Last updated: 2026-10-10

2025 Lincoln Aviator
RELIABILITY SCORE: 68/100 (GOOD)

2025 Lincoln Aviator Reliability Report

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator has a good reliability standing, but owners report sudden brake assist loss and repeat no-starts.

Recalls

14

Complaints

13

Complaint Rate

5.3per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$807

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,850–$3,000

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity71/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact51/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity78/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Good standing and a 5-star crash rating, offset by 14 recalls and owner reports of brake assist loss and repeat no-starts.

Top Issues to Watch

  • SERVICE BRAKES (3)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)
  • SEATS (2)

Should You Buy the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?

Reliability is good, and this is among the stronger of the six scored Aviator years. Against other 2025 SUVs it ranks below average, so the good standing is mostly relative to the Aviator's own record. The 2024 model rates about the same. It earns 5 of 5 stars in federal crash tests.

Brakes and electrical faults are the main complaints. One owner lost power brake assist at highway speed, with several alerts on the cluster and an undrivable SUV. Another felt a slow pedal at 55 mph at about 2,000 miles, and the dealer could not duplicate it. Others report brakes applying on their own and repeated no-starts that return within a week or two of a dealer fix. Second-row seats have slid forward and folded while moving. Federal records list 14 recalls.

Ask the seller for proof that every recall was completed, and for service records on any brake or no-start repair. Test the second-row seat release. The 2024 Aviator, with 8 recalls, is a fair alternative.

See also the 2024 Lincoln Aviator for an earlier comparison.

Pros

  • +Acceptable reliability score
  • +5-star NHTSA crash rating
  • +Only 13 complaints reported

Cons

  • −Above-average recall count
  • −Above-average complaint rate for SUV
  • −SERVICE BRAKES: Braking can weaken or quit without warning (3 complaints)

Compare 2025 Lincoln Aviator With

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 14 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • SERVICE BRAKES (3)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

14

recalls on record

The 2025 Lincoln Aviator has 14 recalls on record, which is above average. A high count can flag multiple component concerns, though it also shows the manufacturer is actively addressing known issues.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

5.3

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 3.5

LowAvgHigh
Low

Safety Incidents

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2025 Lincoln Aviator Recall Details

14 recalls have been issued for the 2025 Lincoln Aviator. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

25V4070002025-06-13

STRUCTURE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator vehicles. The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may have insufficient adhesive bonding, which can allow the trim to detach from the vehicle.

Consequence

Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will repair or replace C-pillar appliques and window division bars, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S66.

26V4510002026-07-14

SEATS

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.

Consequence

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. Interim letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. 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.

26V1650002026-03-19

BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Consequence

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.

Showing 10 of 14 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2025 Lincoln Aviator? Check its history first

Service brakes problems lead owner complaints about the 2025 Lincoln Aviator, and 14 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2025 Lincoln Aviator NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 14.7%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Torso and/or Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (N/A)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row, 3rd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Lincoln AviatorRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$807

Repair Frequency

0.6

unscheduled repair visits per year

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

20–21 MPG

Running cost: $3,650–$3,800/yr

Fuel + repair

17–18 city / 25 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2025 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
Aviator RWD 3.0L 6-cylRear-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S10)182521$2,850
Aviator AWD 3.0L 6-cylPart-time 4-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S10)172520$3,000

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 Lincoln Aviator.

  • Start the car several times and watch for a parking brake fault service message on the cluster.

  • Brake firmly from highway speed and confirm the pedal responds immediately with full power assist.

  • Drive on a residential street and watch for brakes applying on their own or ABS and pre-collision warnings.

  • Ask for service records showing brake or electrical software updates and any repeat visits for no-start problems.

  • Restart the engine repeatedly after short stops to check for no-start or stalling.

  • Work each second-row seat's top button and confirm the seat locks and stays put during a drive.

  • Have a Lincoln dealer confirm the sale is registered and check the VIN for open recalls.

2025 Lincoln Aviator Common Problems by Component

13 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

3
3
2
SERVICE BRAKES (3)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)SEATS (2)VISIBILITY (1)VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1)POWER TRAIN (1)STEERING (1)LANE DEPARTURE (1)

SERVICE BRAKES

3 complaints

Braking can weaken or quit without warning. Reports describe a sudden loss of power brake assist at highway speed, with multiple critical alerts on the instrument cluster and the SUV becoming undrivable. Another describes a slow response to the pedal at 55 mph at about 2,000 miles, which the dealer could not duplicate or repair. Both carry a clear crash risk from longer stopping distances. A milder complaint involves a parking brake fault service light that comes on at every start.

3 complaints total

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 complaints

Brakes apply on their own while driving, causing erratic, hard-to-control behavior along with "Antilock brake fault" and "pre-collision assist not available" messages. A dealer software update cleared one such case. A separate pattern is repeated no-starts, including stalling at a traffic light and refusing to restart for 30 minutes to two hours. Owners report the no-start comes back within a week or two of a dealer fix. One report also describes the second-row seat reclining by itself while driving, with motor noise.

