IllustrationTHE REAR LIFT DOOR HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK JUST BELOW THE WINDOW ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE DOOR. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM. DESIGN FLAW. *TR
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
What owners actually said
51 reportsTHE HINGES THAT HOLD THE LIFTGATE GLASS HAVE BROKEN AND ARE NO LONGER HOLDING THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW IN PLACE PROPERLY. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE WINDOW BECAUSE I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CLOSE IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND EVENT THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE ON LINCOLN AVIATORS AND THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO F…
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THE HINGES THAT HOLD THE LIFTGATE GLASS HAVE BROKEN AND ARE NO LONGER HOLDING THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW IN PLACE PROPERLY. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE WINDOW BECAUSE I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CLOSE IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND EVENT THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE ON LINCOLN AVIATORS AND THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX NUMEROUS AVIATOR IN THE PAST FOR THIS SAME ISSUE THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT IT OUT OF PARK, THE GEAR SHIFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT IT OUT OF PARK, THE GEAR SHIFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MLEAGES WERE 78,000.
THE VEHICLE BEGAN WITH PROBLEMS THAT SEEMED RELATED TO THE BATTERY. IT JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40 AND 60 MPH. PROBLEM CODES KEEP CHANGING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. FIRST CODES INDICATED CAM/CRANK SHAFT, THEN MISFIRING, THEN CRANKSHAFT, EVEN AFTER CAM AND CRANK SHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED. JERKING CONTINUES TO W…
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THE VEHICLE BEGAN WITH PROBLEMS THAT SEEMED RELATED TO THE BATTERY. IT JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40 AND 60 MPH. PROBLEM CODES KEEP CHANGING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. FIRST CODES INDICATED CAM/CRANK SHAFT, THEN MISFIRING, THEN CRANKSHAFT, EVEN AFTER CAM AND CRANK SHAFT SENSORS WERE REPLACED. JERKING CONTINUES TO WORSEN. FORD 'CLAIMS' THE CODE WAS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, INITIALLY. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE CAUSING MANY THINGS AT ONCE TO GO BAD: BATTERY, COMPRESSOR, FUEL GETTING TO ENGINE, ETC. PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
REAR PANEL HAS A CRACK IN IT.... SUV WAS NEVER IN A ACCIDENT...IT JUST APPEARED. I HAD MY TRUCK AT A LINCOLN DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER THINGS AND ASKED THE MANAGER ABOUT THIS CRACK... HE TOLD ME THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS COMPLAINED AND THE COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THAT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT CO…
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REAR PANEL HAS A CRACK IN IT.... SUV WAS NEVER IN A ACCIDENT...IT JUST APPEARED. I HAD MY TRUCK AT A LINCOLN DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER THINGS AND ASKED THE MANAGER ABOUT THIS CRACK... HE TOLD ME THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS COMPLAINED AND THE COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THAT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN.... I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK FOR NOT PENNIES AND EXPECT SOMEONE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE MANUFACTURER... THEY SHOULD STAND BY THE PRODUCT THEY SELL...VERY UPSET. *TR
THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS BROKE 3 TIMES ON MY VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME, I BROUGHT IT TO LINCOLN TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARING AT 28,000MI ON 10-10-07. THEN IT BROKE AGAIN (LEFT REAR BEARING) ABOUT 52000MI LAST YEAR 5-20-10 AND WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE THEY SAID THE BEARING WAS "SHATTERED" AND I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE …
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THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS BROKE 3 TIMES ON MY VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME, I BROUGHT IT TO LINCOLN TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARING AT 28,000MI ON 10-10-07. THEN IT BROKE AGAIN (LEFT REAR BEARING) ABOUT 52000MI LAST YEAR 5-20-10 AND WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE THEY SAID THE BEARING WAS "SHATTERED" AND I WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE BEARING HAS SINCE BROKE AGAIN ON 3-15-11 LEFT REAR. I HAVE NOT TAKING IT TO BE REPAIRED YET. MY CAR HAS 62K MI ON IT. *TR
REAR LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKED VERTICALLY NEXT TO EMBLEM UNDER LIFTGATE GLASS AFTER WARM DAY AND A COOL NIGHT. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN REPAIR IT AT MY COST AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS AVIATOR'S AND MOUNTAINEER AND IT HAPPENED THRO…
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REAR LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKED VERTICALLY NEXT TO EMBLEM UNDER LIFTGATE GLASS AFTER WARM DAY AND A COOL NIGHT. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN REPAIR IT AT MY COST AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING TO NUMEROUS AVIATOR'S AND MOUNTAINEER AND IT HAPPENED THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, AND THEY BELIEVE THE PART TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR
BOTH BACK WHEEL BEARINGS FAIL. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ALMOST LOST BACK WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. CAR DEVELOPS DEATH WOBBLE AND LOOKS LIKE YOUR DRUNK DRIVING. *TR
SHIFT LEVER BECAME STUCK IN DRIVE IN OUR GARAGE. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER OUT OF DRIVE TO PARK OR ANY OTHER GEAR. WE WERE ABLE TO TURN THE CAR ENGINE OFF BUT THE KEY REMAINED LODGED IN THE COLUMN. THIS OCCURRED ON A 2005 AVIATOR AS WAS DISCUSSED IN ANOTHER REPORT IN THE DATABASE. THE DEALER HAS QUOTED A $950 REPAIR C…
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SHIFT LEVER BECAME STUCK IN DRIVE IN OUR GARAGE. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER OUT OF DRIVE TO PARK OR ANY OTHER GEAR. WE WERE ABLE TO TURN THE CAR ENGINE OFF BUT THE KEY REMAINED LODGED IN THE COLUMN. THIS OCCURRED ON A 2005 AVIATOR AS WAS DISCUSSED IN ANOTHER REPORT IN THE DATABASE. THE DEALER HAS QUOTED A $950 REPAIR CHARGE. NO COVERAGE BY FORD/LINCOLN. *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.