Lincoln Aviator Complaints (2004)

81 consumer complaints on file.

#10505978April 11, 2013
SUSPENSION, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY TRUCK USED IN DECEMBER 2011 AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT CONSTANT PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD RANDOMLY ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN. OR IF BUTTON PUSHED NOTHING AT ALL WOULD HAPPEN. WHILE THE HEATER WORKS, IT EMITS A DEATH RATTLE BEFORE BLOWING AIR. MY AC DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR. THE MOST DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR HAS BEEN REPLACING THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING AND WHEEL BARING. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ONLY MOUNTED ON ONE SIDE AND WAS LEAKING AND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. THE MECHANIC WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO SHAKE MY WHEELS WITH HIS BARE HANDS. THE FRONT END STUFF ACTUALLY DROPPED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS I AS DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND HAD TO BE TOWED ON A FLAT BED BECAUSE THE FRONT END WAS SO DAMAGED. REPAIR COSTS $1400. AND I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN! PRIOR TO THIS I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARING AND BALL JOINTS. FORD DOES NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507210April 5, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
MY LINCOLN AVIATOR STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2011. MY WIFE TOOK THE AVIATOR TO THE AAA CAR CARE CENTER TO FIND AND REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE AAA CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN PLACED THE AVIATOR ON THE LIFT AND DISCOVERED THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WAS HANGING FREELY AND LITERALLY SWINGING UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE WELDING THAT HOLDS THE MOUNT TO WHICH THE DIFFERENTIAL UNTIL IS BOLTED, BROKE FROM THE FRAME. THIS ISSUE OF A DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT WELD BREAKING FREE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BY THE AAA CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN OR THE AAA SERVICE MANAGER WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. FURTHERMORE, THE MOUNT WAS ONLY WELDED ON ONE SIDE (SIDE CLOSEST TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE). I VISITED THE LOCAL LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE WITH MY AVIATOR?S DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ONLY BEING WELDED ON ONE SIDE AND ASKED TO SEE AN AVIATOR OR EXPLORER THAT WOULD HAVE THE SAME DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING SYSTEM. THIS LINCOLN DEALERSHIP HAD AN EXPLORER UP ON THE LIFT AND SHOWED ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ON ALL AVIATORS AND EXPLORERS DO INDEED HAVE THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT WELDED ON BOTH SIDES TO THE FRAME. THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVE SHAFT BECOMING DISLODGED IS EXCEEDINGLY HIGH AND COULD POSE A FATAL SCENARIO. I AM ASKING FOR LINCOLN TO INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL ERROR OF ONLY HAVING ONE WELD SEAM HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT MOUNT TO THE FRAME AND INSPECT FOR ANY FURTHER DAMAGES AS A RESULT, IN ADDITION TO INSPECTING FOR OTHER AREAS OF FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS IN NO WAY THE ERROR OF THE CONSUMER OR DRIVING BEHAVIOR. THIS ISSUE POINTS DIRECTLY TO THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND INTEGRITY OF THE WELD AND QUALITY CONTROL OF LINCOLN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460712June 5, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TRIED TO CHANGE GEARS BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BUT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,291.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442406January 4, 2012
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM DROPPED THE VEHICLE DOWN UPON STARTING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE AND DRIVE LOW TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436001November 16, 2011
SEATS
THE LEVER (AN "L" SHAPED LEVER) ON THE MIDDLE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE. WHILE PRESSING DOWN ON THE LEVER, THE LEVER SWUNG OVER AND HIT MY THUMB WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT FRACTURED MY THUMB. IT APPEARS THAT THE COIL/SPRING ACTION IN THE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. UPDATED 11/25/11 *BF UPDATED 11/30/11 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10435641November 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE SHUT OFF SUDDENLY AFTER A BEEPING SOUND AND A LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES THE SAME DAY AND AFTER SEEN THIS INCIDENT REPORTED BY OTHER CUSTOMERS, QUITE DANGEROUS CONSIDERING THAT ONE COULD BE HIT BY A VEHICLE DRIVING BEHIND IF THE DRIVER IS NOT KEEP SAFE DISTANCE AND CAN STOP. THE STEERING BECOMES STIFF AND THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS GET LOCKED INTO PLACE. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE OCCURRENCE IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND PUTS ONES LIFE AT RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419511August 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR GEARS WERE SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT; HAD IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. 