2021 Lincoln Aviator Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2021 Lincoln Aviator has 39 NHTSA complaints, 28 recall campaigns, and a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 3rd-worst among 7 model years. It carries a Caution verdict, driven mainly by electrical system problems and a heavy recall count.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 67/100
- #3 of 7 Aviator years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 39
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 28
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2021 Lincoln Aviator problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System13 (33%)
- Engine9 (23%)
- Other7 (18%)
- Structure & Body7 (18%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (15%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (13%)
- Fuel System5 (13%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (10%)
- Brakes3 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine seizes or fails suddenly with no warning, in one case at 5,400 miles and another at 79,403 miles, sometimes followed by heavy smoke from the tailpipe.
- Rear-view camera flickers, goes blue, or shows no image at all while reversing, with some owners reporting the issue returned even after camera replacement.
- Vehicle battery dies repeatedly, sometimes within 24 hours of picking the car up from the dealer after an electrical recall repair.
- Powertrain intermittently fails to respond to the accelerator, leaving the vehicle stuck in intersections or unresponsive when merging into traffic.
- Vehicle shuts off unexpectedly while driving, including while merging onto a freeway, with the brakes pumping on their own in one incident.
- Heated seats have overheated enough to burn a hole through the seat cover and a passenger's clothing.
2021 Lincoln Aviator recalls
28 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V451000Jul 14, 2026Structure & Body387,911 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V402000Jun 24, 2026Transmission & Powertrain741,195 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V159000Mar 17, 2026Seat Belts561 vehicles
Seat belts
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Risk: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
2021 Lincoln Aviator fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 21 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,100
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2021 compared with other Aviator years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 39 complaints and 28 recall campaigns for the 2021 Aviator, giving it a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict. It ranks 3rd-worst out of 7 Aviator model years covered.
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Lincoln Aviator?
- Electrical system issues make up 33% of complaints, followed by engine problems at 23% and structure/body issues at 18%. Visibility and wiper problems and collision avoidance/camera issues also appear.
- Does the 2021 Lincoln Aviator have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 28 recall campaigns for the 2021 Aviator, covering areas including transmission park pawl engagement, seat belt anchor bolts, wiper motor failure, low-pressure fuel pump issues, and rearview camera software.
- How does the 2021 Aviator compare to other model years?
- The 2021 Aviator's Complaint Index of 67 is better than the 2020 (100, Avoid) and 2022 (83, Avoid) model years, but worse than the 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2005 model years, all rated Caution or Good.
- At what mileage do 2021 Aviator problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure across major problem areas for the 2021 Aviator is 60,000 miles for electrical, engine, and structure/body complaints.