2004 Lincoln Aviator Powertrain & Transmission Problems

THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFT WHEN TURNING INTO THE FIRST AS IT GOES INTO SECOND MAKES IN AWFUL NOISE. WHEN I PARKED IT AND TRIED TO START IT AND IT WAS DEAD.THE MECHANIC FIGURE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STARTER HE GOT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO APPLIED STARTER TOLD ME TO START IT AND IT DID AND IT PINNED HIM UNDER THE VEHICLE.THEY LATER SAID THE BELT HAD POPPED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEN LEAKING A LITE FLUID THEY BELIEVED IT TO BE THE DIFFERENTIAL OIL. ITS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I HAD IT TOWED TO BOHN FORD 6/5/17THEY ARE CHARGING 350.00 TO REPLACE THE BELT.CITY ST. LATER PARK IT AT WALMART PARKING LOT WHERE THE PEOPLE HELPED PUSH THE VEHICLE OFF THE MECHANIC.THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACK WHEN PUT IN DRIVE.

I TRIED TO PULL OFF AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND NOTHING. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING INTO A CRASH. I AM NOW TOLD FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. I'VE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASE MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR LUX WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT AND ALWAYS HAD IT SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT I WAS MAKING A GOOD DECISION WHEN PURCHASING A LINCOLN. I'M A SINGLE PARENT AND WANTED A RELIABLE VEHICLE. WORST DECISION I EVER MADE!!! FIRST IT STARTED WITH THE GEAR SHIFT GETTING STUCK AND NEEDING REPLACED. THEN I HAD TO REPLACE ALL COIL PACKS. THE AIR CONDITION STARTED MAKING A FUNNY NOISE WHEN YOU TURN IT ON BUT HASN'T BEEN FIXED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CAN NEVER GET IT TO DUPLICATE BUT HAPPENS TO ME ALL THE TIME! NEXT BOTH WHEEL HUBS. THE SECOND ONE BREAKING ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE PENNSYLVANIA. THANKFULLY I NOTICED A WEIRD NOISE AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER (I HAD TO WAIT ON FOR 2 HOURS) SAID HAD I EVEN DROVE 30 MORE FEET I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A POSSIBLE FATAL ACCIDENT WITH BOTH OF MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT 70 MILES/HR. LAST WEEK BOTH CONTROL ARMS 3 DAYS LATER LEAVES ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME ONLY COMING INCHES FROM HITTING ME AFTER I RELEASE THE BREAK AND PRESS THE GAS HEAR A LOUD NOISE AND NOTHING HAPPENS! DID I MENTION THIS HAPPENED ON MY WAY TO WORK! AGAIN WAITED FOR 45 MIN FOR A TOW TRUCK. NOW I HAVE A ESTIMATED OF $4850 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!!!!!!! I THANKFULLY WASN'T IN ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENT BUT CAME VERY CLOSE TWICE. I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I'M GOING TO DO NOW BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE $4850 AND IF I DID I THINK I WOULD RATHER SUE FORD! LAST BUT NOT LEAST I STILL OWE $6850 ON MY LOAN! THIS IS SO UNFAIR! *TR

SHIFTER WOULD NOT GO INTO PARK FROM REVERSE SOMETIMES WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM PARK POSITION. SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN YOUR SHIFTER SHOWS IN DRIVE AND YOU END UP STILL GOING IN REVERSE. READ OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ONCE IT EXPIRED I'VE EXPERIENCED EVERY SINGLE COMPLAINT PEOPLE HAVE STATED ONLINE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. AS OF TODAY (12/02/13) IT STILL HAS ONLY 74,000 MILES ON IT AND THE LATEST PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. I AM A STAY AT HOME MOM AND WEAR-AND-TEAR ON IT IS VERY MINIMAL (GROCERY SHOPPING, TO AND FROM SCHOOL, ETC.). I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS ON A "SO CALLED" LUXURY VEHICLE BEFORE! I'VE HAD BAD COILS IN CYLINDERS 3, 4, 5 (TWICE), AND 7 REPLACED UNDER LINCOLN'S RECALL. THE TAILGATE PANEL CRACKED (JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS VEHICLE AND THE MOUNTAINEERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT), BUT THEY WON'T FIX IT. IN ADDITION, A WHITE PLASTIC PIECE FELL OUT OF THE TOP HALF OF THE TAILGATE AND NOW IT WILL NOT CLOSE ANYMORE THEREFORE I CAN NO LONGER TAKE IT THROUGH CAR WASHES. THE BRACKET FOR THE SUN VISOR ON MY PASSENGER SIDE COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AND CAUSED THE VISOR TO SUDDENLY DANGLE FROM THE ROOF OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. NOW, I CANNOT FLIP IT UP AND IT CAUSES A BLIND SPOT. THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH DRAINS MY BATTERY ON A REGULAR BASIS AND I HAVE TO HAVE MY JUMPED. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES NOW BECAUSE IT IS HAS SHORTED OUT. TO COMPLICATE MATTERS, EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THESE REPAIRS, THEY INSIST ON DOING A "DIAGNOSTICS CHECK" AND EVERY TIME THEY WANT TO CHARGE A FEE FOR THIS SERVICE. EVERY TIME THE PRICE IS DIFFERENT...SOME TIMES ITS $50, SOMETIMES ITS $100. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON AND I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY AGAIN. *TR

