Is the Volvo XC90 more reliable than the Lincoln Aviator?

Yes, by a clear margin. Owners filed 4.2 complaints per 10,000 XC90s sold, against 15.7 for the Aviator. The XC90 also has far fewer recalls. Both are rated good, but the XC90 has the stronger record across the model years covered.

Which has more recalls, the XC90 or the Aviator?

The Aviator. Federal recall records show 116 recalls across its 6 model years. The XC90 has 39 across 9 model years. The Aviator is the newer nameplate and still has the heavier recall load, so check the VIN for open repairs before buying.

Which costs less to repair, the XC90 or the Aviator?

The Aviator, by a small margin. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $807 a year, against $851 for the XC90. Over five years that is about $220. Both average 0.6 unscheduled shop visits a year, so the difference is minor.

What are the most common problems on the Lincoln Aviator?

Electrical faults lead, mainly a rear backup camera that flickers or blanks out and was not fixed by a replacement. Power train complaints include plug-in hybrids going dead after short trips. Owners also report seized engines on nearly new cars and a rear window trim piece falling off.

Does the Volvo XC90 have serious safety problems?

Some complaints are serious. Brakes have 3 crash-linked complaints, including a pedal that lost stopping power around 60,000 to 70,000 miles. The instrument cluster can go dark while driving. Power train reports describe a limp mode that caps speed. These are a minority of cars, but test for them.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90: Reliability Compared

Lincoln Aviator

Good

More Reliable

Volvo XC90

Good

On reliability, the Volvo XC90 beats the Lincoln Aviator by a clear margin, with a far lower owner complaint rate. It also has far fewer recalls. The Aviator is slightly cheaper to repair, but that gap is small next to its higher complaint and recall counts.

How Do the Lincoln Aviator and Volvo XC90 Generations Compare?

Second-generation cars make up most of what you will find for either model. The XC90's second generation covered US model years 2016 to 2025, with facelifts for 2020, 2023 and 2025. The 2026 year falls after that listed span. The Aviator's second generation began with the 2020 model year and ran through 2023, and a facelift followed for 2025. Used shoppers will mostly find original-design Aviators from 2020 to 2023, which include its two weakest years.

Verdict

The Volvo XC90 is more reliable than the Lincoln Aviator, scoring 72/100 vs 64/100.

A clear edge goes to the XC90. Owners filed far fewer complaints per car sold, and the Aviator has been recalled much more often despite fewer model years on sale. Repair costs are close, with the Aviator slightly cheaper. The XC90 is not trouble free, though. Its brake and instrument cluster failures are serious. The Aviator's problems are more scattered and tied to delayed fixes, but they show up at a much higher rate.

Key Differences

1Volvo XC90 has 77 fewer total recalls
2Lincoln Aviator costs $44 less per year to repair
3Volvo XC90 has 11.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Lincoln Aviator

—

3Volvo XC90

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90: Which Is More Reliable?

Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Lincoln Aviator	Volvo XC90
Reliability Score	64/100	72/100
Years Tracked	6	9
Total Recalls	116	39
Complaints per 10k Sold	15.7	4.2
Annual Repair Cost	$807/yr	$851/yr
Repair Frequency	0.6/yr	0.6/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2025 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	0	6

What Are the Common Problems With the Lincoln Aviator and Volvo XC90?

Volvo owners report a dark or flickering instrument cluster, sunroof leaks, and a brake pedal that loses stopping power around 60,000 to 70,000 miles. Brakes carry 3 crash-linked complaints, and power train (the "turtle mode" limp state) has 2. The Aviator has no crash-linked complaints in electrical or power train. Its worst reports are a flickering rear camera that replacement did not cure, plug-in hybrids that go dead after short trips, and engines that seized at 4,181 and 5,400 miles. Both models have crash-linked rear camera and engine complaints.

Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90 common problem areas comparison
Component	Lincoln Aviator	Volvo XC90
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	3.9Average	1.1Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2Low	0.5Very Low
POWER TRAIN	1.5Low	0.2Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	1.2Low	0.3Very Low
STRUCTURE	1.1Low	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	0.9Very Low	0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.4Very Low	0.4Very Low
SEATS	0.4Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.2Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	0.1Very Low	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Lincoln Aviator or Volvo XC90?

