Is the BMW X5 more reliable than the Lincoln Aviator?

No. The Aviator has the clear edge. Its standing is good, while the X5 is rated mixed. The Aviator also costs less to repair and goes to the shop less often. The X5's worst problems, high-voltage faults and brake assist loss, are more serious than the Aviator's typical rear camera complaints.

Which has more recalls, the X5 or the Aviator?

The Aviator has more. Federal recall records show 116 recalls across six Aviator model years, against 63 across nine X5 years. A high recall count does not make it the less reliable car here, since the Aviator still wins on repair cost and shop visits.

Which costs less to repair, the X5 or the Aviator?

The Aviator. Independent repair-cost data shows about $807 a year for the Aviator and $1166 for the X5. Over five years that is roughly $1,795 saved. The X5 also has a 17% chance that a repair is major.

What goes wrong with the BMW X5 plug-in hybrid?

Owners report a Drivetrain Malfunction warning with a high-voltage fault, after which the SUV loses power or will not move. Many failures start within the first 2000 miles. Dealer fixes include software updates and wiring corrections, and the fault often returns. Parts shipped from Germany have kept cars out of service for weeks.

Is the Lincoln Aviator rear camera problem serious?

It can be. The image flickers, distorts, or goes blank while reversing, which hurts visibility behind a large vehicle. Two back over prevention complaints involve crashes. Owners mostly complain about waiting for recall parts, and one replacement camera did not fix the failure.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

BMW X5 vs Lincoln Aviator: Reliability Compared

BMW X5

Mixed

More Reliable

Lincoln Aviator

Good

The Lincoln Aviator beats the BMW X5 on reliability, with a clear edge. It repairs cheaper, and X5 hybrids strand owners with high-voltage faults. The Aviator draws more recalls, but its main complaint is a flickering rear camera, not a car that will not move.

How Do the BMW X5 and Lincoln Aviator Generations Compare?

Fourth-generation cars cover X5 model years 2018 through 2023, so most used examples a shopper sees come from that run. Its strongest years, 2022 and 2023, sit late in the generation. The weakest of those, 2019, came right after the launch. The data also lists 2026, which is among the weakest years overall. The Aviator has been in its second generation since 2020, with model years 2020 to 2023 listed and a facelift in 2025. Its weakest years, 2020 and 2021, are the earliest ones. Its strongest, 2024 and 2025, are the newest, so part of that standing may reflect less time on the road.

Verdict

The Lincoln Aviator is more reliable than the BMW X5, scoring 64/100 vs 59/100.

Reliability favors the Lincoln Aviator by a clear margin. Independent repair-cost data shows it costs less to keep running and sends owners to the shop less often. The X5 standing is mixed, and its worst faults are serious: high-voltage failures on the plug-in hybrid that leave the car dead, and brake assist dropouts with repair parts unavailable for months. The Aviator draws more complaints per vehicle sold and more recalls, but many of its complaints trace back to one fault, a flickering rear camera.

Key Differences

1Lincoln Aviator costs $359 less per year to repair
2BMW X5 has 53 fewer total recalls
3BMW X5 has 9.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2BMW X5

—

4Lincoln Aviator

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

BMW X5 vs Lincoln Aviator: Which Is More Reliable?

BMW X5 vs Lincoln Aviator at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	BMW X5	Lincoln Aviator
Reliability Score	59/100	64/100
Years Tracked	9	6
Total Recalls	63	116
Complaints per 10k Sold	6.3	15.7
Annual Repair Cost	$1166/yr	$807/yr
Repair Frequency	0.8/yr	0.6/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	1	5

What Are the Common Problems With the BMW X5 and Lincoln Aviator?

Severity separates these two. Trouble on the BMW centers on the xDrive50e plug-in hybrid, where owners report a Drivetrain Malfunction warning, lost power, and cars stranded or towed, with fixes that often fail to hold. Brake assist can also drop out with no warning light. Electrical, brake, and power train complaints all include crashes. The Lincoln's biggest issue is the rear camera, which flickers, distorts, or goes blank while owners wait on recall parts. Its plug-in hybrids can go dead after short trips, and seized engines appeared at 4,181 and 5,400 miles. Only back over prevention and engine complaints carry crash links, and those counts are small.

