This article supersedes 25-2302. Reason for update: update the labor time allowance for F-150 vehicles, update the Parts list to replace the part number W716979-S439 with W721084-S439, and add a note for LV fluids XT-10-QLVC and CXT-10-LV6 "Transfer Case Fluid". Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Harsh engagement Delayed engagement Harsh shift Delayed shift Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC)s P0751, P0752, P0756, P0757, P0761, P0762, P0766, P0767, P0771, P0772, P2700, P2701, P2702, P2703, P2704, P2705, P2707, P2708, P0729, P0731, P0732, P0733, P0734, P0735, P073
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Lincoln Aviator powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Lincoln Aviator have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 Aviator (this page) | 15 |
| 2021 Aviator | 4 |
When does it fail?
Of the 15 powertrain complaints filed for the 2020 Lincoln Aviator, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
For 20202026 vehicles equipped with the 10R60 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum transducer (PVT) when available. Workshop Manual (WSM) updates related to this diagnostic procedure are planned for release in Q4 2026. The new test improves the accuracy of detecting leaks within transmission fluid circuits and replaces the previous air check method. The previous air check procedure has been shown to produce a high rate of false positives, which may lead to unnecessary repairs when no actual leak is present. Accordingly, the air check procedure is not to be us
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2020-2026 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility/Aviator vehicles may require replacement of the front drive halfshaft inner/outer CV joint boot for various reasons. If Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 205-04 > Diagnosis and Testing leads to CV joint boot replacement, L1MZ-3A331-G (Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility front inner/outer CV joint boot kit), L1MZ-3A331-H (Aviator front inner/outer CV joint boot kit), L1MZ-3A331-F (Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility front inner CV joint boot kit) and L1MZ-3A331-E (Aviator front inner CV joint boot kit) have been released for service. Refer to WSM, Section 205-04 for Removal and Installation procedures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗For 20172026 vehicles equipped with a 10R transmission, a revision to the Road Testing Vehicle procedure has been made in the WSM, located in Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing. This updated procedure improves the diagnosis of customer reported transmission concerns and aids in locating the proper root cause. During diagnosis and testing, details regarding whether the condition is more prevalent when the vehicle is hot or cold, throttle percentage at the time of occurrence, vehicle speed, the specific shift involved, and whether the issue occurs during transmission engagements (N>R, N>D, R>D, or D>R) should be noted. Engineering requests including these detailed operating conditions tha
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Lincoln Aviator owners report a wide spectrum of powertrain failures, many surfacing early or mid-ownership and causing both immediate safety hazards and repeated warning messages.
The most severe issues involve transmission performance: slipping out of gear during highway driving, jerky downshifts with hard lunges, and complete loss of power when accelerating. One owner at 4,960 miles faced full transmission replacement; another was told the transmission needs complete replacement after the dealer already replaced two valve bodies. Transmission slips have occurred on longer trips (2–3 hours highway driving) and created near-miss collision scenarios.
Parking pawl solenoid failure allows vehicles to roll while parked in Park with the engine off—a serious safety defect confirmed by dealer inspection. One owner had to block the wheels until repair.
AWD and braking system faults generate clusters of warning messages (Service AdvanceTrac, 4WD Malfunction, Pre-collision Assist not available, Hill Start Assist not available) that clear on restart but return randomly. One owner reported $5,000 in repairs for shaft replacement. Dealers acknowledge these are known issues with TSBs; Lincoln stated out-of-warranty repairs would have been covered if claimed during the warranty period. When AWD faults are active, owners report loose steering and difficulty controlling the vehicle.
Automatic braking engages erratically in reverse and drive, jerking the vehicle. Rear brake sensors trigger emergency stops on minor driveway imperfections; dealers claim this is normal. One owner's rear brakes felt stiff in reverse, requiring release and reapplication.
Throttle hesitation and failure to respond to accelerator input also appear, along with unintended acceleration and lurching.
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission Internal Failure / Gear Slipping
Transmission loses power during acceleration, slips out of gear unexpectedly, exhibits jerky shifting and lunging, or fails to downshift properly. Some owners report the transmission staying in gear too long before clunking forward hard. At least one owner at 4,960 miles was told the transmission needed complete replacement due to internal failure.
