There are 5 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2003 Lincoln Aviatorin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THERE HAS BEEN A UNPROVOKED CRACK IN THE LIFT GATE PANEL FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW (WHICH SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL), WE HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES UNTIL THE REAR WINDOW STARTED FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT AROUND 30MPH. THE LATCH HAS MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO WATER SEEPING INTO CRACK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD IN THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 8/23/12 *CN ALSO, THE IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/05/12
EXPERIENCED CONTINUOUS MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING, COMPLETE POWER OUTAGES CAUSING POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKE & OTHER FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE UNDETECTABLE THROUGH CUSTOMARY SERVICE TEST.*JB
THERE IS A HIGH FREQUENCY SOUND EMANATING FROM ALL 4 SPEAKERS. THIS NOISE IS CONSTANT AND CAN BE OVERHEARD WITH THE VOLUME UP AND THE RADIO PLAYING. LEITH LINCOLN (RALEIGH,NC) DENIED THE PROBLEM. FORD DISPATCHED AN ENGINEER AND THEIR EAST COAST CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. ALL CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. I THEN CONFRONTED LEITH WITH A VIDEO TAPE OF THE NOISE AND GOT A CONFIRMATION THAT THE NOISE IS AT LEAST A NUISANCE. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD AND THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FINALLY I BROUGHT THE AVIATOR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP (MICHAEL JORDAN LINCOLN IN DURHAM) AND THEY "DUPLICATED" THE CONCERN. I ASKED THE TECHNITION WHAT HE SUSPECTED MIGHT BE AND HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW. I ASKED IF HEY WAS WILLING TO LOOK INTO IT BUT HE SAID HE WAS INSTRUCTED BY FORD NOT TO FURTHER INVISTIGATE THE PROBLEM ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE NOISE IS A "FEATURE" OF ALL AVIATORS. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE SISTER CAR AT LEITH THAT SHOWS THAT THE NOISE IS NOT PRESENT IN THAT CAR (JUST LIKE AT THE TIME I BOUGHT MINE). I SPOKE TO A LOCAL AUDIO CENTER AND THEY SAID IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM LIKELY DUE TO A FAULTY GROUND WIRE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MY STORY, VISIT HTTP://WWW.BRUNNERS.WS/LINCOLN-LEMON/. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026