IllustrationA 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.
2005 Lincoln Aviator
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Lincoln Aviator do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Aviator years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
325–50K
1650–75K
875–100K
6100–150K
2150K+
40 reports with mileage · 11 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Structure complaints
28 reportsREAR 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.
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
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 TH…
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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
WHEN PURCHASED USED 2 YRS OLD [XXX], I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFTGATE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 7YRS AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT, BUT I NOW HAVE 3 CRACKS IN THE LIFTGATE. IT SEEMS TO BE VERY THIN ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WINDOW AND EVERY TIME YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE WINDOW, IT PUTS STRESS…
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WHEN PURCHASED USED 2 YRS OLD [XXX], I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFTGATE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 7YRS AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT, BUT I NOW HAVE 3 CRACKS IN THE LIFTGATE. IT SEEMS TO BE VERY THIN ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WINDOW AND EVERY TIME YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE WINDOW, IT PUTS STRESS ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECT!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 4/19/2016 *JS
I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL OF MY TAILGATE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT AND SINCE THEN I HAVE NOTICED AT LEAST 3 OTHER CARS IN MY SMALL TOWN WITH THE SAME DEFECT. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD AND GOTTEN NO RESPONSE. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT FORD/LINCOLN SHOUL…
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I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL OF MY TAILGATE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT AND SINCE THEN I HAVE NOTICED AT LEAST 3 OTHER CARS IN MY SMALL TOWN WITH THE SAME DEFECT. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FORD AND GOTTEN NO RESPONSE. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT FORD/LINCOLN SHOULD RECALL THE AFFECTED MODELS OF CAR (INCLUDING FORD EXPLORERS) AND MAKE THESE REPAIRS. THE MECHANISM THAT KEEPS MY TAILGATE WINDOW CLOSED AND LOCKED IS ALSO BROKEN AND I THINK IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CRACK IN THE TAILGATE. THIS COMPROMISES OUR SAFETY IN THE CAR BY MAKING THE CAR UNABLE TO BE LOCKED PROPERLY. SOMEONE COULD EASILY GET INTO THE CAR FROM THE TAILGATE AND STEAL ANYTHING IN THE CAR, STEAL THE CAR ITSELF, AND POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO OUR PERSONAL SAFETY. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR BRAND NEW. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OTHERS WITH THE CRACK. TOLD FORD LINCOLN MERCURY ABOUT IT THE FIRST COLD SEASON FOR THE CAR, 2005/2006. ALTHOUGH I HEARD AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE FORD HAS DONE NOTHING. NOW THE GATE WON?T CLOSE, THE WINDOW WON?T CLOSE BECAUSE…
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I PURCHASED A 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR BRAND NEW. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS MANY OTHERS WITH THE CRACK. TOLD FORD LINCOLN MERCURY ABOUT IT THE FIRST COLD SEASON FOR THE CAR, 2005/2006. ALTHOUGH I HEARD AND SAW SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE FORD HAS DONE NOTHING. NOW THE GATE WON?T CLOSE, THE WINDOW WON?T CLOSE BECAUSE THE MECHANISM HAS CORRODED ALLOWING IT TO OPEN ON ITS OWN. THERE IS NO SECURITY WITH THE VEHICLE NOW AND THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! EVEN BETTER MY GLASS COMPANY ORDERED REPLACEMENT 07/31/2014 AND I STILL HAVE NOT SEEN IT. I SPOKE WITH [XXX], AND THEIR SUPERVISOR AT FORD CUSTOMER CARE RELATIONS WHO WAS OF NO HELP. THEY CAN'T ANSWER WHEN THE GLASS WILL COME IN. THEY GIVE DATES IT MAY BE AVAILABLE BUT WILL NOT GUARANTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
ONE MORNING I NOTICED THAT A CRACK HAD APPEARED ON THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE ON THE LIFT GATE RIGHT BY THE LINCOLN EMBLEM. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE THAT HAPPENS FOR NO REASON ON LINCOLN AVIATORS OF CERTAIN YEARS. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIFT GATE HINGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS…
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ONE MORNING I NOTICED THAT A CRACK HAD APPEARED ON THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE ON THE LIFT GATE RIGHT BY THE LINCOLN EMBLEM. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE THAT HAPPENS FOR NO REASON ON LINCOLN AVIATORS OF CERTAIN YEARS. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIFT GATE HINGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS SLIGHTLY SHIFTED AND I HAVE NOT EVEN OPENED IT IN MONTHS. THIS I WAS NOTIFIED IS ALSO ANOTHER COMMON DEFECT ON THESE VEHICLES! I LITERALLY AM SCARED TO EVEN OPEN THE BACK LIFT GATE NOW AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO CAUSE EITHER OF THESE ISSUES. *TR
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
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA09013 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
Opened Aug 18, 2009 · Closed Feb 12, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift; Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering:column
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.