Lincoln Aviator engine failure problems

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Steering · 116,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while driving or while reversing, the steering wheel intermittently seized while turning left or right. The messages "Service Advance Track," "Drive Control Malfunction, Service Required," "Pre-Collision Assistance not Available," "Check Headlamp System, See Manual," and "Adaptive Steering not Available" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed steering gear assembly and rack and pinion system, and the parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, where the rack and pinion was cleaned, and the steering wiring harness was cleaned of corrosion and repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle received no additional repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.

Filed Mar 18, 2022 · Engine · OR

In regards to my brand new 2021 Lincoln Aviator Reserve (4181 miles): 2.23.22- Driving home on a very narrow, winding road when my car unexpectedly started to vibrate/shake. There were no alerts and no warning lights that came on. Fortunately, I was coming up on one of the very few turnouts available. As I started to pull over the car completely shut off (completely died). Luckily, I made it off of the road or I would have been stuck in the middle of the road on a blind corner as the car would not restart. It just kept displaying "Full Accessory Power Active" but would not do anything. The car was towed back to the dealership who informed me the next day that the engine had completely seized and they would have to replace the engine. One of the piston rods was bent to a 90 degree angle. I got it back on a Saturday afternoon(3.12.22), drove home from work, took my kids to/from school Monday, then drove to work Tuesday morning. On my way to work (which is only 3 miles from home) my car started to vibrate again but I was able to turn off the highway onto a side road and the vibrating stopped. Thankfully, it did not die in the middle of the highway and cause an accident. I continued on down the street and again the vibrating started. As I pulled up to a stop sign the car completely died and would not start. I waited a few moments and tried again and it started. I was able to make it the last less than quarter of a mile to work while it vibrated then died yet again as I pulled into my parking spot. My fiancé came later in the day and started the car. It was making a loud knocking noise so we shut if off and called dealer again. It was towed back for another new engine. As of today, they are still working on "repairing" the brand new death trap. Lincoln doesn't seem to think it's a big deal and thinks the second new engine will fix the issue. Hopefully it doesn't kill me first. This is worth investigating. Like I said, this car is a death trap.

Filed Mar 6, 2022 · Engine · FL

Vehicle has 5400 miles and has catastrophic engine failure while driving. Vehicle towed to dealership and diagnosed engine seized needs complete engine replacement

Filed Jan 13, 2016 · Transmission · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 lincoln aviator. The contact stated that when attempting to shift gears, the gear shifter seized. The contact also stated that the key was stuck in the ignition cylinder. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Filed Nov 17, 2011 · Engine · 77,000 miles · IN

At 76,000 miles began hearing a noise under the hood. It was determined by an authorized ford dealer that the idler pulleys were bad. Changed 3 pulleys and the noise was still there. Driving on a country paved road at 25 miles an hour a loud thump and the car died. Could not get it restarted. The plastic tensioner guide broke causing the timing chain to come off and broke pistons, valves and rockers. New engine from ford $8,000.... Had to replace it for $5,000 and will be trading it in immediately.

Filed Oct 29, 2011 · Engine · 79,000 miles · MD

After owning a 2003 lincoln aviator close to 4 years it is now down. I took good care of this SUV and always had changed the oil with synthetic oil . With only 79,000 miles it now has a engine knock . I took it to the lincoln dealer and they said I need a new engine and it would be 8,800 dollars since my extended warranty just ran out. I have been reading other people had this experience with this SUV and year but ford does not want to correct this.

Filed Jun 3, 2011 · Engine · 79,000 miles · NY

I own a 2003 lincoln aviator with 85,000 miles on it . It is a 48,000 dollar vehicle and I am less than satisfied with the way its held up . The vehicle sees synthetic oil changes every 3,000 miles . At around 79,000 the engine died on while driving on a hilly country road with my family in the car . I was able to muscle the car over to the side of the road with no power steering and limited brakes we ended up in a corn field , however there was no damage to the vehicle there was a verry unhappy farmer . The vehicle then started up and ran but was running rough with a check engine light . Brought to the dealer and was told its a common problem and needed a valve job somewhere to the tune of 5,000 dollars . I am one of at least 350 other complaints of the same problem online and would greatly appreciate it being looked into further . This vehicle has been babied since day 1 and I loved it untill now and its a shame . Along with the low compression the vehicle also developed an obnoxious knock and tick. I dont appreciate the vehicle as I did before oh and as for ford , they want nothing to do with it .

Filed Jul 15, 2010 · Engine · 82,000 miles · NY

I don't know if you can help me , but if you could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. I have a problem with ford motor corp .I want to complain about a severe engine flaw on there 2003 aviator with the 4.6 motor .I have contacted them over and over and the same response out of warranty sorry .as stated in there (tbs) report 06-5-13 cylinder 7 is the weak point of this motor , to check compression ,witch of course my engine failed as I am sure many others failed as well. This problem seems to develop between 60,000 to 80,000 mi. (according to data I collected online) and the warranty is up at 50,000. I don't believe that I, and all the others who bought this truck should pay for there mistake. So what I am asking is , if you could point me in the right direction . Who I should contact or complain to . Thank you for your time to read this . [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Sep 16, 2008 · Engine · 56,000 miles · VA

Check engine light came on 2 years ago or so. Took into shop. Replaced coil #8 and spark plugs. Several months later, light comes on again, this time #7. 2 days later, light comes on again, must have been a defective part, replaced the replaced #7. Another 2 days later, light back on. I'm told it's a cylinder head problem and they won't know what exactly the problem is until they take the cylinder heads off. Or I can get a new engine.... Lincoln wants no responsibility for such a catastrophic and known problem. Since my mileage is over their warranty (although at the onset it wasn't). Gee, I wonder why no one wants to buy an american made car!

Filed Nov 24, 2004 · Engine · 13,650 miles · CT

At 13,650 miles the engine destroyed itself due to a defective crankshaft. I was driving home at night in the rain when the engine light came on and a loud banging sound was coming from the engine compartment. I immediately pulled off the highway & called roadside assistance. I waited for 3 hours for a tow truck and eventually had to call ct state police who summoned a wrecker. The lower half of the engine was completely destroyed. Manufacturer replaced the engine with a new engine assembly and engineers requested the old engine be sent to them for inspection as they had never seen this defect before. I was without my vehicle for 15 days. The first night I picked it up the engine light came on after less than 20 miles on my way home, again at night. It was not a dummy light. Another defective part had to be replaced. This time it was the egr module. I am now experiencing occasional skips when the vehicle tries to shift to upper gears from a dead stop. I am confident this product is a lemon and have worked fruitlessly to try to get the dealer/manufacturer to provide a replacement vehicle. This vehicle is unsafe and unreliable and I have received no consideration for a replacement other than to treat the transaction as a new vehicle purchase with mine as a trade. At the time of the first event, I had only owned this car for 4 months and put roughly 6,700 miles on it as it was a dealer's demo, driven by the owner of the dealership. It had over 6000 miles at purchase and I had only made 3 car payments at the time of failure. This is ridiculous!