What 35 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while the vehicle was unoccupied and parked on an incline, the vehicle rolled backwards several feet and then came to a complete stop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11747408

My vehicle is a hybrid and repeatedly gets high voltage battery warnings when the electric battery shows zero miles when idling. Four times it has shown pull over safely messages and high voltage battery warnings and then it is only in auxiliary mode. By the time a tow truck comes it is able to start again and Ford has been unable to find the issue after 4 visits

NHTSA ODI 11746352

The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that the vehicle did not start, the vehicle was , the hood was raised, the contact went back to the vehicle to try to start, the vehicle would not turn over with clicking in the engine. the vehicle began to smoke with very thick white smoke, the contact was unable to exit the vehicle of the drivers side front seat. The battery was disconnected and a manual latch was discovered on the drivers side door. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11741858

I was completely stopped in traffic a car failed to reduce speed and slammed into the back of my car. My neck whipped forward no air bags deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11737219

Interior front reading lights turn on and off randomly when driving and when not driving. This is incredibly distracting especially at night.

NHTSA ODI 11724850

The vehicle is intermittently braking on its own while driving. The issue has become significantly worse over the course of a month. The dashboard message reads, “brake applied, power reduced”. This is a danger to both myself and other drivers as we are unable to control the speed of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11722796

My car start making a very loud squeaking noise when I turn or hit any small bumb in the road. So I took it to the shop and was told both front lower ball joint boots are broken the exact same way. Now what bother me is what the mechanic said next. I quote " some type of suspension problem always happens on these cars. So my question is were there any recall about suspension on these cars? Online says yes. While my vin doesn't show one

NHTSA ODI 11716405

The driver-side front window regulator failed and was replaced on October 4, 2025. The passenger-side window regulator also failed and was removed and replaced on November 21, 2025. At the time each incident, the window would not raise using the car controls and remained stuck in the down position. Two window regulator failures on opposite sides of this vehicle just seven weeks and within roughly 2,400 miles apart does not indicate typical wear. It reflects a pattern failure consistent with a component defect. At the time of the October incident, I was actively driving the vehicle and the November incident when was while the car was parked, when the window failed and would not raise. After parking and then restarting my vehicle, the window remained fully or partially down and could not be returned to a closed and secured position. This created multiple safety and security risks, including: • Inability to secure the vehicle against theft or intrusion • Exposure to weather, rain, or debris • Increased cabin noise due to broken window • Risk of vehicle damage while parked without protection. The vehicle was left parked and unsecured solely due to the window malfunction. No police or insurance inspection occurred, as the incident did not involve a collision or theft, though the vehicle was left unsecured. The failure was diagnosed and confirmed by the manufacturer, Lincoln and independent service center Firestone Complete Auto Care, who completed the repair. There was No warning lamps or dashboard messages that appeared prior to or during the failure. Both window regulator failed suddenly and without warning. In my research, numerous Aviator owners have publicly reported identical regulator failures, (Reddit and YouTube) which further reinforces that this is a systemic issue, not an isolated event.

NHTSA ODI 11705685

1.) Exhaust System Failure (Flex Pipe / Catalytic Converter) The vehicle’s exhaust system—specifically the flex pipe connected to the catalytic converter—cracked and malfunctioned. This component is available for inspection upon request. As a result of the failure, exhaust fumes entered the cabin, creating a significant safety risk due to potential exposure to carbon monoxide. Prior to the failure, I noticed a persistent rattling noise at low speeds and while the vehicle was idling. The issue was inspected and confirmed by the dealership; however, I was informed that the repair falls outside of warranty coverage. I would like to know if this falls under safety hazard for emissions. 2.) Sunroof Glass Shattering Incident While driving, the sunroof glass suddenly shattered and appeared to implode outward. According to the dealership technicians, this may have been caused by thermal stress or frame-related tension. The glass is no longer intact but the remaining components and frame can be inspected upon request. The incident posed an immediate safety hazard to both myself and other road users due to the sudden loss of glass and the potential for debris. I did not observe any warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. After researching the issue, I found that similar sunroof glass failures have been reported across various Ford/Lincoln models, suggesting this may be a known manufacturer defect. The dealership has confirmed the damage but no inspection by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives has been conducted at this time.

