According to Ford Motor Company, the “refreshed” 2023 Lincoln Aviator is “intelligently designed for comfort and convenience.” But owners faced with a faulty electrical system, malfunctioning seat belts, an exploding moonroof, or cameras that don’t work are reporting crash risks rather than intelligent design or comfort.
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Most Common Problems with the 2023 Lincoln Aviator
A variety of malfunctions top the list of complaints issued to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2023 Lincoln Aviator. These include faulty cameras, seat belts that don’t work, vehicles that shut down, and a moonroof that exploded in an Aviator that was less than one week old.
In total, nine components and systems are reported by owners as being implicated in problems. These are the electrical system, engine, forward collision avoidance, backover prevention, airbags, powertrain, seat belts, brakes, and visibility.
There are also four recalls, two of which warn that the rearview camera image may not display. This can happen if the video output fails. And it can reduce the driver’s rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Nearly half a million vehicles are implicated by the recall including 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator, Lincoln Corsair, and Ford Explorer models.
Over 100,000 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles are affected by a seat belt warning system malfunction. When the driver’s seat belt isn’t buckled and the vehicle is started, the audible warning chime may only sound for a few seconds. This, the recall states, can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fourth recall affects a much fewer number of Ford and Lincoln vehicles – potentially 1,138 – equipped with automatic transmissions. These include the 2023 Lincoln Aviator.
2023 Lincoln Aviator Complaint Summary
Complaint Category
Number of Complaints
Electrical System
7
7
Engine
3
3
Unknown Or Other
3
3
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
2
2
Air Bags
1
1
Back Over Prevention
1
1
Forward Collision Avoidance
1
1
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
1
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
1
1
Power Train
1
1
Problems with the Cameras
Camera issues are recorded as being electrical system or forward collision avoidance issues. The first complaint below blames a combination of electrics and backover prevention.
In February 2023, in response to NHTSA Campaign Number 23V022000 issued by Ford on January 23, 2023, the owner of a 2023 Aviator had the camera system software updated. The camera had been randomly pixelating and/or displaying a blue/black screen. According to the complaint, the failure occurred at random times without any warning. This, states the complaint, put the safety of those in the vehicle at risk.
Another owner also had the camera system software updated. The complaint states that camera problems began the day after receiving the vehicle from the dealership. The issue is that the on-screen camera image flickers intermittently when the front and rear cameras are engaged. “I am uncertain of the cause. It happens randomly and sometimes several times a day.” Updating the software “didn’t not resolve the problem. I believe malfunction of the cameras increases (the) risk of a crash.”
After 10 days of ownership, in April 2023, all the cameras “became inoperative” for another purchaser. This has been a “known/continuing defect since 2020 yet Lincoln/Ford continue to sell these vehicles,” the complaint states. “My new car has been in and out of the shop on numerous occasions and it had no recalls according to the NHTSA and Ford websites.” After replacing two modules and the wiring harness, they finally agreed it was “the same 360 degree camera issue that has plagued them since 2020.” Now this Aviator is listed under the 360 degree camera recall “with no solution available. I’m told it is a software issue.” To make matters worse, “I also lost rear and forward collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control.”
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Problems with the Electrical System
Although it doesn’t focus on camera issues, another electrical system complaint states that “the rear camera is janky.” Also, “the collision alert fires off at random times.” Listed as being an engine and powertrain problem, this owner is more concerned about an error message on the HUD and NAV screen. This stated the vehicle was shutting down. “Then poof, the damn thing shut down immediately without warning … Thankfully we were at surface street speeds of around 30-35 and I was in command of the vehicle. This issue has been reported on other Grand Touring models of the Lincoln Aviator where people are at higher speeds, such as the highway or expressway.”
A complaint that highlights the engine and service brakes as well, states that the problem started when “no key was detected.” The screen didn’t prompt for a backup code, so they tried using the Lincoln Way App to start the Aviator. Although the car was now running, they were unable to select Drive, Reverse, or Neutral. Eventually, he had to “pop the hood” and use the Aviator Hybrid Vehicle Emergency Response Guide to kill 12 volt power to the vehicle. That worked, and they were able to start driving.
A few hours later, while driving at about 55 mph, “the Aviator engaged the parking brake for about half a second.” There was a “nasty noise,” and “huge bucking from the chassis.” Extremely confused, they saw the red park brake illuminated on the dashboard, and everything seemed normal again. But then it “disabled adaptive cruise control via a message on the dashboard.” Fortunately, they were able to drive home. There, they called the dealer who had it towed and was to provide a loaner.
Bottom line: “This is the second time this vehicle has placed us in danger.”
Explosive Sunroof
Although seemingly an isolated incident in terms of numbers, this complaint expresses the horror that so many vehicle owners have suffered when their sunroofs have exploded.
The complaint states that the incident occurred while driving on the interstate in a brand new car purchased less than a week before. The owner’s daughter was in a car seat in the second row when they “heard a very loud explosion-type sound.” Then glass from the moonroof rained down into the car. “My daughter was screaming and crying, and I wasn’t sure if she had been hit with glass at first (she wasn’t thankfully, but could have been) — she was just very scared. I had to pull over on the interstate to make sure she was okay.”
“There were no cars in front of me when this happened and it was a very mild winter day (temps in the upper 40s) and partly cloudy. No debris hit my car, so this was entirely spontaneous.”
Seat Belt Problems
There is one complaint about seat belts, and it’s simple. The seat belt is not working properly. Lodged on June 20, 2023, the complaint states there is “no fix or remedy” yet. The owner called several Lincoln-certified dealers in the area, but none could offer a fix. Worse still, none were available to even service the vehicle for months! The owner states that he doesn’t feel safe driving the Aviator with passengers.
What to do if your 2023 Aviator is a lemon?
If you think you have a lemon, it may be a good idea to find a legal firm like Lemberg Law to assess your problems. After all, the law makes Lincoln pay legal fees for lemon law cases.
Every year, auto manufacturers, including Ford, buy back, replace, or pay cash settlements to thousands of owners who discover they’re stuck with lemon vehicles. Whether your problems correspond with those other owners have reported, or they appear to be unusual or uncommon, if they recur and affect the value of the vehicle or your safety, don’t ignore them.
Lemberg Law specializes in lemon law cases, and we will assess your case free of charge. Call us on our Helpline or fill out a contact form and we’ll get back to you.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