2 DAYS LATER WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK IN "NEUTRAL". HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT ONLY 63,000 MILES. NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION FAIL WITH ONLY 63K MILES, ALL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE IS KEPT UP ON OUR VEHICLE. LOUD NOISE AT STARTUP AND A/C DOES NOT WORK, I BELIEVE IT IS THE CLUTCH. NO HELP FROM FORD EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS. ALSO, READ THAT THE EXPLORER WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THE EXPLORER AND AVIATOR ARE BUILT WITH MANY OF THE SAME PARTS, HOWEVER, NO RECALL ON THE AVIATOR? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411135July 1, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE BEGAN IDLING ROUGHLY, AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR NUMBER 8 CYLINDER. TALKING TO LINCOLN MECHANICS AND CHECKING VARIOUS DISCUSSION GROUPS ON THE WEB SHOWED THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER LINCOLN AVIATORS, AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE WERE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME FAILURE. THE ROUGH IDLE CAN BE ALLEVIATED BY INCREASING THE IDLE SPEED OR TAKING THE CAR OUT OF GEAR WHILE IDLING. BOTH OF THESE ACTIONS ARE DANGEROUS AND CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406987June 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, IT SUDDENLY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A PLASTIC COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. UPDATED 07/06/12 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401671May 12, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATION. ON 6 MAY 2011, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD SOUND IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE (AS IF SOMETHING HIT IT). I PULLED OVER AND FOUND A LARGE CRACK ON THE VEHICLE PANEL (MIDDLE, TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD LOGO), UNDERNEATH MY BACK WINDOW. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW OR WHY IT CRACKED. ON MONDAY, 9 MAY 2011, I WATCHED A LOCAL NEWS STORY ON WAVY TV 10 (VIRGINIA) ABOUT THIS HAPPENING ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES FROM 2002-2005. THE STORY SHOWED FIVE OTHER FORD VEHICLES FOUND IN OUR AREA WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE STORY SAID FORD WAS CONTACTED, BUT SAID THERE IS NO AN ISSUE/RECALL ABOUT THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397679April 19, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW ON THE HATCH HAS CRACKED AROUND THE EMBLEM. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF AVIATOR'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. WE PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THIS CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE KEPT IT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ACCORDING TO LINCOLN, THIS IS ONLY COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS HATCH WAS NOT ENGINEERED CORRECTLY AND LINCOLN SHOULD FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393092March 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR STARTED MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378091January 21, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BACK LIFT COMPONENT HAS A CRACK ON EACH SIDE OF THE LINCOLN EMBLEM. THE BODY SHOP NEAR WHERE I WORK TOLD ME THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THE AVIATORS, AND THAT HE HAS REPLACED MANY OF THEM. IT IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY FORD/LINCOLN. I HAVE PURPOSELY LOOKED AT OTHER AVIATORS AND FOUND THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE BY THE EMBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE THAT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT FIX IT. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 51,000 MILES. CRACKS HAVE BEEN THERE OVER A YEAR AND STILL NO ONE WILL HELP ME!. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375188January 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR ENGINE HAS A BURNT VALVE WITH LESS THAN 90K MILES ON IT. RICH MORTON LINCOLN DEALERSHIP IN GLEN BURNIE, MD SAYS MY REPAIR WILL BE $5,400 IF I WANT TO FIX IT, WHICH THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND. I SEE ONLINE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO TOW IN MY CAR AS SEVERAL TIMES THE GEARSHIFT STUCK IN PARK AND COULD NOT BE SHIFTED TO DRIVE. I SPOKE WITH OTHER OWNERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, MY TAILGATE WINDOW RANDOMLY FLIES UP WHILE DRIVING, JUST LIKE OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED. MY MAIN ISSUE IS THAT MY VEHICLE, AN EXPENSIVE ONE, IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE AND NEEDS THE $5,400 REPAIR BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE THAT FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. HELP, PLEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370469December 13, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR, REAR WINDOW PANEL DEVELOPED A CRACK, WHICH I PAID FOR REPAIR. NOW AT 52,000 MILES WITH A PREMIUM EXTENDED WARRANTY IT HAS DEVELOPED ANOTHER CRACK. MY LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW RELATED TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND YET LINCOLN WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. IF THE CRACK CONTINUES IT COULD BECOME A PEDESTRIAN HAZARD AND QUITE DANGEROUS. THIS IS MY 5TH. LINCOLN AND MY LAST UNLESS LINCOLN STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369446December 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
