2020 Lincoln AVIATOR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
108 owner complaints analyzed
30 distinct recall campaigns
11,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 108 complaints (36.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 15.7% |
| Braking behavior | 17 | 15.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 39 |
| Unknown Or Other | 24 |
| Power Train | 22 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Back Over Prevention | 6 |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
Electrical System: 39; Unknown Or Other: 24; Power Train: 22; Service Brakes: 9; Engine: 7; Back Over Prevention: 6; Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera: 6; Structure:Body: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 81 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 23 |
2019: 3; 2020: 11; 2021: 11; 2022: 7; 2023: 19; 2024: 16; 2025: 18; 2026: 23
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 17 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 11281093 · 2019-11-19 (November 19, 2019)
I PURCHASED THE AUTO ON AUG 24, 2019. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED 5 ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE SO FAR - 3 MECHANICAL AND 2, COSMETIC. I'LL FOCUS ON THE MECHANICAL. BESIDE THE PENDING RECALL, I AM EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING: 1) THE PASSENGER SEAT IN FRONT ROW LACKS THE MOTOR FOR THE MASSAGE FUNCTION. LINCOLN HAS NOW TAKEN OVER 2 MONTHS TO REPAIR DUE TO LACK OF PART. 2) THE ELECTRICAL PARKING BRAKE COMES ON WHILE DRIVING OCCASIONALLY. 3) THE VEHICLE CAMERA GETS DISTORTED WHEN SWITCHING CAR ON. HAPPENED TWICE, LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS A WEEK AGO 11/12.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11281093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11286402 · 2019-12-02 (December 2, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE ENGINE COOLANT DISPLAY ON THE PANEL ALL OF THE SUDDEN WAS AT THE MAXIMUM. IT THEN WOULD NOT LET ME THROTTLE ANY MORE, SO I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I DID AND LET IT SIT 20 MINUTES AND THE ISSUE WAS STILL PRESENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. IT TURNS OUT TO BE AN INSTRUMENT / ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACTUALLY OVER HEATING. SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER AFTER THE DEALER HAD UPDATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REPLACED THE SENSOR. MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 5000 MILES…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11286402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11331333 · 2020-06-28 (June 28, 2020)
MY VEHICLE HAS 4960 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AS IF I WAS DRIVING A STICK SHIFT CAR, THEN 2 OR 3 DAYS LATER BEGAN TO KICK AND LOSE POWER WHEN INCREASING SPEED AFTER A STOP SIGN. DEALER DIAGNOSED AN INTERNAL FAILURE ON THE TRANSMISSION AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE MORNING AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, WHEN PUTTING THE REVERSE GEAR I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR STILL MOVED AND THE BRAKES WERE VERY STIFF, I HAD TO RELEASE THE BRAKE AND APPLY IT AGAIN IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11331333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11436553 · 2021-10-13 (October 13, 2021)
Vehicle shifted into neutral while driving. Had to stop the vehicle in the median to put it back in drive.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11436553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322349 · 2020-04-27 (April 27, 2020)
WITH MY CAR IN PARK, I HAVE SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND REVERSE, AND WHILE MAINTAINING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AFTER TRANSFERRING TO DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR HAS MOVED BY ITSELF BY APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED I WAS ON A LEVEL SURFACE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED MY CAR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11461503 · 2022-04-20 (April 20, 2022)
This was the most recent issue I experienced with my Aviator, the first being electrical after 2 months of owning it. I was driving and the car completely shut off (engine, power steering, breaking) the electrical components went crazy, but I thankfully was not on a highway as I had to guide the truck until it stopped from moving 25mph+. I went into oncoming traffic but no one was there. Then I had to turn the truck back on. The dealership towed it as it is a safety issue and with the amount of times it has been in the shop, the problems increa…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11461503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11523476 · 2023-05-23 (May 23, 2023)
My warning light stating a AWD malfunction has occurred has gone off 4 times, along with warnings for malfunctions in precollision assist and hill climb assist and the light has come on 4 times for each of these. When driving these lights come on and when the AWD malfunction light comes on the car drives very loose and I do not seem to have firm control over the steering and i feel like the car wants to swerve and I do not feel safe driving .
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11523476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11688754 · 2025-09-21 (September 21, 2025)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11688754 at NHTSA ↗