2020 Lincoln Aviator problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
29%
30 of 108 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Lincoln Aviator. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.
Better than 72% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Lincoln Aviator have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 30 of 108 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Lincoln Aviator concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2021 scores 31%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN09/04/2026
Transmission started shifting hard when going from 1-2, up and down shifting. Sometimes there is a grinding sound and then a very hard shift into 2nd gear. 1 time it would not shift at all after coming to a stop. Diagnosed by Ford as bad A clutch and needing to be replaced.
POWER TRAIN08/31/2026
My car slammed into park while I was driving on the highway and now is in limp mode only going into neutral and I am stranded without a vehicle. The Lincoln dealership wants to charge me 1500 to diagnose it but that’s the problem.
POWER TRAIN08/14/2026
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that on several occasions while shifted to reverse(R), and occasionally while in drive(D), the vehicle jerked violently and did not stop jerking until the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that t…
Three of 30 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator (30)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. Over time, the protective sleeve on the vapor fuel line may chafe through the …
ENGINE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The right hand motor mount fasteners may have been incorrectly tightened,…
SUSPENSION:REAR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The rear lower control arm (RLCA) bolts that attach the rear lower contro…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2020 Lincoln Aviator
No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
30 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A transmission already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2020 Lincoln Aviator
Does the 2020 Lincoln Aviator have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 30 of 108 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Lincoln Aviator concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator?
NHTSA lists 30 recall campaigns on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Lincoln Aviator years are better?
Among the Lincoln Aviator years we track, the 2022 (18%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (29%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2020 Lincoln Aviator?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Lincoln Aviator shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.