2005 Lincoln Aviator: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 51 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (51% of complaints).
Data updated weekly
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I was driving on a highway 55 mph when passenger rear toe link failed and I lost control of vehicle. I was able to pull over without crashing. Vehicle was repaired at garage nearby.”Owner report · Suspension · Oct 2020
“A 6 inch crack developed at rear center tailgate body panel made out of plastic below the rear window. There had been reports that the rear window could fall out and internal tailgate components could be damaged due to water entry from the crack. This appears to be a common problem from my research.”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2020
“Rear plastic litigate applique broke off hitting a passenger car's windshield. The windshield cracked. This the third piece failure. The lincoln was traveling west on the dulles greenway.”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“While parked at the gas station getting ready to pump gas the rear window exploded, glass shattered everywhere, left hinge cracked and frame around liftgate bend and curled up. My rear liftgate has the same cracked as previously reported. I replaced the entire liftgate in 2011 & on the new liftgate the same crack came back”Owner report · Structure · Oct 2016
“I have the same cracking problem with the back gate which resulted in the breaking of hinges. Also a known defect in using defective parts in the engine such as timing chain cassettes and tensioner. Ford knew about the problem and issued an technical bulletin on it but never fixed the problem. The mechanic told me he repaired this very frequently for this engine”Owner report · Engine · May 2015
“Tl-the contact owns a 2005 lincoln aviator. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag deployed independently onto her face. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000. Djr”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2014
“The plastic gear shift unlock lever, which is inside of a metal housing underneath the gear shift knob broke off. It is a very poor design and is a safety hazard, because one cannot move the gear shift without the release being raised. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2014
“The gear knob on my 2005 lincoln aviator broke causing the vehicle to get stuck in reverse. This is a major safety hazard. This appears to be a poor design by ford. Based on my research, several lincoln aviator owners are having the same problem. Ford needs to do a recall and fix this issue. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · May 2014
“The lift gate on my 2005 lincoln aviator cracked just above the emblem from the read glass down to the emblem. The gate was not open or been hit. Just woke up one morning and the crack was there. I have notice while driving around there are several other lincoln aviators that have the same crack. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2014
“The lift gate cracked right down the center for no apparent reason. One second the vehicle was fine, the next second, the entire lift gate frame split in two. See thousands of reports of it on google but wondering why there is no recall? *tr”Owner report · Structure · May 2013
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2005 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Aviator by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
NHTSA has 51 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Lincoln Aviator. The most complained-about area is structure (51% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Lincoln Aviator problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 71,750 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.