it's a bright spotlight in your face while driving. This is blinding and dangerous. I believe this is a software glitch and I don’t believe Lincoln is in a hurry to fix it unless the NHTSA steps in like they did for the back up camera issue. In my photos I’m including you can see it is night with the headlights on yet the screen is in daytime mode almost washing out the camera lens due to it’s brightness. I’m also including a link to reform or discussions are picking up about this issue. As it is not just me noticing this. https://lincolnforums.com/forums/threads/%E2%80%9Cnight%E2%80%9D-display-background-bug.40837/#post-733751 For comparison I included one photo with green highlights to show what night mode is supposed to look like when it works.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am filing a safety complaint regarding a 2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve VIN [XXX] involving recurring safety-related electrical and visibility concerns. The vehicle has experienced repeated service-related issues involving suspension systems, electrical inspections, camera/display concerns, and manufacturer customer satisfaction programs. Most significantly, the vehicle is subject to an active manufacturer safety recall involving the SYNC/rearview camera display system. The recall states that the rearview camera image and display may become inverted or flipped, impairing rear visibility and increasing crash risk. This defect directly impacts driver visibility and safe vehicle operation while reversing. The vehicle has undergone repeated dealership servicing and diagnostic evaluations, yet the broader operational and safety concerns remain unresolved. The vehicle was also sold as a Lincoln Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, creating reasonable reliance that the vehicle met enhanced inspection and safety standards. I believe the recurring nature of these defects, combined with the active recall and repeated repair activity, demonstrates a broader safety-related defect pattern warranting regulatory review and investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicle began making a low tapping noise in the front passenger side approximately 2 months ago, which has gradually become louder. It is much more apparent when driving at slower speeds. More recently the tapping noise has been accompanied by a squeaking noise when the wheel is turned, when driving over bumps, when removing the foot from the brake at a red light, when putting the vehicle into drive after being parked all day, as well as when anyone enters/exits the parked vehicle (leading me to believe it has something to do with the suspension). The front brakes were recently replaced and everything appeared normal when the wheel was removed by mechanic. Shields underneath the vehicle were also checked and are all appropriately tight, not loose anywhere. Exact problem remains unknown at this time, vehicle is scheduled for diagnostics at the dealership in just over a month from now.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V093000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V735000 (Back Over Prevention), 22V953000 (Seat Belts) and 23V342000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle began making a low tapping noise in the front passenger side approximately 2 months ago, which has gradually become louder. It is much more apparent when driving at slower speeds. More recently the tapping noise has been accompanied by a squeaking noise when the wheel is turned, when driving over bumps, when removing the foot from the brake at a red light, when putting the vehicle into drive after being parked all day, as well as when anyone enters/exits the parked vehicle (leading me to believe it has something to do with the suspension). The front brakes were recently replaced and everything appeared normal when the wheel was removed by mechanic. Shields underneath the vehicle were also checked and are all appropriately tight, not loose anywhere. Exact problem remains unknown at this time, vehicle is scheduled for diagnostics at the dealership in just over a month from now.
PASSENGER FRONT CV JOINT BALL BEARINGS WENT BAD AFTER ONLY 2800 MILES ON THE CAR. THE PROBLEM WAS NOTED WITH NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 40 MPH OR HIGHER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A BIG PROBLEM IF I HAD NOT NOTICED THE ISSUE AND RESEARCHED THE LIKELY CAUSE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
My engine lost power and would not start. It was determined that it needed a new fuel pump. The fuel pump was replaced and the car is starting to lose power again while driving.
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked on an inclined driveway, he attempted to start the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the towing employee was able to reverse onto a street with a flat surface and was able to start the ignition. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V735000 (Back Over Prevention) and was informed not to park the vehicle on the inclined driveway. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,514.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .