Last updated: 2026-10-10

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
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
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

2025 Acura MDX
Reliability: 76/100

2025 Audi Q7
Reliability: 68/100

2025 BMW X5
Reliability: 64/100

2025 Volvo XC90
Reliability: 74/100

2025 Lexus RX
Reliability: 83/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 14 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- SERVICE BRAKES (3)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (3)
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 soldSegment avg: 3.5
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.
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.
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.
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 →
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.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2025 Lincoln Aviator NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 14.7%
Safety Technologies
Lincoln AviatorRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
3.5Maintenance rating: 3.5 out of 5Based 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
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator RWD 3.0L 6-cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S10) | 18 | 25 | 21 | $2,850 |
| Aviator AWD 3.0L 6-cyl | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S10) | 17 | 25 | 20 | $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.
SERVICE BRAKES
3 complaintsBraking 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 complaintsBrakes 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.
SEATS
2 complaintsSecond-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.
VISIBILITY (1 complaints)
VISIBILITY
1 complaintThe 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 complaintOn 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 complaintI 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 complaintSteering 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 complaintI 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
Based on reliability index scoreLincoln Aviator Years to Avoid
Lincoln Aviator Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 57/100 | Mixed |
| 2021 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 63/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 66/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 70/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 68/100 | Good |
Lincoln Aviator Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
Does the 2025 Lincoln Aviator have brake problems?
Does the 2025 Lincoln Aviator have starting problems?
Is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator better than the 2024?
Don’t buy a 2025 Lincoln Aviator without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
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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