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. Diagnosed by Ford as bad A clutch and needing to be replaced.
Lincoln Aviator won't shift problems
16 of the 499 owner complaints about the Lincoln Aviator describe stuck in gear or won't shift, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 16
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical mileage
- 89,000
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20202
- 20051
- 20044
- 20039
Often reported together
What owners say
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 the problem.
I have a lincoln aviator 2003, it has been having problems with the transmission and it seems like it doesn't shift gears when it's supposed too. Thos happens when I press on the accelerator. Is anyone having this problem?
Takata recall when I park in my drive way my car won't shift out of park I have to have it pushed an rocked back an forth to get the gear to shift an it won't let me drive it in drive gear I can only drive it in 3rd gear it has this jurk when I stop to park it constantly getting stuck.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 lincoln aviator. While the vehicle was parked on an incline, the gear shift cable would not go into drive or reverse. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the gear shift cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was awaiting a diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
Shifter would not go into park from reverse sometimes would not unlock from park position. Serious problem when your shifter shows in drive and you end up still going in reverse. Read other complaints from owners sounds like a defect which could cause serious injury or death.
My husband and I were driving our 2003 lincoln aviator when it basically stopped going and wouldn't change gear or speed up. (this is the second time it's gotten stuck in gear, the 1st time was when it was parked and wouldn't move but the gear shift moved freely). We got it back home and realized again the transmission shift cable had come dislodged. Lincoln had a recall on 25 vehicle regarding this problem, when I called I was told my vehicle wasn't one of them and wasn't included in the recall even thought I'm having the exact same issue. I've complained about the one here one time before and nothing happened. This is crazy. I could've been in a serious accident behind this.
I was sitting in park. Just had stopped to make a deposit. Put my foot on the brake & my 2003 aviator would not shift from park. Called the dealer, got their tow service. The tow guy told me to put my feet on the brakes, my brake lights did not come on. He said that's why it will not shift from park. It is not getting the signal that the brakes were mashed. Got it towed. Dealer replaced the shifter, that they said had gone out that was the issue. Out of $1306.00 & less than one week later, at the store, got in my aviator.. Can't get out of park. Same issue.. Same tow guy called.. He works to get it out of park with a screw driver.. Towed back to the dealer. No brake lights indicated=no shift from park to. Is the new shifter for $950 now out? Not!!! Has to be another issue.
I had just got home with my vehicle from the repair shop, had a vacuum hose replaced. I could not get my key out of the ignition. I kept trying & was finally successful at removing the key. Now the gear shifter is stuck in park and will not go into any other gear. I just got it back from the shop & still can't drive it due to getting it in gear. This really does need to be looked into & they need to do a recall. I have seen a lot of complaints about this problem. I have 2 more years to pay it off & then it is gone.
2004 lincoln aviator gears were slipping and would not shift; had it checked and was told the transmission was failing. 2 days later we had to have it towed to the shop because it was stuck in "neutral". Had to replace the transmission at only 63,000 miles. Never had a transmission fail with only 63k miles, all preventative maintenance is kept up on our vehicle. Loud noise at startup and A/C does not work, I believe it is the clutch. No help from ford even though there are multiple complaints of transmission/power train problems. Also, read that the explorer was recalled for the same problem and that the explorer and aviator are built with many of the same parts, however, no recall on the aviator?
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
- Risk
- Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on June 26, 2026.
Recall number 26V402000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: valves/valve body
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Bronco, 2024 Ranger, 2025 Mustang, Explorer, and Aviator vehicles. The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
- Risk
- Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
Recall number 25V164000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
- Risk
- The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S06.
Recall number 23V070000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 2.0L or 3.3L engine and a 10 Speed Automatic Transmission with the All Wheel Drive package. The drive shaft may fracture along the weld seam.
- Risk
- Defective drive shafts may fail and cause a loss of connection between the transfer case and rear axle, possibly resulting in a vehicle rollaway when in Park or a loss of drive. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash. The drive shafts can also deform and separate from the driveline and potentially contact the fuel tank, increasing the risk of fuel leaks and/or fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shaft label inspected and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S65.
Recall number 20V693000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles, the transmission shift cable can become dislodged from the shift cable bracket.
- Risk
- This could result resulting in incorrect gear indication.
- Remedy
- Dealers will add a strap to the shift cable adjuster to prevent the shift cable from becoming dislodged. Ford has not yet provided an owner notification schedule for this campaign. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 02V313000 · Recall details
Questions about the Lincoln Aviator won't shift
Which Lincoln Aviator years have stuck in gear or won't shift problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (9 complaints), 2004 (4 complaints) and 2020 (2 complaints).
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