Is the Lexus RX more reliable than the Lincoln Aviator?

Yes, by a large margin. The RX stands at excellent and the Aviator at good. Owners filed 7.5 complaints per 10,000 RX sold, compared with 15.7 for the Aviator. The Aviator's early engine failures and repeat backup camera faults add to the gap.

Which has more recalls, the RX or the Aviator?

The Aviator. Federal recall records show 116 recalls across its six model years from 2020 to 2025. The RX has 42 across nine model years from 2018 to 2026. Aviator owners also report waiting on recall parts for the rear camera, with no date given.

What are the common problems with the Lincoln Aviator?

Electrical faults lead, especially a rear camera that flickers, distorts, or goes blank. Plug-in hybrids can go dead after short trips. Some engines seized at 4,181 and 5,400 miles. Window trim has also fallen off at highway speed, and packed ice builds up in the wheel wells.

Which Lexus RX years should I avoid?

Avoid 2019 and 2025, the weakest years in the data. Among the strongest, 2022 is the safer pick because it has had years to collect complaints. Be careful with 2026, which is too new to judge. Check airbag and brake actuator history on any RX.

Does the Aviator or the RX have more crash-linked complaints?

The RX has more crash-linked reports in its top areas. Air bags have 11, with airbag non-deployment the main concern. Electrical and service brakes have 4 each. The Aviator has 2 in back over prevention and 1 in engine.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Lexus RX vs Lincoln Aviator: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Lexus RX

Excellent

Lincoln Aviator

Good

Reliability favors the Lexus RX by a wide margin over the Lincoln Aviator. Owners filed about half as many complaints per vehicle sold on the RX. The Aviator also carries far more recalls, 116 against 42 for the RX, across fewer model years.

How Do the Lexus RX and Lincoln Aviator Generations Compare?

Most used RX shopping in this range falls in the fourth generation, which covered the 2016 to 2022 model years and received a facelift for 2019. The fifth generation began with the 2023 model year. That makes 2022 the last year of the older design, with the longest record of owner complaints. The Aviator is in its second generation, which started with the 2020 model year. A facelift arrived for 2025. Its earliest cars, 2020 and 2021, are the weakest years. The facelifted 2025 is new, so its record is still thin.

Verdict

The Lexus RX is more reliable than the Lincoln Aviator, scoring 86/100 vs 64/100.

The more reliable choice is the Lexus RX, and the gap is large. Owners filed about half as many complaints per vehicle sold on the RX as on the Lincoln Aviator. The Aviator still stands at good, so it is not a poor buy. But federal recall records show far more recalls on the Aviator despite fewer model years. Aviator owners also report engines that failed on nearly new cars and backup cameras that kept failing after repairs.

Key Differences

1Lexus RX has 74 fewer total recalls
2Lexus RX scores 22 points higher in reliability
3Lexus RX has 8.2 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Lexus RX

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0Lincoln Aviator

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Lexus RX vs Lincoln Aviator: Which Is More Reliable?

Lexus RX vs Lincoln Aviator at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Lexus RX	Lincoln Aviator
Reliability Score	86/100	64/100
Years Tracked	9	6
Total Recalls	42	116
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.5	15.7
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2025 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Lexus RX and Lincoln Aviator?

Safety systems dominate the RX complaint list. Owners report airbags that did not deploy, sudden power loss into reduced engine power mode, brake actuator noise, and harsh shifting with revs climbing before the next gear. Air bags carry 11 crash-linked reports, while electrical and service brakes carry 4 each. Aviator complaints lean toward electronics and early failures. The rear camera flickers or goes blank, plug-in hybrids can go dead after short trips, and engines seized at 4,181 and 5,400 miles. Its crash-linked reports are fewer: 2 in back over prevention and 1 in engine.

Lexus RX vs Lincoln Aviator common problem areas comparison
Component	Lexus RX	Lincoln Aviator
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	3.9Average
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.6Very Low	2Low
POWER TRAIN	0.2Very Low	1.5Low
STRUCTURE	0.2Very Low	1.1Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	1.2Low
ENGINE	0.2Very Low	0.9Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.8Very Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.4Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
STEERING	—None	0.3Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.2Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	0.2Very Low
TIRES	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	—None

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

How Does Lexus RX vs Lincoln Aviator Reliability Compare by Year?

Lexus RX vs Lincoln Aviator year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Lexus RX	Lincoln Aviator	Edge
2025	83/1005R / 9C	68/10014R / 13C	Lexus RX
2024	85/1009R / 48C	70/1008R / 5C	Lexus RX
2023	85/1005R / 45C	66/10016R / 21C	Lexus RX
2022	90/1000R / 35C	63/10021R / 43C	Lexus RX
2021	86/1005R / 209C	62/10028R / 38C	Lexus RX
2020	86/1005R / 130C	57/10029R / 99C	Lexus RX

Best years to cross-shop: The 2022 Lexus RX scored 90/100 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 Lexus RX vs the Lincoln Aviator?

Pick the RX if you want the lower risk of repeat trouble. Its complaint rate is about half the Aviator's, and its standing is excellent. Target 2022, one of its strongest years and one that has had time to collect complaints. Avoid 2019 and 2025, the weakest. Treat 2026 with caution, since a new year has had little time to collect complaints. Ask whether airbag and brake actuator problems were handled, because those areas carry the most crash-linked reports. Pick the Aviator if you want a larger vehicle and can accept more risk. Its problems often come down to repeat dealer visits, such as a backup camera that kept failing after replacement and owners waiting on recall parts. Avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. The 2024 and 2025 cars rate best, though the newest have had less time to collect complaints. If you consider a plug-in hybrid, ask about dead-battery episodes after short trips and charging faults. Have the engine inspected on any low-mileage car, since seized motors turned up on nearly new ones.

Lexus RX vs Lincoln Aviator: Common Questions

Is the Lexus RX more reliable than the Lincoln Aviator?: Yes, by a large margin. The RX stands at excellent and the Aviator at good. Owners filed 7.5 complaints per 10,000 RX sold, compared with 15.7 for the Aviator. The Aviator's early engine failures and repeat backup camera faults add to the gap.
Which has more recalls, the RX or the Aviator?: The Aviator. Federal recall records show 116 recalls across its six model years from 2020 to 2025. The RX has 42 across nine model years from 2018 to 2026. Aviator owners also report waiting on recall parts for the rear camera, with no date given.
What are the common problems with the Lincoln Aviator?: Electrical faults lead, especially a rear camera that flickers, distorts, or goes blank. Plug-in hybrids can go dead after short trips. Some engines seized at 4,181 and 5,400 miles. Window trim has also fallen off at highway speed, and packed ice builds up in the wheel wells.
Which Lexus RX years should I avoid?: Avoid 2019 and 2025, the weakest years in the data. Among the strongest, 2022 is the safer pick because it has had years to collect complaints. Be careful with 2026, which is too new to judge. Check airbag and brake actuator history on any RX.
Does the Aviator or the RX have more crash-linked complaints?: The RX has more crash-linked reports in its top areas. Air bags have 11, with airbag non-deployment the main concern. Electrical and service brakes have 4 each. The Aviator has 2 in back over prevention and 1 in engine.

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How we score the Lexus RX 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.

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