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U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Lincoln AVIATOR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

81 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

70,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 68 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 81 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting1316.0%
Braking behavior1113.6%
Steering behavior78.6%
Electrical and battery issues67.4%
Engine operation56.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission
12
Engine And Engine Cooling
10
Structure:Body
10
Power Train
9
Air Bags
6
Electrical System
6
Engine
5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train:Automatic Transmission12
Engine And Engine Cooling10
Structure:Body10
Power Train9
Air Bags6
Electrical System6
Engine5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine5

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Structure:Body: 10; Power Train: 9; Air Bags: 6; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
11
25,000 to 49,999
10
50,000 to 74,999
19
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
14
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,99910
50,000 to 74,99919
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,99914
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2004
8
2005
5
2006
2
2007
4
2008
6
2009
5
2010
17
2011
10
2012
2
2013
6
2014
5
2015
3
2016
1
2017
3
2019
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20048
20055
20062
20074
20086
20095
201017
201110
20122
20136
20145
20153
20161
20173
20194

2004: 8; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 5; 2010: 17; 2011: 10; 2012: 2; 2013: 6; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2019: 4

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10106495 · 2005-01-17 (January 17, 2005)

MY MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR HAS AN INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND THE ENGINE RACES. I HAVE MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY TELL ME IT?S MY PROBLEM TILL IT DOES IT FOR THEM. THE OTHER DAY I GOT A LETTER FROM LINCOLN SAYING THAT THE FACTORY HAD PUT THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE CAR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STILL DOES NOT THINK THIS IS MY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THE AC BEING BROKEN; THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CAR MAKES A LOUD N…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106495 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10133224 · 2005-10-18 (October 18, 2005)

DT: 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR . THE CONSUMER OWNED CAR FOR A YEAR. WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT TOOK AT LEAST A QUARTER OF A MILE AND THEN IT FINALLY TOOK OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP 6 TIMES ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY STILL CAN INDICATE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PAC WAS REPLACED…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133224 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10087512 · 2004-08-09 (August 9, 2004)

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OR ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 7,270 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087512 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10227337 · 2008-05-07 (May 7, 2008)

2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAR WOULD BE REPAIRED BUT AT HER EXPENSE BECAUSE OF HER NEGLECT. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. *KB THERE WAS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A TURN. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10227337 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10283886 · 2009-09-14 (September 14, 2009)

EARLY THIS MORNING WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN OUR 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THERE WAS A MODERATE RAIN FALL AND ZERO NATURAL LIGHT WAS AVAILABLE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, IN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 70 MPH AND WAS CARRYING A TOTAL OF SEVEN PEOPLE. UNABLE TO SEE, I DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND WAS HORRIFIED TO DISCOVER THAT I ALMOST RAN INTO THE GUARD RAIL. WHILE THIS SITUATION DID NOT RESULT IN ANY DAMAGE OR FATALITIES, THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A DISASTER RESULTING IN MULTIPLE DEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 105,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283886 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10263639 · 2009-03-30 (March 30, 2009)

I PURCHASED AN 04 LINCOLN AVIATOR IN DEC. 2006, IN AUG. 2007 I NOTICED IT WAS NOT RUNNING RIGHT. IT WAS STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. IT WOULD SPUTTER LIKE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL. THE PROBLEM WORSENED FOR THE NEXT 6 WKS. NO MECHANIC COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. IN OCT. 2007, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER FOR A SPLIT SECOND. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG STILL. THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COIL PACK. I H…

Owner-reported narrative. 62,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263639 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10343413 · 2010-07-15 (July 15, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP. WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOWARD THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED REPEATEDLY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ALSO…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343413 at NHTSA ↗