1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE AT 52,000 -REPLACED COILS (RECALLED) , BRAKE SWITCH, COST JUST TO LEAD AND FIND ISSUES AFTER FULL SERVICE MAINTENANCE, $1500. 2 YRS IN, TRANSMISSION DUE TO THING THAT IS ATTACHED AND LOOKS LIKE A BRAIN PLATE TO THE TRANSMISSION, (SMS PACK)STILL OWING PLUS NOW, UPCOMING ON LATEST TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER/ AT 84,000 :( S CAR HAS TAKEN ME COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN AND IN THE HOLE OWING $12,000 + $3000 FOR NEWEST REPAIR. JUST GOT CAR BACK AND NOW IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A POTENTIAL SMALL DELAY AND WANTS TO JUMP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHICH I JUST EXPERIENCED YESTERDAY. WHY IS THIS CAR STILL ON THE ROAD AND NOT RECALLED. THE PROBLEMS GO ON AND ON AND ON. I EMAILED FORD AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THEIR DEALERSHIP WHERE I CAN BE ROBBED EVEN FURTHER. SAD!! THESE ARE ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF LINKS THAT ARE OUT THERE DUE TO LINCOLN HAVING KNOWN ISSUES. I SPOKE WITH A CAR SALESMAN THIS LAST WEEK AND HE HAS A 2005 AVIATOR AND JUST REPLACED THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION AT 92,000 MILES. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2004/LINCOLN/LS/POWER_TRAIN/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/T936173-POSSIBLE_SOLUTION_FOR_THE_COMMON_LINCOLN_LS_TRANS_PROBLEMS.HTML HTTP://VIN.CENTRALCLEARINGHOUSE.COM/CENTRAL/VIN.NSF/0/22BFF5BE198030B78825777D002F814D HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/SHIFT-LEVER-STUCK-IN-DRIVE- *TR

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.

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

MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR STARTED MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE. *TR

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

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

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

THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR BROKE AND I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE INTO A NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE DRIVING. COULD NOT TURN OFF THE IGNITION SYSTEM. *TR UPDATED 01/13/10.

LINCOLN AVIATOR WITH 54,000 ON IT AND HAD TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION, SHOP SAID THERE WAS SOME GROVE ON SOME PART IN THE TRANSMISSION. VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH LOW MILES. ALSO HAD A 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH 64,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MAKE NOISES, ABOUT A WEEK LATER IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. SHOP SAID SOME GROVE IN SOMETHING IN THE TRANSMISSION. HAD IT FIXED FOR $3,000. LATER FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AT 10,000 MILES BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SELECTORS CAME APART WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS. GEAR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK FOR VEHICLE CRASH.HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE SHIFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT AN EXISTING RECALL THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

DT: 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR . THE CONSUMER OWNED CAR FOR A YEAR. WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. HAD TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT TOOK AT LEAST A QUARTER OF A MILE AND THEN IT FINALLY TOOK OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP 6 TIMES ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY STILL CAN INDICATE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PAC WAS REPLACED PER TSB 051504. *NM

MY MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR HAS AN INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND THE ENGINE RACES. I HAVE MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY TELL ME IT?S MY PROBLEM TILL IT DOES IT FOR THEM. THE OTHER DAY I GOT A LETTER FROM LINCOLN SAYING THAT THE FACTORY HAD PUT THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE CAR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STILL DOES NOT THINK THIS IS MY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THE AC BEING BROKEN; THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CAR MAKES A LOUD NOISE ON START UP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER I HAVE ASKED OTHER PEOPLE WITH MY MOLDED CAR AND THE SAID THAT THERE CAR MAKES NO ABNORMAL NOISE ON START UP. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING WHEN THE CAR IS NOT IN MOTION. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE MINOR INCLUDING SOME SMALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THEY JUST DO NOT CARE. IN THE MEAN TIME WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE LAST TIME FOR THE TRANSMISSION THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WOULD KEEP AN OPEN ORDER ON THE CAR. THE BIG SURPRISE IS THAT THEY LOST THE ORDER AS I HAVE REQUESTED A COPY OF IT. PLEASE HELP HAROLD BENNETT. *JB

ROUGH IDLING AT STAND STILL AND WITH ACCELERATION AND DECCELERATION WITH A WHINING NOISE, MISS FIRING HAPPENED 1ST TIME THE DAY AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR- DEALER SAID HE FIXED THE PROBLEM. HAPPENED AGAIN JUST A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE CAR IS SIX WEEKS OLD AND IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS THE MANAGEMENT PROCESSOR. *AK