2004 Lincoln AVIATOR: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 16.0% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 13.6% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 8.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 6.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10059516 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
AUTOMATIC HEAT CLIMATE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT COLD AIR BLOWS OUT, FOGGING THE WINDOWS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065230 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)
THIS VEHICLE WAS MADE FOR TOWING AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH ALL THE TOWING SOCKETS AND EQUIPMENT FOR TOWING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TOW THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DIDN'T MAKE A REAR MIRROR EXTENDER FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065795 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
ROUGH IDLING AT STAND STILL AND WITH ACCELERATION AND DECCELERATION WITH A WHINING NOISE, MISS FIRING HAPPENED 1ST TIME THE DAY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR- DEALER SAID HE FIXED THE PROBLEM. HAPPENED AGAIN JUST A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE CAR IS SIX WEEKS OLD AND IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS THE MANAGEMENT PROCESSOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065854 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
THE CLIMATE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY IN THE AUTO MODE DURING WINTER DRIVING, CAUSING COLD AIR TO BLAST OUT OF THE DEMISTER AND DEFROSTER VENTS. THE WINDOWS CANNOT BE CLEARED OF MINOR ICING AND THE DRIVER IS THERMALLY VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE FROM THE FLOOR VENTS VS. THE DEMISTERS IS AS MUCH AS 70 DEGREES COLDER. THE DEMISTER VENTS HAVE MEASURED TEMPERATURES OF 40 DEGREES WHEN THE FLOOR VENT READS 110 DEGREES. MANUAL MANIPULATION OF THE SYSTEM HAS LITTLE EFFECT AND IS HIGHLY UNSAFE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066094 · 2004-04-13 (April 13, 2004)
THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL LINCOLN AVIATORS, AND IT ONLY MANIFESTS IN COLD CLIMATES. IN "HEAT" MODE, COLD (AMBIENT) AIR IS BLOWN ON THE SIDE WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD. THE COLDER IT IS OUTSIDE, THE COLDER THIS AMBIENT AIR BLOWING INTO THE VEHICLE IS. THIS RESULTS IN VERY WARM AIR BLOWING AT YOUR FEET AND COLD AIR BLOWING AT YOUR FACE. THIS RESULTS IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, IN ORDER TO KEEP WINDOWS FROM FOGGING, ONE HAS TO MANUALLY CHANGE THE TEMPERATURE UP TO 90 DEGREES UNTIL THEY ARE DEFROSTED AND THEN TO TR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075027 · 2004-06-08 (June 8, 2004)
REAR LIFTGATE COMES COMPLETELY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 20+ TIMES AND SUV HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THIS. DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE ANYTHING ON THIS LIFTGATE BOTH TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075027 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 10100461 · 2004-11-24 (November 24, 2004)
AT 13,650 MILES THE ENGINE DESTROYED ITSELF DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A LOUD BANGING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY & CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I WAITED FOR 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK AND EVENTUALLY HAD TO CALL CT STATE POLICE WHO SUMMONED A WRECKER. THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND ENGINEERS REQUESTED THE OLD ENGINE BE SENT TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100461 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.