The Lemon Index
202120232nd generation
Lincoln Aviator Plug-in Hybrid only: high-voltage battery recall (fire risk)
1 recall on the high-voltage battery of the 2022 Lincoln Aviator Plug-in Hybrid mentions a fire risk. Gas-only versions have no high-voltage battery, so this doesn't apply to them. The repair is free at any dealer if it's still open on the car.
NHTSA recall: 23V626000
Worse than average · most complaints: electrical
Better years to buy
48 owner complaints, first 3 years 20–23 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2022 Tesla Model X 3382022 Land Rover Discovery2022 Porsche Macan 10
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 9 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 26V451000 (seats), 26V159000 (seat belts) and 26V123000 (back over prevention) done? It has 22 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Lincoln sent dealers 202 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Some 2020-2022 Explorer/Aviator/Police Interceptor Utility vehicles and 2021 F-150 vehicles…”?
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 48 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 10K to 28K miles (16K to 45K km) on the car (9 of all 48 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
camera did not detect parked vehicle when backing out of driveway no warning before collision with parked vehicle
2022 Lincoln Aviator owner · NHTSA complaint 11505816
More owner reports
Brakes failed, car crashed, imminent crash warning system did not come on and air bags did not deploy in direct frontal crash.
NHTSA complaint 11485965
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 17.0M views · 2020–2025 Lincoln Aviator
- Oil changes & service460K views
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator Resets The Bar With These Amazing Features and One That Blew Us Away!The Fast Lane Car · 460K views - Infotainment, battery & electrical55K views
Ford Explorer & Lincoln Aviator (2020 - present) - New Battery InstallThe Battery Shop · 55K views - Heat, A/C & blend door17K views
2021 Lincoln Aviator Cabin Air Filter Replace How To 22 21Karrs Kars · 17K views
Before you buy, watch
2025 Lincoln Aviator Review | Should You Buy?UsedCarsTV · 72K views
2022 Lincoln Aviator Problems and Reliability - Should you buy?car PROblems · 32K views
2020 Lincoln Aviator Problems and Recalls. Should you buy it?MaxTheCarGuy · 24K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2022 is the same generation.
Problems Lincoln told dealers about
Lincoln sent dealers 202 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some 2020-2022 Explorer/Aviator/Police Interceptor Utility vehicles and 2021 F-150 vehicles…
- Some 2021-2022 Bronco/F-150/Explorer/Aviator/Police Interceptor Utility and 2022 Transit…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 22
- Seats · recall issued 2026 New: most likely still open
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2026 New: most likely still open
The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
- Back over prevention · recall issued 2026 New: most likely still open
The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
Show all 22 recalls
- Visibility · recall issued 2026 New: most likely still open
The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2025
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
- Back over prevention · recall issued 2025
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
- Seats · recall issued 2025
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.
- Body structure · recall issued 2025
The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may have insufficient adhesive bonding, which can allow the trim to detach from the vehicle.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2025
When the driver's seat belt is not buckled and the vehicle is started, the seat belt warning system may activate the audible warning chime for an insufficient amount of time of less than 4 seconds.
- Back over prevention · recall issued 2025
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
- Equipment · recall issued 2024
The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.
- Engine · recall issued 2024
The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
- Back over prevention · recall issued 2024
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.
- Electrical · recall issued 2023 3.0L engines only
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
- Back over prevention · recall issued 2023
The rearview camera, or 360-degree view camera if equipped, may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
- Back over prevention · recall issued 2023
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
- Back over prevention · recall issued 2023
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2022
When the driver's seat belt is not buckled and the vehicle is started, the seat belt warning system may activate the audible warning chime for an insufficient amount of time of less than 4 seconds.
- Body structure · recall issued 2022
The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated.
- Seats · recall issued 2022
The front-row driver and passenger seat power head restraint cushion may detach from the head restraint assembly when adjusted to the full forward position.
- Hybrid propulsion system · recall issued 2022 Plug-in hybrid only
The inlet charge port harness bus bar may become unseated, leading to a loss of drive power.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2022
The fuel filler tube may detach during a crash.
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
- ClosedLoss of motive power2023–2024
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Aviator SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Lincoln Aviator SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Lincoln Aviator PHEV SUV 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,600–$3,000 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 3.0L 6-cyl.
Every Lincoln Aviator year. 2022 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 2022 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/lincoln-aviator/?y=2022" 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/2022/">Lemon Index</a> (2022 Lincoln Aviator reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2022 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew about twice the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 176; 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 2022 Lincoln Aviator problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (27%), backup camera (19%) and engine (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2022 Lincoln Aviator have?
22 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2022 Lincoln Aviator get?
20 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2022 Lincoln Aviator safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2022 Lincoln Aviator have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2022 Lincoln Aviator cost in fuel a year?
About $2,600 to $3,000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2022 Lincoln Aviator have?
3.0L 6-cyl.
What Lincoln Aviator year is better than the 2022?
Nearby, the 2021 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (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