NHTSA ODI 11702357

My vehicle’s camera system, including the backup camera, is experiencing an issue where the passenger-side camera fails to display properly, showing only a blank black area. I have reported this issue to my dealership for future inspection. It is not yet clear whether the problem persists during daylight hours; however, it poses a significant safety risk at night when visibility is already limited. The loss of the passenger-side camera view creates a blind spot that could increase the likelihood of an accident or injury.

NHTSA ODI 11698036

For the first 39 months of my ownership my 2021 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring plug-in electric hybrid would not charge properly and resulted in thousands of charge station fault alerts. The dealership was dismissive of the issue for years because it seemed to work for the few minutes when they charged it on their high voltage charger even though I voiced concerns about the charger port being bad on the vehicle and it not working properly at home. My Aviator would not charge unless the plug was in the exact perfect spot and rarely would make it to a full charge before faulting out. Eventually the port started making SPARKING NOISES, ELECTRIC FIRE SMELLS, and SMOKES when plugged in. I was afraid my Aviator was going to start a fire and burn my house down, so I stopped charging it for at least 6 months until a new service manager finally took the time to investigate the issue. It was found in May 2024 that not only was the charger cable that came with my Aviator when I bought it defective but so was the charger port on my vehicle. The use, value, and safety of my vehicle impaired significantly for several years by this issue. I am reporting this so that there is awareness that the Aviator plug-in hybrid charger port and charger cable can be defective which results in loss of charging capability and could result in a fire.

NHTSA ODI 11697630

The "auto" mode on my Sync screen on my 2021 Lincoln Aviator does not always automatically switch between day and night based on ambient light levels. This is a blinding experience at night when the screen doesn't switch to night mode and the brightness is intense. This blinding screen makes it hard to see outside when it is dark which could lead to an accident. My dealer says I have the most up to date version of Sync for my vehicle and there is no fix for this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11697487

The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that the seat folding switch on the third-row seat failed to function as intended. The seat was stuck in the down position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11690747

My 2021 Lincoln Aviator PHEV lift gate safety stop does not function properly. It will come closing down extremely hard. This will happen when the button is pressed on the lift gate or the hands free feature is triggered. The lift gate will not safety stop and pop back open as it should unless a significant amount of force is used; this is usually 2 or more people trying with all their strength to stop it from closing on them. I have been hurt by this and so has my child. This is a serious safety issue. I have included screenshots from the video (the system won’t let me send the video) I took replicating the issue with it completely crushing a box at the height of my head.

NHTSA ODI 11683995

My 2021 Lincoln Aviator grand touring PHEV has on 3 separate occasions randomly gone into “brick” mode where power is to some components like the Sync screen, and some lights, but main dash won’t boot, the lock/unlock doesn’t work but lock icon flashes on door panel, the vehicle won’t start. This is after short trips out with my family for the evening. Not a fob issue. All 3 times the same. First occurrence at just over 11,000 miles, again in Sept 2023, and happening again June 2025. Roadside assistance dispatches tow trucks, the vehicle can never be jump started. Electric parking brake is engaged and will not disengage even when manually put in neutral. Always takes dispatching several different tow trucks to get one equipped with skates to drag the vehicle on to a flatbed tow truck, or old school wheel lift truck to be able to tow the vehicle since the electric parking brake will not disengage in this situation. Last time this happened it took 6 separate trucks to come out over 3 days to find one that could tow it in metro Detroit, the heart of the auto industry. This is a defect in the system of my vehicle that poses a safety issue because it prevents a regular tow truck from being able to tow this vehicle. I have had the dealership look at it many times, there is no fix, tech says it is a defect. Each time I have reported it to the Lincoln Customer Experience Center, they don’t care enough to do anything. Not sure how to get help but I’m probably not the only one with this safety defect. There are other safety issues. The safety stop for the lift gate doesn’t always work and will hit you hard without stopping for an obstruction. I also have acceleration hesitation when stopped and turning in traffic, risk for accident. The electrical problems with my Aviator are endless but leaving me stranded with my children and unable to easily get help is a serious problem and unacceptable. Please let me know how you can help. Sincerely a concerned mother of 2 little boys.

