IllustrationON MY 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR THE REAR PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW HAS A VERTICAL CRACK THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE PANEL ON THE RIGHT OF THE LINCOLN EMBLEM. . IT HAPPENED AFTER A HOT DAY AND A COOL NIGHT. LINCOLN WAS CONTACTED AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP WITH THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT AND THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD. *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 reportsREAR LIFTGATE ON 2005 AVIATOR DEVELOPED A CRACK NEXT TO LINCOLN EMBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY LINCOLN DEALER. THIS DEFECT WAS SEEN ON NUMEROUS OTHER AVIATORS AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT. *TR
A VERTICAL CRACK ON PLASTIC COVERING OF HATCH COVER. STARTS AT THE LINCOLN MEDALLION THAT IS CUT INTO THE PLASTIC PIECE AND EXTENDS VERTICALLY TO BOTTOM EDGE. I TOOK IT TO A LINCOLN DEALER. ESTIMATE WAS $500 FOR A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES HIGH AND THE WIDTH OF THE HATCH DOOR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DE…
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A VERTICAL CRACK ON PLASTIC COVERING OF HATCH COVER. STARTS AT THE LINCOLN MEDALLION THAT IS CUT INTO THE PLASTIC PIECE AND EXTENDS VERTICALLY TO BOTTOM EDGE. I TOOK IT TO A LINCOLN DEALER. ESTIMATE WAS $500 FOR A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES HIGH AND THE WIDTH OF THE HATCH DOOR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN ERROR ON THE PART OF FORD. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE SEES A LOT OF THIS SAME COMPLAINT AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY FORD. A $42,500 AUTOMOBILE WITH A DEFECT IN DESIGN THAT RESULTS IN AN UNSIGHTLY SPLIT IN PLASTIC PIECE WANTING AN OUTRAGEOUS FEE OF $500 TO REPLACE THE PIECE. DO YOU THINK I WILL EVER BY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. NOT IN THIS LIFETIME! THANKS FORD WHO ALWAYS PUTS QUALITY FIRST. *TR
OWNER OF 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR (ACQUIRED LATE 2006)KEPT EXCLUSIVELY IN GARAGE. CURRENTLY HAS 39,500 MILES. A VERTICAL CRACK HAS RECENTLY APPEARED NEAR THE EMBLEM (RIGHT SIDE) ON THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE PORTION WHICH CONTAINS THE WINDOW AND THE EMBLEM HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS NO…
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OWNER OF 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR (ACQUIRED LATE 2006)KEPT EXCLUSIVELY IN GARAGE. CURRENTLY HAS 39,500 MILES. A VERTICAL CRACK HAS RECENTLY APPEARED NEAR THE EMBLEM (RIGHT SIDE) ON THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE PORTION WHICH CONTAINS THE WINDOW AND THE EMBLEM HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND AS PREVIOUSLY STATED THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT FORD/LINCOLN WILL NOT STAND BEHIND ITS VEHICLE. ALSO, IT SEEMS THE CRACK MAY PREVENT THE FROM CLOSING SECURELY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND PUSH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO S…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND PUSH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT HAD TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, AND WAS TOWED. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THIS MANNER.
MY AVIATOR IS MAKING A WHINNING/SIREN SOUND IN THE REAR END AT ACCELERATING, DECELERATING AND CRUISING SPEEDS. *NM
VEHICLE STEERING SHUDDERS/SHAKE WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE BACK TWICE AND THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SECOND TRIP DEALER BLED THE FLUIDS AND VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. FEELS AS THOUGH I MIGHT LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *NM
THIS VEHICLES STEERING SHUDDERS WHILE MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS, USUALLY LEFT TURNS. DEALERS HAS BLED THE SYSTEM ONCE AND IT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE ISSUES. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS THE STEERING BEGAN SHUDDERING AGAIN WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS AND EVEN LANE CHANGES WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHUDDER. UPON SECOND TRIP TO DEALER THEY S…
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THIS VEHICLES STEERING SHUDDERS WHILE MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS, USUALLY LEFT TURNS. DEALERS HAS BLED THE SYSTEM ONCE AND IT SEEMED TO CORRECT THE ISSUES. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS THE STEERING BEGAN SHUDDERING AGAIN WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS AND EVEN LANE CHANGES WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHUDDER. UPON SECOND TRIP TO DEALER THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE SHUDDER WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. *JB
WITH LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT, MY 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR DEVELOPED A LEAK THAT WAS DRIPPING DOWN THROUGH THE OVERHEAD LIGHT SWITCH NEAR THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. DEALER BELIEVES THAT DRAINAGE TUBE CHANNELING WATER FROM SUNROOF CRIMPED WHEN INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. DEALER HAS SEEN OTHER AVIATORS WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAN CAUSE AN E…
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WITH LESS THAN 200 MILES ON IT, MY 2005 LINCOLN AVIATOR DEVELOPED A LEAK THAT WAS DRIPPING DOWN THROUGH THE OVERHEAD LIGHT SWITCH NEAR THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. DEALER BELIEVES THAT DRAINAGE TUBE CHANNELING WATER FROM SUNROOF CRIMPED WHEN INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. DEALER HAS SEEN OTHER AVIATORS WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORT SINCE WATER WAS DRIPPING INTO RADIO AND DASHBOARD CONTROLS AS WELL AS SHIFTER. WATER DROPS HAVE ALSO BEEN SPOTTED OVER DRIVER SIDE SPEAKER ON DOOR WHERE DRAINAGE TUBE EMPTIES TO. *NM
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.