YearToAvoid

2005 Lincoln Aviator Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

17/100

#6 most-complained of 7 Aviator years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Lincoln Aviator has 51 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 17 out of 100 — #6 highest of 7 Aviator model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is structure & body (28 complaints, 55% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes and 2 injuries.

Complaints
51
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
13
11 city / 16.5 hwy

Top 2005 Lincoln Aviator problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body28 (55%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain12 (24%)
  3. Engine4 (8%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (8%)
  5. Airbags3 (6%)
  6. Steering3 (6%)
  7. Brakes1 (2%)
  8. Electrical System1 (2%)
  9. HVAC1 (2%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (2%)
2005 Lincoln Aviator complaints: complaints filed per month5Mar 2005Apr 2007Feb 2010Feb 2011Nov 2011May 2014Jul 2015Nov 2020
58 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2005 to Nov 2020; peak Jul 2010 (5).

2005 Lincoln Aviator recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2005 Lincoln Aviator fuel economy and fuel cost

City
11 MPG
Highway
16.5 MPG
Combined
13 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$6,150
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Aviator years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002005202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good1751013
2020Avoid1001083021
2021Caution67392821

All Lincoln Aviator years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Lincoln Aviator a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Lincoln Aviator ranks #6 of 7 among Aviator model years (Complaint Index 17/100, verdict: Good). It has 51 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Lincoln Aviator?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (28 complaints), transmission & powertrain (12 complaints), and engine (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 70,977 miles.
Does the 2005 Lincoln Aviator have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2005 Lincoln Aviator in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Lincoln Aviator?
EPA rates the 2005 Lincoln Aviator at 13 MPG combined (11 city / 16.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $6,150. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.