YearToAvoid

2025 Lincoln Aviator Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#4 most-complained of 7 Aviator years

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

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator has 16 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #4 highest of 7 Aviator model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 31% of the total).

Complaints
16
Recalls
15
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 25 hwy

Top 2025 Lincoln Aviator problems

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

  1. Electrical System5 (31%)
  2. Brakes4 (25%)
  3. Engine3 (19%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (19%)
  5. Structure & Body3 (19%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers3 (19%)
  7. Fuel System1 (6%)
  8. Lane Departure1 (6%)
  9. Other1 (6%)
  10. Steering1 (6%)
2025 Lincoln Aviator complaints: complaints filed per month6Feb 2025Aug 2025Nov 2025Apr 2026Jun 2026Aug 2026
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2025 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2026 (6).

2025 Lincoln Aviator recalls

15 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V470000Jul 21, 2026Structure & Body76,748 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:power adjust

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.

    Risk: Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S53.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 26V165000Mar 18, 2026Electrical System254,640 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system:adas

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The Image Processing Module A (IPMA) may experience multiple unexpected resets, resulting in loss of the rearview camera image and advanced driver assistance (ADAS) features, including pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

    Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image and certain driver assistance features, can reduce the driver’s ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The Image Processing Module A software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2025 Aviator, 2025 Explorer, 2025 Nautilus notified owners on 4/13/2026. Phase 2 will include 2025 Navigator will notify owners on or about 4/20/2026. Phase 3 will include 2022-2024 Navigator will notify owners on or about 6/8/2026. Phase 4 will include 2024 Nautilus will notify owners on or about 6/22/2026. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S21. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 25, 2026.

See all 15 recalls for the 2025 Lincoln Aviator →

2025 Lincoln Aviator fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
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.

2025 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
2023Good33241620.5
2024Best07820.5
2025Caution50161520.5

All Lincoln Aviator years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2025 Lincoln Aviator ranks #4 of 7 among Aviator model years (Complaint Index 50/100, verdict: Caution). It has 16 complaints and 15 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (5 complaints), brakes (4 complaints), and engine (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 9,000 miles.
Does the 2025 Lincoln Aviator have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns for the 2025 Lincoln Aviator, most recently reported 2026, covering structure & body, electrical system, seat belts, and visibility & wipers.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
EPA rates the 2025 Lincoln Aviator at 20.5 MPG combined (17.5 city / 25 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175. 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.