Repair costs are close, and the Aviator is slightly cheaper at $807 a year, against $851 for the XC90. That gap is $44 a year, or about $220 over five years. Both models average 0.6 unscheduled shop visits a year, so neither sends you to the shop more often. The XC90 has an 11% chance that a given repair is major. The data gives no matching figure for the Aviator. The cost difference is small and should not outweigh the gap in complaints and recalls.

How Does Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90 Reliability Compare by Year?

Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Lincoln Aviator	Volvo XC90	Edge
2025	68/10014R / 13C	74/1003R / 23C	Volvo XC90
2024	70/1008R / 5C	73/1003R / 26C	Volvo XC90
2023	66/10016R / 21C	70/1006R / 39C	Volvo XC90
2022	63/10021R / 43C	72/1004R / 27C	Volvo XC90
2021	62/10028R / 38C	72/1005R / 17C	Volvo XC90
2020	57/10029R / 99C	71/1007R / 24C	Volvo XC90

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Lincoln Aviator scored 70/100 and the 2024 Volvo XC90 scored 73/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Lincoln Aviator vs the Volvo XC90?

Pick the XC90 if you want the lower chance of trouble overall. Its complaint rate is far below the Aviator's, and its recall total is much smaller. Look hard at 2019 and 2023, the weakest years. The newest years, 2025 and 2026, rate best, but they have had less time to collect complaints. On any XC90, test the instrument cluster, check the sunroof for leaks, and ask whether the brake booster and master cylinder were ever replaced. Pick the Aviator if the slightly lower repair bill matters most to you. Avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. Check that every recall repair is done, since owners reported dealers lacking parts for the rear camera fix. Skip the plug-in hybrid unless the car has a clean record of starting after short trips. Test the backup camera for flicker, and look at the rear window trim.

Lincoln Aviator vs Volvo XC90: Common Questions

Is the Volvo XC90 more reliable than the Lincoln Aviator?: Yes, by a clear margin. Owners filed 4.2 complaints per 10,000 XC90s sold, against 15.7 for the Aviator. The XC90 also has far fewer recalls. Both are rated good, but the XC90 has the stronger record across the model years covered.
Which has more recalls, the XC90 or the Aviator?: The Aviator. Federal recall records show 116 recalls across its 6 model years. The XC90 has 39 across 9 model years. The Aviator is the newer nameplate and still has the heavier recall load, so check the VIN for open repairs before buying.
Which costs less to repair, the XC90 or the Aviator?: The Aviator, by a small margin. Independent repair-cost data puts it at $807 a year, against $851 for the XC90. Over five years that is about $220. Both average 0.6 unscheduled shop visits a year, so the difference is minor.
What are the most common problems on the Lincoln Aviator?: Electrical faults lead, mainly a rear backup camera that flickers or blanks out and was not fixed by a replacement. Power train complaints include plug-in hybrids going dead after short trips. Owners also report seized engines on nearly new cars and a rear window trim piece falling off.
Does the Volvo XC90 have serious safety problems?: Some complaints are serious. Brakes have 3 crash-linked complaints, including a pedal that lost stopping power around 60,000 to 70,000 miles. The instrument cluster can go dark while driving. Power train reports describe a limp mode that caps speed. These are a minority of cars, but test for them.

More Lincoln Aviator comparisons

Lincoln Aviator vs Acura MDX reliability Lincoln Aviator vs Audi Q7 reliability Lincoln Aviator vs BMW X5 reliability Lincoln Aviator vs Lexus RX reliability Lincoln Aviator reliability by year Lincoln Aviator years to avoid

More Volvo XC90 comparisons

Volvo XC90 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE reliability Volvo XC90 vs BMW X5 reliability Volvo XC90 vs Audi Q7 reliability Volvo XC90 vs Lexus RX reliability Volvo XC90 reliability by year Volvo XC90 years to avoid

Decided between Lincoln Aviator and Volvo XC90? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the Lincoln Aviator and Volvo XC90

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