BMW X5 vs Lincoln Aviator common problem areas comparison
Component	BMW X5	Lincoln Aviator
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.2Low	3.9Average
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.6Very Low	2Low
POWER TRAIN	0.9Very Low	1.5Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1Very Low	0.4Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	1.2Low
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	0.9Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	1.1Low
STEERING	0.3Very Low	0.3Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.4Very Low	—None
SEATS	—None	0.4Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	0.2Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	0.1Very Low	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: BMW X5 or Lincoln Aviator?

Repair bills run lower on the Lincoln. Independent repair-cost data puts its annual figure at $807, against $1166 for the BMW. That gap is $359 a year, or about $1,795 over five years. Aviator owners also see 0.6 unscheduled shop visits per year, versus 0.8 for the X5. The X5 carries a 17% chance that any given repair is major, which adds risk on top of its higher bill.

How Does BMW X5 vs Lincoln Aviator Reliability Compare by Year?

BMW X5 vs Lincoln Aviator year-by-year reliability scores
Year	BMW X5	Lincoln Aviator	Edge
2025	64/1004R / 49C	68/10014R / 13C	Lincoln Aviator
2024	57/1007R / 134C	70/1008R / 5C	Lincoln Aviator
2023	65/1004R / 24C	66/10016R / 21C	Lincoln Aviator
2022	67/1001R / 51C	63/10021R / 43C	BMW X5
2021	57/10013R / 85C	62/10028R / 38C	Lincoln Aviator
2020	56/10011R / 81C	57/10029R / 99C	Lincoln Aviator

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 BMW X5 scored 67/100 and the 2024 Lincoln Aviator scored 70/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the BMW X5 vs the Lincoln Aviator?

Pick the Aviator if you want lower-risk ownership. It costs less per year to repair and goes to the shop less often. Target 2024 and 2025, which rank strongest, but remember newer years have had less time to collect complaints. Avoid 2020 and 2021, the weakest. Check that the rear camera recall work is done, and be wary of the plug-in hybrid if you make mostly short trips, since owners report dead cars after them. Pick the X5 if you want a BMW and will shop carefully. Target 2022 or 2023, its strongest years, and avoid 2019 and 2026, its weakest. Skip the xDrive50e plug-in hybrid unless you accept the risk, because nearly every power train complaint involves it. Ask for proof that the brake recall and starter recall were completed, since parts shortages have kept owners waiting for months. Budget for a higher repair bill than you would face with the Aviator.

BMW X5 vs Lincoln Aviator: Common Questions

Is the BMW X5 more reliable than the Lincoln Aviator?: No. The Aviator has the clear edge. Its standing is good, while the X5 is rated mixed. The Aviator also costs less to repair and goes to the shop less often. The X5's worst problems, high-voltage faults and brake assist loss, are more serious than the Aviator's typical rear camera complaints.
Which has more recalls, the X5 or the Aviator?: The Aviator has more. Federal recall records show 116 recalls across six Aviator model years, against 63 across nine X5 years. A high recall count does not make it the less reliable car here, since the Aviator still wins on repair cost and shop visits.
Which costs less to repair, the X5 or the Aviator?: The Aviator. Independent repair-cost data shows about $807 a year for the Aviator and $1166 for the X5. Over five years that is roughly $1,795 saved. The X5 also has a 17% chance that a repair is major.
What goes wrong with the BMW X5 plug-in hybrid?: Owners report a Drivetrain Malfunction warning with a high-voltage fault, after which the SUV loses power or will not move. Many failures start within the first 2000 miles. Dealer fixes include software updates and wiring corrections, and the fault often returns. Parts shipped from Germany have kept cars out of service for weeks.
Is the Lincoln Aviator rear camera problem serious?: It can be. The image flickers, distorts, or goes blank while reversing, which hurts visibility behind a large vehicle. Two back over prevention complaints involve crashes. Owners mostly complain about waiting for recall parts, and one replacement camera did not fix the failure.

More BMW X5 comparisons

BMW X5 vs Genesis GV80 reliability BMW X5 vs Acura ZDX reliability BMW X5 vs Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliability BMW X5 vs Cadillac XT5 reliability BMW X5 reliability by year BMW X5 years to avoid

More Lincoln Aviator comparisons

Lincoln Aviator vs Acura MDX reliability Lincoln Aviator vs Audi Q7 reliability Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90 reliability Lincoln Aviator vs Lexus RX reliability Lincoln Aviator reliability by year Lincoln Aviator years to avoid

Decided between BMW X5 and Lincoln Aviator? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the BMW X5 and Lincoln Aviator

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

See incorrect data? Report an issue