Short answer
Among Lincoln Aviator model years through 2024, 2004 and 2005 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2020 has the most (30). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Lincoln Aviator: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 11 (2003–2027)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 52
- Fewest recalls
- 2004 and 2005 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2020 (30)
- Most recalled system
- Back over prevention (36)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2020, 2021, 2022 and 4 more years
Lincoln Aviator Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | Not rated | Seats |
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 6 | 5 stars | Seats, Visibility, Seat belts |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 15 | 5 stars | Seats, Structure, Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seats, Equipment |
| 2023 | 16 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts, Seats |
| 2022 | 22 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts, Seats |
| 2021 | 28 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts, Electrical system |
| 2020 | 30 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts, Seats |
| 2005 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2004 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2003 | 1 | Not rated | Power train |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20272 recalls
- 20266 recalls
- 202515 recalls
- 20248 recalls
- 202316 recalls
- 202222 recalls
- 202128 recalls
- 202030 recalls
- 20050 recalls
- 20040 recalls
- 20031 recall
Lincoln Aviator: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Lincoln Aviator recalls are back over prevention (36), seats (19), seat belts (17), visibility (10) and structure (8). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 7 of these 11 model years, and 2020, 2021, 2022 and 4 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Lincoln Aviator Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Lincoln Aviator?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2004 and 2005 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Lincoln Aviator model years have the most recalls?
2020 has the most, with 30 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Aviator", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy