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Lincoln Aviator: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lincoln Aviator problems by model year, from 216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
No Lincoln Aviator year we score has an elevated engine or transmission signal. The highest is the 2021 at 31%, under the 33% line.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (18%), 2020 (29%) and 2021 (31%). 2022 and 2021 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2020 drew the most drivetrain complaints (30 of 48 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2023 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Lincoln Aviator year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Aviator | no elevated signal | 29% | 30 | 108 | 2/3 | 30 |
| 2021 Aviator | no elevated signal | 31% | 11 | 39 | 1/3 | 28 |
| 2022 Aviator | no elevated signal | 18% | 7 | 45 | 3/3 | 21 |
| 2023 Aviator | too few to score | – | 7 | 24 | – | 16 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lincoln Aviator years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lincoln Aviator engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns on the Lincoln Aviator involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 38 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2019 | 19V575000 | power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl) | 2020 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V859000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2020 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V693000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2020 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V788000 | engine | 2020–2021 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V088000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap | 2022 |
| Aug 2024 | 24V635000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2021–2022 |
| Jul 2025 | 25V455000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2021–2022 |
| Jun 2026 | 26V402000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2020–2021 |
30 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2019 | 19V633000 | seats: front assembly: recliner | 2020 |
| Aug 2020 | 20V497000 | air bags: critical fasteners | 2020 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V726000 | steering | 2021 |
| Jan 2021 | 21V014000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer | 2020 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V154000 | suspension: rear | 2020 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V223000 | back over prevention: display function | 2020–2021 |
| Jul 2021 | 21V534000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: compressor | 2020–2021 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V652000 | air bags: side/window: curtain | 2021 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V735000 | back over prevention: software | 2020–2021 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V870000 | suspension: rear | 2021 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V247000 | seats: front assembly: head restraint | 2022 |
| Jun 2022 | 22V454000 | structure: frame and members | 2022 |
| Dec 2022 | 22V953000 | seat belts: front: warning light/devices | 2020–2022 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V022000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2020–2022 |
| May 2023 | 23V342000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2020–2022 |
| Aug 2023 | 23V598000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2020–2022 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V626000 | electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery | 2020–2022 |
| May 2024 | 24V368000 | back over prevention: display function | 2020–2022 |
| Nov 2024 | 24V852000 | equipment: other: labels | 2020–2022 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V093000 | seat belts | 2020–2021 |
| Mar 2025 | 25V159000 | back over prevention: software | 2020–2022 |
| May 2025 | 25V338000 | seat belts: front: warning light/devices | 2020–2022 |
| May 2025 | 25V349000 | electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery | 2020–2021 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V393000 | seats: mid/rear assembly | 2020–2022 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V407000 | structure: body | 2020–2022 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V442000 | back over prevention: software | 2020–2022 |
| Mar 2026 | 26V117000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2020–2022 |
| Mar 2026 | 26V123000 | back over prevention: software | 2020–2022 |
| Mar 2026 | 26V159000 | seat belts | 2020–2022 |
| Jul 2026 | 26V451000 | seats: mid/rear assembly | 2020–2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lincoln Aviator
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Lincoln Aviator
What are the worst years for the Lincoln Aviator?
None stands out. No Lincoln Aviator year we score has an elevated engine or transmission share; the highest is the 2021 (31%).
What are the best years for the Lincoln Aviator?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Lincoln Aviator years are the 2022 (18%), the 2020 (29%) and the 2021 (31%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Lincoln Aviator have transmission problems?
Not as a pattern. Across the 3 scored years, 48 of 183 relevant NHTSA complaints (26%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train.
Is the Lincoln Aviator reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 0 of 3 Lincoln Aviator years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 26% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Lincoln Aviator?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Lincoln Aviator years we track, out of 38 in total: 24V635000 (Aug 2024, 2021–2022), 25V455000 (Jul 2025, 2021–2022), 26V402000 (Jun 2026, 2020–2021), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.