NHTSA ODI 11683805

The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while 5 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The message to “Shift to Park” was displayed. The contact pulled over to right side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended. A dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the contact had scheduled an appointment for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11675141

Trim piece on back drivers side window has fallen off while driving down the highway.

NHTSA ODI 11673256

The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side rear door trim detached and flew off the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that after it rained, water entered the interior of the vehicle through the sunroof. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a detached driver's rear door trim and clogged drain tubes in the sunroof assembly. The driver's side rear door trim was not replaced. The dealer repaired the clogged drain tubes in the sunroof assembly. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced a recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11669232

When pumping gas it always overflows. Tried several gas stations. Two different dealers have attempted to fix (they did confirm the issue). Each had had at least 3 attempts with no success. Lincoln seems disinterested in finding a remedy. This feels very unsafe to me in many ways.

NHTSA ODI 11666670

Driving 75mph. Cruise set to 75mph. Vehicle randomly reset cruising speed to 85 and 105mph or two separate occasions over 4 days. I went through the settings and disabled intelligent cruise control and switched it to adaptive cruise control, which doesn't use radar and navigation data. Only tell will tell if that fixed it. I already had speed sign recognition disabled.

NHTSA ODI 11644108

I have been reporting an issue for over two years with multiple dealerships regarding a sulphur and other strong exhaust smell. This Sulphur smell is most problematic and occurs most often at least one per day. This issue started off intermittently but is now occurring as increase frequencies. The Lincoln dealerships tell me this is normal.  I am not sure what system is exactly failing as no codes are being presented (so says the dealership. This smell is so strong and can be easily smelled in the car but even more once opening the doors or hatchback. I have children that breath this air as well as myself. Often children (my own as well as school friends for which we give rides to) complain about this smell and it is very noxious in nature. This issue has been reported to the dealership MULTIPLE times (Actually reported to two dealerships). Often, I am being told this is "normal" due to gas used. In beginning they would not even log my concern, but this past year I have been submitting online. Always no code so no issue. No other troubleshooting is done. I have even requested additional basic troubleshooting data and not received. This is not a normal smell, as the Lincoln dealership(s) suggest. This smell makes us feel unpleasant. This smell is strong and is hazardous to the health of my family and others. I need Ford to take this issue seriously. Symptoms experienced indicate there is likely a problem with the catalytic converter and they are not addressing.

NHTSA ODI 11616359

I am writing to express my frustration regarding the unresolved issue related to recall 24V368 concerning the rearview camera image. This has been an ongoing problem for several years, and despite receiving multiple safety recall notices and scheduling appointments with your service department, the issue remains unaddressed.

NHTSA ODI 11614521

The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V342000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the back-over camera displayed distorted images or failed to display an image. The failure mileage was 50,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11567279

The engine of my 2021 Lincoln Aviator with only 79,403 miles has failed, leaving myself and my family stranded on the side of a very busy interstate in another state far from home. There were absolutely no warnings given before the engine acted as if it had a significant loss of power. Shortly afterwards, very heavy and foul-smelling smoke started coming out of the tail pipe. Had the vehicle transported to a local shop to my home. The car will start and immediately start smoking and running like crap. When you put it in gear it will barely move on it's own power.

NHTSA ODI 11554373

UNKNOWN ON several occasions the vehicle would just shut off. Another occasion while getting on the freeway I pressed the accelerator pedal and the car pumped the brakes,there was no one in front of me or on side of me upon entering the freeway. Another incident I was in the fast lane on the freeway and the vehicle just shut off Thank goodness the fast lane had a place where I could pull over and and restart the vehicle. Also where the vehicle pumped the brakes, that happened on several occasions. Another thing the vehicle shut of again in the middle of the street. I couldn't put the car in neutral the steering was locked. All of incidents were extremely dangerous. The vehicle has been in the dealership shop twice now and I mentioned it to them on both occasions. And I was told it was the battery. That starts the engine not battery for the eclectic system. I was also told that they did diagnostic check of the software system and there were no systems alerts it was only showing the battery. Now I now that when you drive a vehicle the engine battery charges, plus the vehicle in a 2021 with only 35,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ODI 11554066