The Lemon Index
202220242nd generation
Too new: partial score · still collecting complaints
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 15,551 in the U.S. in 2023 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 30 complaints in its first 3 years.
Better years to buy
30 owner complaints, first 3 years 19–23 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
When problems show up
Only 5 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 16 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.
- Has it ever braked hard for no reason? Ask whether the safety-system software was updated.
- Lincoln sent dealers 131 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Some 2022 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility and 2022-2023 Aviator vehicles built on or…”?
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 30 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 18K to 24K miles (29K to 39K km) on the car (5 of all 30 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
360 degree camera glitch is not resolved despite replacement of cameras & image processing module based on recent recall. This continues to be a safety issues & Lincoln needs to find a permanent fix.
2023 Lincoln Aviator owner · NHTSA complaint 11589800
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 2023 is the same generation.
Problems Lincoln told dealers about
Lincoln sent dealers 131 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some 2022 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility and 2022-2023 Aviator vehicles built on or…
- Courtesy lamps not
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 16
- 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 16 recalls
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2023
The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK.".
- 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.
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
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–$3,150 (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. 2023 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 2023 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/lincoln-aviator/?y=2023" 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/2023/">Lemon Index</a> (2023 Lincoln Aviator reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2023 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
We can't score it: only 15,551 were sold in the U.S. in 2023 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 30 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2023 Lincoln Aviator problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (33%), engine (23%) and automatic emergency braking (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Lincoln Aviator have?
16 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 2023 Lincoln Aviator get?
19 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2023 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 2023 Lincoln Aviator have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 13% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2023 Lincoln Aviator cost in fuel a year?
About $2,600 to $3,150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2023 Lincoln Aviator have?
3.0L 6-cyl.
What Lincoln Aviator year is better than the 2023?
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