2021 Lincoln Aviator reliability
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Lincoln Aviator over 6 years — 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Aviator years here — under the median of the other years, which is 6. NHTSA has 28 recalls on file, including Middle or rear assembly, Automatic transmission, and Seat belts.
39
4
28
6
The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (12 of 39), then Engine (6) and Powertrain (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.
The 2020 Aviator has 108 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2022 has 45 complaints, 6 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.
The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Lincoln Aviator. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (28)
Complaints by component (39 total)
Show 11 more Show less
1
1
1
0
Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
-
"The Driver Seat Module (DSM) is known to develop software glitches across the 2020–2024 Aviator/Corsair/Explorer platform, causing the seat to not move to the correct programmed memory position . Lincoln’s fix (per…"
-
"I have been having issues with my breaks sticking when applied. To the point that it’s completely stopping my car and i need to use my foot to release the brake from behind. I have had the dealership look at this issue…"
-
"The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted, and the…"
-
"The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated…"
-
"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…"
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Lincoln Aviator PHEV SUV 4WD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2021 Lincoln Aviator SUV 4WD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
| 2021 Lincoln Aviator SUV RWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars |
Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.
Fuel economy
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator all-wheel drive | 3L, 6-cyl | Automatic (10-speed) | Part-time four-wheel drive | 17 | 24 | 20 MPG | $3250 |
| Aviator plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive | 3L, 6-cyl | Automatic (10-speed) | Part-time four-wheel drive | 22 | 25 | 23 MPG / 460 mi range | $2800 |
| Aviator rear-wheel drive | 3L, 6-cyl | Automatic (10-speed) | Rear-wheel drive | 18 | 26 | 21 MPG | $3100 |
Specs and fitment
Known issues for this generation
Recall 24V368000 covers certain 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator vehicles where the accessory protocol image module (APIM) can be affected by electromagnetic interference from a cell phone, causing the rearview camera image to flicker or distort; dealers install shielding on the APIM. Recall 26V159000 covers certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Aviator vehicles whose second-row outer seat belt anchor bolts may be improperly secured; dealers inspect and repair or replace the bolts as needed. Recall 25V393000 covers certain 2020-2025 Aviator and Explorer vehicles whose easy-entry second-row outer seat switch may bind or stick so the seats can unlatch, fold, or slide while driving; dealers inspect the switch and replace the bezel as needed. Recall 23V022000 and 23V342000 cover certain 2020-2023 Aviator vehicles (with Explorer and Corsair) equipped with a 360-degree camera whose video output may fail so the rearview image does not display; remedies are an IPMB software update (23V022) and camera replacement (23V342).
Compare
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Lincoln Aviator over 6 years — 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Aviator years here — under the median of the other years, which is 6. NHTSA has 28 recalls on file, including Middle or rear assembly, Automatic transmission, and Seat belts.
What are common problems with a 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (12 of 39), then Engine (6) and Powertrain (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.
Is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2020 Aviator has 108 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2022 has 45 complaints, 6 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.
Has the 2021 Lincoln Aviator been recalled?
The 2021 Lincoln Aviator has 28 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
Owners have filed 39 complaints about the 2021 Lincoln Aviator with NHTSA.
What mpg does a 2021 Lincoln Aviator get?
EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Lincoln Aviator is 21.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.
What oil does a Lincoln Aviator take?
0W-20 full synthetic for the 3.0L twin-turbo V6; capacity about 6 qt—confirm in the owner’s manual.
Why might the Aviator rearview camera flicker?
Recall 24V368000 covers certain 2020-2024 Aviators where cell-phone EMI can distort the APIM rearview image; dealers install shielding.