2024 Lincoln Aviator

The verdict

1 thing going for it, 2 to watch.

Cons

Official recall campaigns exist for this vehicle. See the Safety Recalls section for what failed and how it's fixed.

Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls

3 of 5 owner complaints are about the unknown or other. Tap it in the heatmap to read the real reports.

Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints

Pros

Earned a strong overall government crash-test rating.

Why we say this — NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings

Neutral

Official EPA fuel economy. We show this as a neutral fact — whether it's 'good' depends on the vehicle's class.

Why we say this — U.S. EPA / DOE — fueleconomy.gov

Take this with you:

🔍 Inspection plan ➕ Add to Scorecard 🗺️ Map its risks 🧮 True cost

★★★★★Crash-test safety

0Safety recalls

0Owner complaints

0% involved a crash or fire

20–21Combined MPG

ℹ️ Recalls & complaints are reported per model — the same across every trim & engine. Fuel economy (and crash ratings by body style) can vary — use the pickers in those sections.

Safety Recalls

Official recall campaigns. Tap one to see the danger and the fix.

What is a recall, really?

A recall means the government made the manufacturer admit a safety defect — and the fix is free at any dealer, forever, even for used cars. Recalls range from a software update to "the steering wheel can detach," so read the danger line on each one. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof each recall was completed, or have a dealer run the VIN. Recalls also have a quieter cousin worth reading: technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Campaign 24V368000

What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The accessory protocol image module (APIM) can be affected by electromagnetic interference with a cell phone in the vehicle, causing the rearview camera image to flicker or become distorted.

The danger: A flickering or distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Owners are advised not to use their cell phones while reversing until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install shielding on the accessory protocol image module (APIM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S35.

NHTSA Campaign 24V852000

What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

The danger: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

NHTSA Campaign 25V393000

What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.

The danger: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.

NHTSA Campaign 25V407000

What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator vehicles. The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may have insufficient adhesive bonding, which can allow the trim to detach from the vehicle.

The danger: Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will repair or replace C-pillar appliques and window division bars, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S66.

NHTSA Campaign 25V687000

What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.

The danger: While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

NHTSA Campaign 26V123000

What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

The danger: An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.

NHTSA Campaign 26V159000

What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.

The danger: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.

NHTSA Campaign 26V451000

What's wrong: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.

The danger: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

Source: NHTSA — Safety Recalls · re-checked about every 24 hours

Where Owners Report Problems

Where owners report the most trouble — based on 5 complaints. Tap a part to read the real reports.

Raw count — best-sellers naturally log more complaints than rare cars, so judge it against the peer comparison below, not on its own.

Why don't we show complaints per vehicle sold?

Because no official source publishes sales counts per model — that data is sold by private firms, and the free numbers online are guesses. A rate built on a guessed denominator is a guess wearing a lab coat, so we refuse to show one. Instead we show comparisons where fleet size cancels out or is disclosed: the same model across its own years, the crash/fire severity mix, and the peer ranking below — each with its methodology attached.

Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 3 of 3):

NHTSA report #11663950 · filed May 30, 2025

Problem: 2024 Lincoln Aviator has electronic door release switches on all four doors (both front and rear). If an emergency occurs and: •The driver’s door is blocked or jammed •Electrical systems fail (e.g., due to a crash, battery failure, fire, or water submersion) Then all four doors can simultaneously become inoperable, trapping all passengers besides the driver inside, as there is NO mechanical backup to manually release the front passenger door or both rear doors. This puts all the 2nd and 3rd row occupants and the front seat passenger in grave danger is access to the driver door is blocked or limited for any reason. ONLY THE DRIVER’s door has an emergency manual release latch. There is NO MANUAL RELEASE ON PASSENGER SIDE or for rear doors in this 3 row SUV. ⸻ ️ Why This Is Dangerous: •Passengers, especially in the rear seats, may be unable to exit the vehicle. •First responders may not be able to open the doors quickly. •This could lead to injury or death in fire, submersion, or crash scenarios.

NHTSA report #11601437 · filed Jul 12, 2024

I took my new car through the car wash I notice water go in the car some how and I could hear this gargling I thought it was coming from the A pilar. I also notice this when it rainned would do the same thing. I took it in to the dealership and they told that it was the drain lines from the moon roof. two week later it rained again and took my car and could hear that same noise that water was in the car. I have called the dealership again to get back in so see what is causing this

NHTSA report #11585125 · filed Apr 25, 2024

The vehicle was already in for service once for this issue and is going back a second time the rear camera when backing up randomly starts to flicker and go crazy, and sometimes blanking out. The first fix replaced the camera to no avail. It seems to happen randomly, but about 50% of the time. I have video of the rear backup camera going crazy.

Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):

NHTSA report #11617802 · filed Oct 3, 2024

The headlight control switch emits high pitch noise.When you toggle the switch To go between the different Segments of the headlight switch. I've brought it to the dealer and the tech was able to determine where the noise Was coming from. I had advised them.I had disconnected the battery prior and made the noise go away.So that's what they did and now they say it's a non issue cause the noise went away. I have a video demonstrating the issue with the switch.I'm afraid of an issue of fire. It's been. To the dealership twice now, for this issue and it still has not been resolved.I've spoke to corporate Lincoln in regards to the issue.And it's supposed to be escalated.But i'm getting ghosted by everyone at this time. This issue started in the first week of my ownership.It was worse than that point in time.It was so bad.I was unable to drive the car because it was giving me such severe migraine headaches because of the pitch of the noise. The noise when present is very distracting when you are trying to operate the vehicle safely.

NHTSA report #11585125 · filed Apr 25, 2024

Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):

NHTSA report #11700095 · filed Nov 18, 2025

In addition to the recall for the C-pillar appliques and window division bars (NHTSA ID Number: 25V407000), the chrome trim piece directly below the window also suffers from insufficient adhesive bonding. See the photo below. It came lose while driving at high speeds.

Many crash/fire reportsSome crash/fire reportsNo crash/fire in reports

Color = how serious (crash/fire involvement) · number = how many (share of all this car's reports). Tap any part to read real owner complaints.

Source: NHTSA — Owner Complaints · re-checked about every 24 hours

Crash-Test Safety Ratings

Official U.S. government 5-star crash-test results.

How to read these stars

These come from the government physically crash-testing this vehicle — front, side, and rollover — and scoring it 1 to 5 stars. Ratings are per body style, so a sedan and its coupe twin can differ. If a vehicle shows no rating, it usually means the government never tested that exact configuration — untested is not the same as unsafe, and we'll never blur that line.