The Lemon Index
20041st generation
Worse than average · most complaints: transmission & drivetrain
Better years to buy
33 owner complaints, first 3 years 14 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2003 Infiniti FX35 932003 Land Rover Discovery2003 Lincoln Navigator 174
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 2,200 and 31,000 miles (3,500–49,000 km) (the middle half of the 25 complaints, of all 33 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 02V313000 (transmission & drivetrain) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Any steering noise, wander or power-steering warning? Has the steering rack or pump been replaced?
- Lincoln sent dealers 73 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Excessive whine noise from the rear axle at cruise, or on acceleration and/or deceleration”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Lincoln's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 33 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 30K miles (4K to 49K km) on the car (25 of all 33 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Consumer stated rear end differential produced a loud grinding noise. The dealers was unable to repair the part.
2003 Lincoln Aviator owner · NHTSA complaint 10053337
More owner reports
While backing out of the driveway vehicle accelerated backwards. No impact reported.
NHTSA complaint 10083685
After starting the vehicle gears would stick when shifting to drive/reverse. Vehicle had to be towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
NHTSA complaint 10114936
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 1.5M views · 2003–2005 Lincoln Aviator
Most-watched topics
- Gauges, lights & wiring58K views
The Old Ones are Easier | 2005 Lincoln Aviator No-Tool Light ChangeSVTPerformance · 37K views · 2 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank41K views
2002 - 2005 Lincoln Aviator replacing the fuel filter.rick padi · 41K views - Cooling system31K views
2005 Lincoln aviator overheatingJared miller · 27K views · 3 videos - Transmission & shifter18K views
2003 Lincoln Aviator Transmission Removal do to Burned Clutches Part 1Ralf's Automotive Diagnostics & Repair · 17K views · 2 videos
Show 4 more
- No-start: theft light, key & ignition11K views
2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR NO CRANK NO START ISSUE...CLICKS...SOLVED...Peter L · 11K views - Spark plugs & ignition coils10K views
Spark Plug replacement 2005 Lincoln Aviator 4.6LDJ Ron The Mechanic · 10K views - Timing chain & engine7K views
2003 Lincoln Aviator Misfire FixedCRANK UP MOBILE · 7K views - Steering & suspension2K views
Shift Cable Bushing Replacement 2003-2005 Lincoln AviatorD/I/Y Diagnostics N Repair · 2K views
Before you buy, watch
2005 Lincoln Aviator Review, Walkaround, Start Up, Test DriveRedline Reviews · 144K views
2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR LUXURY EDITION Start Up, Walk Around Tour And ReviewAutomotiveReview · 46K views
2003 Lincoln Aviator Premium 4X4|Walk Around Video|In Depth ReviewNeighborhood Car Reviews · 42K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2003 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Lincoln told dealers about
Lincoln sent dealers 73 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Excessive whine noise from the rear axle at cruise, or on acceleration and/or deceleration
- A fluid leak coming from within the converter housing on vehicles with 5r55s transmission
- Rear axle date code inspection and service
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE SHIFT CABLE BRACKET.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Lincoln Aviator recall, all years · All Lincoln recalls
Government investigations
- ClosedVehicle rollaway allegations2009–2013
- ClosedSpark plug ejection from cylinder head2005–2006
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front — · side — · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $4,300 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 4.6L 8-cyl.
Every Lincoln Aviator year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 6 Lincoln Aviator years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2003 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/lincoln-aviator/?y=2003" title="Lincoln Aviator reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="307" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/lincoln-aviator/2003/">Lemon Index</a> (2003 Lincoln Aviator reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2003 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew a bit more than the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 129; 100 is average, lower is better). The Lincoln Aviator year with the fewest complaints per car sold since 2010 is 2021.
What are the most common 2003 Lincoln Aviator problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (55%), speed control (15%) and steering (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Lincoln Aviator have?
1 safety recall (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Lincoln Aviator get?
14 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2003 Lincoln Aviator problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 2,200 and 31,000 miles (3,500–49,000 km) (the middle half of the 25 complaints, of all 33 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2003 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2003 Lincoln Aviator have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 55% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 Lincoln Aviator cost in fuel a year?
About $4,300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Lincoln Aviator have?
4.6L 8-cyl.
What Lincoln Aviator year is better than the 2003?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2021 drew the fewest (about three-quarters as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works