Lincoln Aviator Complaints (2003)

111 consumer complaints on file.

#10248662November 13, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
OWNER OF 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR (ACQUIRED EARLY 2004). SINCE THAT TIME, WHILE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY, ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, A CRACK HAS APPEARED NEAR THE EMBLEM ON THE REAR LIFTGATE. ON ALL FOUR OCCASIONS, THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE PORTION WHICH CONTAINS THE WINDOW AND THE EMBLEM HAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOW, IN NOVEMBER 2008, A CRACK HAS APPEARED FOR THE 5TH TIME, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT FORD/LINCOLN WILL NOT STAND BEHIND ITS VEHICLE. ALSO, LATELY THE BATTERY HAS WEAKENED AND DIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT SEEMS THAT THE CRACKED LIFTBACK MAY NOT BE CLOSED SECURELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241056September 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE LIFTGATE CRACKED AT THE LINCOLN EMBLEM ON MY 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THIS CONDITIONS APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA #: 0485. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240219August 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR ACQUIRED A CRACK IN THE ENGINE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR CHILDREN. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH OF PROBLEM, IT SHOWS IN FORD'S TSB'S THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR WILL COST APPROX. $5000 TO FIX, THE PROBLEM HERE IS FORD IS AWARE BUT DENYING THE PROBLEM WHEN REPAIRING THE ENGINE. HOW CAN THEY DO THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233979July 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A COIL ISSUE WITH HER VEHICLE, IN TERMS OF MISFIRING. WHEN SHE WOULD ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE DEALER WAS INITIALLY UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSIS, DISCOVERED THAT TWO COILS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE COILS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 30 MILES. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE. THEY CONTINUED TO REPLACE THE COILS, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD SHUT OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226925May 7, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND BRAKING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NARROWLY MISSED STRIKING A SECOND PARKED VEHICLE BY INCHES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH THE DEALER AND HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221358March 16, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE - 52,000 MILES - FORD LINCOLN AVIATOR 2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220098March 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CENTER SUPPORT BEARING
I HAVE A LOW GROWL COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 03 LINCOLN AVIATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218230February 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR-END WHINE. LINCOLN REFUSED TO REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212513December 21, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH HAS A HUGE VERTICAL CRACK. SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW THE CRACK APPEARED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED MANY AVIATORS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FAIL AND SHE IS UNSURE IF IT IS A RESULT OF THE HATCH NOT BEING ABLE TO CLOSE COMPLETELY BECAUSE OF WHERE THE CRACK IS LOCATED. THE CRACK IS LOCATED NEAR THE LINCOLN EMBLEM. LINCOLN REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,500. UPDATED 01/17/08 *BF UPDATED 01/17/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198535August 5, 2007
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
REPLACEMENT OF REAR BRAKES BY DEALER RESULTED IN DISCOVER OF PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM AND REPLACEMENT. THE PARKING BRAKE UNIT IS LOCATED BEHING THE BRAKE ROTOR AND CANNOT BE VISIBLY CHECKED DURING ROUTINE SAFETY INSPECTIONS. THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE CORRODED TO THE POINT OF DISINTEGRATION AND THE BRAKE PADS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE UNIT. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY A FEW MONTHS AND APPROX. 5000 MILES. I RARELY USE THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM AND PROBABLE CAUSE OF FAILURE OF THE PARTS. BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, AND OTHER AUTO MECHANIC ACQUAINTANCES, THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY THE "EMERGENCY BRAKE" WOULD HAVE FAILED AND LIFE AND PROPERTY WOULD HAVE BEEN ENDANGERED. THE EXPLANATION THAT NON-USE OF A SAFETY COMPONENT CAN RENDER IT USELESS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS PART CANNONT BE VISUALLY INSPECTED DURING ROUTINE SAFETY INSPECTIONS.A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE RESPONSE WAS SIMPLY THAT THE WARRANTY COVERAGE EXPIRED AND THAT NO FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. AGAIN, "UNACCEPTABLE"...THE OLD PARTS WERE NOT RETURNED AND I ASSUME DISPOSED OF.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196396July 15, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I WAS UNABLE TO STOP 2003 AVIATOR AND RAN INTO A BUILDING. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194032June 22, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION EITHER SHIFTS REAL SLOW OR VIOLENTLY JERKS FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. DEALER HAS HAD IN SHOP MANY TIMES WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION AVAILABLE. THIS CAUSES HUGE LOSS IN FUEL MILEAGE NOT TO MENTION THE HARSHNESS OF THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192579June 6, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