GEAR SHIFT NOT CHANGING SMOOTHLY, GEAR DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF "PARK" FROM TIME TO TIME. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE FINALLY BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE SHIFT CABLE BRACKET AND THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO MOVE AT ALL (NOT EVEN ABLE TO PUSH VEHICLE WHILE GEAR IN NEUTRAL). NEEDING TO REPLACE SHIFT CABLE AND GEAR LEVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363862November 3, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
WITHOUT IMPACT THE TAILGATE APPLIQUE OF MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR CRACKED. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS COMMON AMONG FORD EXPLORERS MERC. MOUNTAINEERS AND AVIATORS AS REPORTED BY MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND VARIOUS BODYSHOPS AND THOUSANDS ON THE INTERNET WITH SIMILAR DEFECTS. FORD WONT FIX IF ITS OUT OF WARRANTY . THE BROKEN TAILGATE SECTION CAN DISLODGE AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO PEDESTRIANS OR MOTORISTS. PLEASE ADVISE AS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD MANUFACTURES DEFECT. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362885October 29, 2010
VISIBILITY
THE PLASTIC BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE SUN VISORS TO THE CEILING IN MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR HAVE DEGRADED AND SHATTERED WITH THE VISOR FALLING OUT OF THE CEILING INTO MY FACE AS I WAS DRIVING. THE SAME CRACKS ARE APPARENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR BRACKET BUT ARE HOLDING AT THIS TIME. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN AUGUST '09 WHILE ON A TRIP TO VIRGINIA. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE I WAS ADVISED THAT THEY HAD THE SAME FAILURE IN ANOTHER AVIATOR A FEW DAYS EARLIER. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART OR A NEW VISOR. THE BRACKET IS ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE VISOR ARM AND CANNOT BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY. WORKING WITH A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THEY TRIED TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT AT A LOCAL JUNK YARD, BUT WHEN IT WAS RECEIVED THE BRACKET EXHIBITED THE SAME CRACKING. I FEEL THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECTIVE PART SINCE IT IS PROTECTED FROM SUNLIGHT THAT MIGHT DETERIORATE IT. SINCE IT IS LOCATED IN THE CEILING OF THE VEHICLE IT COULD CERTAINLY BE AFFECTED BY THE EXTREME HEAT THAT DEVELOPS FROM THE SUN. THE FAILURE IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE VISOR CAN FALL IN YOU FACE AS MINE DID BLOCKING YOUR VIEW AS YOU DRIVE. NOW WITH THE MISSING VISOR YOUR VIEW IS IMPAIRED WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN AS YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BLOCK THE SUN. I BELIEVE THE FAILURE WOULD BE RECORDED AT LINCOLN AS SUN VISOR FAILURES RATHER THAN BRACKET FAILURES SINCE IT IS ATTACHED TO THE VISOR ARM AND HAS TO BE PURCHASED AS A WHOLE VISOR. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER WITH LINCOLN/FORD AS A PRODUCT DEFECT BY CONTACTING THE MAIN OFFICE IN DETROIT , BUT THEY HAVE DISALLOWED THE CLAIM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360603October 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE OR VICE VERSA WITH NO RESPONSE. POWER TRAIN - GEAR SHIFT CABLE DISCONNECTS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN. SELECTOR THEN GIVES WRONG INFORMATION AS TO WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. ONLY SOME 2003 AVIATORS HAVE BEEN RECALLED; I HAVE A 2004. WEBSITE COMPLAINTS SHOW THAT ALL AVIATORS 2002 TO 2008 ARE AFFECTED. I TOLD THE LINCOLN DEALER ABOUT NHTSA AND SHE SAID 'DON'T LISTEN TO THEM, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT." THEY ARE CHARGING ME $400 TO FIX THE PROBLEM INCLUDING THE TOWING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357338September 24, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR 74,000 MILES. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO INTERSTATE 95 S THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. FINAL DETERMINATION BY A MECHANIC DETERMINED THE #8 CYLINDER WAS NOT HOLDING PRESSURE BECAUSE THE VALVE WAS NOT SEALING CORRECTLY. THE 4.6L V8 FORD ENGINE'S VALVE'S ARE POWDER COATED AND THIS CAUSED THE VALUE TO STICK AND OVERTIME WARPED THE VALVE'S COMPONENTS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. THIS IS AN ENGINE DESIGN DEFECT AND THE ENGINE AND WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETE VALVE JOB TO REPLACE THE HEAD, HEAD GASKET AND FAULTY VALVE STEM. FORD HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE SUBJECT BUT WILL NOT PERFORM A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF THE VEHICLE LOSSES POWER WHILE MERGING WITH OR EVADING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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