LINCOLN AVIATOR · model year

2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR

62 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005LINCOLNAVIATOR carries 62 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 AVIATOR is structure:body with 25 filings, followed by power train (5) and power train:automatic transmission (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2005 AVIATOR, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

62
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

62 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY25
POWER TRAIN5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
STEERING3
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
STRUCTURE2
SUSPENSION2
WHEELS2
AIR BAGS2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1

Recent Complaints

20201105SUSPENSION

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.

Mileage: 142,600

20200710STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

20200225AIR BAGS

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH NO IMPACT OF ANY KIND. CAR WAS STARTED AND AIR BAG DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 180,000

20191227STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 66,300

20161017STRUCTURE:BODY

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

Mileage: 133,400

20160914STRUCTURE:BODY

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

20160914ENGINE

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

20150721POWER TRAIN

OWNER OF 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I HAD THE AVIATOR TOWED TO A FAMILY MEMBER'S AUTOMOTIVE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT I WILL NEED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT REPLACED. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. I HAVE READ ENDLESS TESTIMONIES FROM OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS WITH THE EXACT DISPUTE. THE PART AND LABOR WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $1100.00 AT MY FAMILY'S GARAGE, ONE CAN ONLY GUESS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WILL DOUBLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. MY CAR IS DRIVEABLE, HOWEVER, WHEN IN PARK, I WILL HAVE TO PUT MY EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT, IF BUMPED, MAY MOVE OUT OF PARK EVEN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I AM APPALLED THAT FORD/LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEFECTED MECHANISM. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND RAISES MANY QUESTIONS ON HOW IMPORTANT VEHICLE SAFETY IS TO FORD/LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY, NOT TO MENTION A TOTAL INCONVEN

Mileage: 86,000

20150224STRUCTURE:BODY

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

Mileage: 36,000

20150113STRUCTURE:BODY

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

Mileage: 110,000

20150107AIR BAGS

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

Mileage: 88,000

20140911STRUCTURE:BODY

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

20140709STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

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

20140709POWER TRAIN

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

20140627STRUCTURE:BODY

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

Mileage: 70,000

20140527POWER TRAIN

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

Mileage: 92,000

20140227POWER TRAIN

LEFTSIDE REAR AXLE STARTING COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE MOVING. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

20140227WHEELS

LEFTSIDE REAR AXLE STARTING COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE MOVING. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

20130514STRUCTURE:BODY

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

Mileage: 80,000

20121024STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE, THE LIFTGATE PANEL SPLIT IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

Mileage: 72,000

Compare 2005LINCOLNAVIATOR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR have?
The 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR has 62 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR?
The most-complained component for the 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR is STRUCTURE:BODY with 25 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.