ON JUNE 07 AT 1100HRS THE GEARSHIFT KNOB AND GEARSHIFT BOOT DISENGAGED FROM THE CONSOLE OF MY 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR; THE GEARSHIFT AND THEREFORE TRANSMISSION WERE LOCKED IN THE D(RIVE) POSITION COULD NOT BE SHIFTED TO ANOTHER POSITION OR DISENGAGED. THE LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALER WAS A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE GAS STATION WHERE I WAS SO I ELECTED TO DRIVE IT THERE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ONCE AT THE LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALER A TECHNICIAN EXAMINED THE GEARSHIFT AND INDICATED THAT AN INCIDENT LIKE MINE "HAPPENS ALL THE TIME" ... "A SCREW COMES LOOSE". WAS ADVISED TOO THAT LIKELY PARTS WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED. REPAIR TO THE AVIATOR IS ESTIMATED AT $584 SINCE THE ENTIRE "SHIFTER ASSEMBLY" HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY BUT IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT WOULD EXPERIENCE SUCH A DEFECT THAT APPARENTLY IS OR WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM", AND THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE LEVEL OF QUALITY EXPECTED IN A $45000 "LUXURY" UTILITY VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190145May 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. WHEN ACCELERATING TO 40 MPH FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THE ENGINE'S RPM INCREASES TO 5,000 RPM FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO SIX SECONDS. THE TRANSMISSION THEN SHIFTS ITSELF IN GEAR AND DRIVES FORWARD. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE AND CHANGE GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THEN GETS WEAKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS KEPT OVERNIGHT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 62,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186203March 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR HAD A ROUGH IDLE AND WAS A LITTLE SLUGGISH. WITH ONLY 92,000 MILES ON A $45,000 CAR, THIS SURPRISED ME. THIS IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINE. UPON ACCELERATING TO ENTER I-20 THE VEHICLE ALMOST DIED. LUCKILY ,THERE WERE NO VEHICLES COMING - HAD THIS BEEN DURING RUSH HOUR IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CITY GARAGE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, AND WAS TOLD IT HAD A MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM. THE #8 CYLINDER HAD ON 70 LBS OF PRESSURE, AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED A VALVE JOB. I CALLED LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE AFTER FIND ON THIS WEB SITE THAT MINE WAS NOT THE ONLY AVIATOR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WITH THE EXACT SAME CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD BY LINCOLN TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PAID ANOTHER $100 TO HAVE IT SCOPED AGAIN - ONLY TO BE TOLD BY LINCOLN THAT THEY DIDN'T INTEND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER ONE OF FORD'S MAJOR MISTAKES THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED. PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE VEHICLES DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO DIE ON ACCELERATION, AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THAT - COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THIS IS COSTING PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE VEHICLES A GOOD DEAL OF MONEY AND FORD'S ATTITUDE WAS TOUGH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185065March 14, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THERE WERE NO FAILURES PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, WHERE HE SUSTAINED BACK AND HEAD TRAUMA. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 78000. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. *AK THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE DUSSALT AND ZATIR NUMBER 18005424529 TO OBTAIN A POLICE REPORT AND ALSO PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS INJURIES. UPDATE 05/10/07*TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10180825January 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10/26/06 # 8 COIL FAILED 11/8/06 #6 COIL FAILED 12/15/06 # 7 COIL FAILED 1/24/07 CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED TOTAL COST $4,943.53 FOR REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180853January 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR WARNING LIGHT "EMISSION". FOUND OUT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WE CONTACTED NHTSA AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL. OUR VIN # IS NOT IN THIS RECALL. FORD/LINCOLN WILL ONLY GIVE US $850.00 OFF ON A $3000.00. THIS CAR HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT. FOUND OUT THIS IS WHEN THESE TRANSMISSIONS GO. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THERE WAS ANOTHER THERE WITH 45,000 MILES SAME PROBLEM. THE WARRANTY ON THE 2003 IS 4 YEARS 50,000 MILES. THE DIAGNOSE IS GEAR 2 RATIO, GEAR 5 RATIO AND SOLENOID B. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173643November 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:REAR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE RIGHT REAR AXLE AND PINION WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE C B SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND GEAR AND PINION LOCKING PIN. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE REAR END WAS REPLACED IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A TECHNICIAN WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE.*AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT, THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH WAS INOPERATIVE, THE REAR SHOCK WAS LEAKING OIL, THE E POWER STEERING HOSE WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TIMING CHAIN AND GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ALL THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SHIFTING OF THE GEARS WERE HARSH, THE DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONETS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT SEAT CLIMATE CONTROL WAS NOT COOLING. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS STICKING. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167810September 11, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND A DEALER WHO BOTH DETERMINED THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MASTER CYLINDER PART NEEDED FOR REPAIR WAS ON BACK ORDER AND NOT AVAILABLE AT ANY AREA DEALERSHIPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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