Last updated: 2026-10-10
Lincoln Aviator Years to Avoid
6 scored model years (2020–2025) · model average 64/100
Skip the 2020 model year. Its owners report electronic door releases that trap passengers, transmissions that drop into neutral at highway speed, and sunroofs that shatter. The 2024 is the year to buy, with far fewer complaints and recalls than the early years.
Verdict
- Avoid
- 2020 57/100
- Buy
- 2024 70/100
- Model average
- 64/100
Lincoln Aviator Years to Avoid
These model years score significantly below the Lincoln Aviator average of 64/100.
| # | Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints | Top Issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020 | 57/100 | Mixed | 29 | 99 | Electrical System (29) |
Why These Years Should Be Avoided
2020 Lincoln Aviator
Owners filed the most complaints on this year, led by electrical faults. Door release buttons stop working and trap passengers. Some drivers lose power or shift into neutral at highway speed. Transmissions slip or stop accelerating, and panoramic sunroofs have shattered with no road debris involved. It also carries the most recalls of any year.
Top issues: Electrical System (29), Unknown Or Other (16), Power Train (15), Structure (7), Back Over Prevention (7), Steering (4)
View full 2020reliability report →What Are Common Lincoln Aviator Problems?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
54 complaintsMost reported in 2020, 2021, 2022
2020: Electronic door release buttons stop working and trap passengers, who must roll down a window and use the outside handle.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
28 complaintsMost reported in 2020, 2022, 2021
2020: Backup camera failures are the most common problem here.
POWER TRAIN
21 complaintsMost reported in 2020, 2021, 2022
2020: Transmissions slip out of gear, drop into neutral, or stop accelerating at highway speed, which leaves drivers close to being rear-ended.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
17 complaintsMost reported in 2020, 2022, 2023
2020: Backup camera screens turn blue, green, or blank, or the image flips, when the car is shifted into reverse.
STRUCTURE
15 complaintsMost reported in 2020, 2022, 2021
2020: Panoramic sunroofs shatter at highway speed with no road debris involved, and glass sprays into the cabin.
ENGINE
12 complaintsMost reported in 2021, 2023, 2020
2021: Seized motors show up on nearly new cars.
Best Lincoln Aviator Year to Buy Instead
2024 Lincoln Aviator
The 2024 has only 5 owner complaints, against 99 for the 2020, and far fewer recalls. Its reports are mainly a backup camera that flickers and a noisy headlight switch, not stalling or trapped passengers. It has also been on the road long enough to trust that picture.
Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car
Even the 2024 Lincoln Aviator has 8 recalls on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
All Lincoln Aviator Years by Generation
Lincoln Aviator Reliability Scores by Year
Second generation (U611) (2020–2023)
2023 Lincoln Aviator
16 recalls · 21 complaints
2022 Lincoln Aviator
21 recalls · 43 complaints
2021 Lincoln Aviator
28 recalls · 38 complaints
2020 Lincoln Aviator
29 recalls · 99 complaints
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Lincoln Aviator year should I avoid?
Which Lincoln Aviator years have transmission problems?
Is the 2021 Lincoln Aviator a good year to buy?
Is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator better than the 2024?
How we score every Lincoln Aviator model year
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