Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Lincoln Aviator, and it carries 30 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 13 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 11% |
| Back over prevention | 7 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 4% |
| Engine | 3 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3% |
| Structure | 3 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3% |
| Seats | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Transmission started shifting hard when going from 1-2, up and down shifting. Sometimes there is a grinding sound and then a very hard shift into 2nd gear. 1 time it would not shift at all after coming to a stop. Diagnos
NHTSA complaint: Power train
My car slammed into park while I was driving on the highway and now is in limp mode only going into neutral and I am stranded without a vehicle. The Lincoln dealership wants to charge me 1500 to diagnose it but that’s th
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I am filing this complaint regarding the recurring infotainment screen failure on my 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The center display repeatedly goes completely black while driving or when using Apple CarPlay. When this occurs,
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that on several occasions while shifted to reverse(R), and occasionally while in drive(D), the vehicle jerked violently and did not stop jerking until the brake
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign, the transmission unexpectedly shifted in
NHTSA complaint: Power train
My fiance went out to start the car. The car wouldn't start, but the starter kept clicking for around 5 minutes even when she was out of the vehicle with the door shut. During that 5 minutes the car started to smoke real
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TRANSMISSION MAY BRIEFLY ENGAGE IN PARK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL MOVING.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 30 recall campaigns for the 2020 Lincoln Aviator. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. Over time, the protective sleeve on the vapor fuel line may chafe through the plastic liquid fuel line and cause a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a longer protective sleeve on the liquid fuel line, as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners and interim notification on January 29, 2020. R
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The right hand motor mount fasteners may have been incorrectly tightened, and may loosen over time.
Risk: With a loose motor mount, motor vibration may cause the axle to disconnect from the engine and could result in loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and replace the right hand motor mount fasteners, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-86
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The rear lower control arm (RLCA) bolts that attach the rear lower control arms to the wheel knuckles may not have been heat-treated, which could cause them to break.
Risk: Broken RLCA bolts can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace both RLCA bolts, free of charge. The recall began on April 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for t
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Corsair, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with 360-degree cameras. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the Image Processing Module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
| Reliability raw | 50 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 60 | average |
| Maintenance | 65 | good |
| Depreciation | 70 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 13 of them (12%). There are 30 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 50/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 60/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2020 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 62/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.