3 complaints total

SEATS

2 complaints

Second-row seats slide forward and fold while the car is moving. The release button at the top of the seat appears to stick, and the complaint calls this a serious safety issue for passengers. The other complaint in this category is not about a seat failure. It describes a dealer dispute in which the sale was never registered with Lincoln, so another dealer could not perform repairs, leaving the owner stuck returning to the selling dealer.

2 complaints total
VISIBILITY (1 complaints)

VISIBILITY

1 complaint
2026-06-26

The contact owns a 2025 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the sunroof glass exploded. The contact stated it sounded like a shotgun when the sunroof glass exploded. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed that the contact stated that the sunroof glass was not under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint
2025-12-04

On 12/4/25, I visited Corley's Lincoln and reported several issues. One issue was that the vehicle would accelerate or decelerate while using cruise control. There were several other issues, but the following two issues are safety issues. I visited again on 3/5/26 with several of the same issues, although the speed issue was not listed on the work order. They could not find any issues, but I encountered the same issues on my drive home. I immediately returned to the dealer, and they kept the vehicle from 3/6/2026 to 4/2/26. Again, the speed issue was not listed on the work order. At this point, I began to keep a log. On 4/19/26, I set the speed at 56 MPH while driving on [XXX] , and within a short time the speed increased to 65 MPH before I stepped on the brakes. I have tested the cruise control several times since with the same result. Also on 4/19/26. I was braking to a stop on [XXX] , when the crash warning was activated. There was no one in front of me and no cross traffic. The only cars were in the opposite left-turn lane, 6 lanes away and completely stopped. This has happened several times, usually while slowing to a stop. I did not report the crash alert to the dealer until 4/20/26. As of 4/27/26, I am still awaiting to hear of a resolution from the dealer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER TRAIN (1 complaints)

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint
2025-09-27

I purchased a brand new 2025 Lincoln Aviator on 9/27/25, with 33 miles on it. I do not even make it home from the dealer before it started making a scrubbing/grinding noise, which subsequently led to the replacement of the transfer case and transmission on a vehicle with approx 180 miles on it. It calls into question the safety, reliability and quality of the vehicle

STEERING (1 complaints)

STEERING

1 complaint
2025-10-20

Steering locks up during low speed maneuvers. Problem began at approximately 192 miles and has repeated well over 25 times in under 650 miles.

LANE DEPARTURE (1 complaints)

LANE DEPARTURE

1 complaint
2025-02-05

I bought Lincoln Aviator 2025 Model. After 2 weeks my car started showing all the faulty error sign. To be specific with sign I have the following sign on : BSM, Cross traffic system fault, front camera fault, pre-collision alert. Reverse camera malfunction sign. I have my other 3 friend that have the same problem. Is there a recall on 2025 model ? I am at the dealer dealing with this after going through 2 weeks of buying my car.

Best & Worst Lincoln Aviator Years

Best Lincoln Aviator Years to Buy

Lincoln Aviator Years to Avoid

Lincoln Aviator Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Lincoln Aviator reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
202057/100Mixed
202162/100Good
202263/100Good
202366/100Good
202470/100Good
202568/100Good

Lincoln Aviator Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
2025(selected)68/100-2Good1413
202470/100+4Good85
202366/100+3Good1621
202263/100+1Good2143
202162/100+5Good2838
202057/100—Mixed2999

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
Its reliability standing is good, and it is among the stronger of the six scored Aviator years. It ranks below average against other 2025 SUVs, though. Owner complaints are few, but serious ones involve brakes and electrical faults, and federal records show 14 recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
Service brakes, the electrical system, and seats each draw the most owner complaints. Reports include lost brake assist, brakes applying on their own, repeated no-starts, and second-row seats that slide forward and fold while the vehicle is moving.
Does the 2025 Lincoln Aviator have brake problems?
Some owners say so. One described brake assist disappearing at highway speed with multiple cluster alerts. Another reported a slow pedal at 55 mph at about 2,000 miles that the dealer could not reproduce. A parking brake fault light on every start was also reported.
Does the 2025 Lincoln Aviator have starting problems?
Owners report repeated no-starts. One described stalling at a traffic light and then refusing to restart for 30 minutes to two hours. Several say the problem came back within a week or two after a dealer repair, so ask for service records.
Is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator better than the 2024?
The two rate about the same, and both have good reliability. The 2025 has 14 recalls on file against 8 for the 2024. The 2024 has 5 owner complaints and the 2025 has 13. Compare each car's recall completion and repair history.

Don’t buy a 2025 Lincoln Aviator without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2025 Lincoln Aviator

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2025 Lincoln Aviator does best on how many systems draw complaints (78/100) and worst on recall impact (51/100). 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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