When: Early (4,960 miles); occurs during acceleration and highway driving; some instances after 2-3 hours of highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips out of gear during acceleration; Jerky downshifts with hard lunges forward; Loss of power when accelerating from stops; Transmission stays in gear longer than normal before shifting; RPMs increase without vehicle moving (slipping); Hard shift into gear after slip; Smell of burning through vents; Vehicle shifted into neutral while driving
Codes mentioned: Service wrench icon displayed (reduced engine power)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner quoted for full transmission replacement; another owner reports dealer replaced 2 valve bodies and now faces full transmission replacement per open bulletin
Parking Pawl Solenoid Malfunction
Parking pawl solenoid fails, allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly while parked in Park with engine off. Dealer confirmed vehicle could be physically rolled after being placed in Park and powered off. Presents serious safety risk.
When: No warning prior to incident; occurred after vehicle had been parked
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls while parked in Park with engine off; No prior warning messages or alerts before incident
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed malfunctioning parking pawl solenoid within transmission system
AWD / All-Wheel Drive Fault Messages & Loss of Control
Multiple warning messages related to AWD malfunction, Service AdvanceTrac, 4WD Fault, and similar electrical issues appear on dash, often clearing on restart but recurring randomly. When active, owners report loose feeling in steering and difficulty controlling the vehicle. One service advisor mentioned a TSB from summer 2023. One owner noted that many forum members report this issue.
When: Out of warranty at 66,000 miles on one example; occurs unpredictably and recurs after restart
Symptoms owners cite: Service AdvanceTrac warning; 4WD / AWD Malfunction warning; Hill Start Assist not available; Pre-collision Assist not available; Loose steering feel when AWD fault is active; Vehicle feels like it wants to swerve; Warnings clear on restart but return randomly
Codes mentioned: Service AdvanceTrac, 4WD Fault, Hill Start Assist not available, Pre-collision Assist not available, AWD malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: One owner quoted $5,000 to replace two front-end shafts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB issued summer 2023; Lincoln service stated repair would have been covered under warranty if claimed during warranty period
Automatic Braking System Malfunction (Rear Sense/Pre-Collision)
Automatic braking system engages and disengages erratically while in reverse or drive, causing jerking movements that feel like collision with an object. Often paired with other warnings including Hill Start Assist and Pre-collision Assist unavailable messages.
When: At 66,000 miles (out of warranty)
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic braking engages and disengages in reverse; Automatic braking engages and disengages in drive; Jerking movement of vehicle; Check vehicle light illuminates; Rear Sense Braking not available
Codes mentioned: Hill Start Assist warning, Pre-collision Assist not available
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated this is a known problem with a TSB; repair cost not specified in this context but linked to $5,000 shaft replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged known problem with TSB issued
Acceleration / Throttle Response Failure
Vehicle fails to respond to accelerator pedal input or exhibits hesitation when accelerating. In one case, transmission failed to shift out of first gear when accelerating. In another, vehicle experienced unintended acceleration with lurching forward and reduced engine power.
When: At 36,500 miles; occurred three times within two months on that vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal depressed but vehicle fails to respond; Hesitation in throttle response; Transmission fails to shift out of first gear during acceleration; Unintended acceleration / uncontrolled lurching; Reduced engine power
Codes mentioned: Service wrench icon
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle with reduced engine power/lurching: front axle actuator and intermediate shaft replaced, but failure persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but no assistance provided in one case
Multiple Warning Messages & Electronic Function Loss
Cluster of warning messages appears on startup or while driving with no triggering incident. Messages include Hill Start Assist, Service AdvanceTrac, 4WD Malfunction, Pre-collision Assist, Rear Sense Braking not available, and Cruise Control disabled. One service advisor stated Ford is aware of the issue and mentioned a TSB.
When: Upon startup after vehicle had been parked off for ~2 hours; no prior issues
Symptoms owners cite: Hill Start Assist not available; Service AdvanceTrac; 4WD Malfunction warning; Pre-collision Assist not available; Rear Sense Braking not available; Cruise Control cannot be turned on or utilized; Multiple safety features stop functioning
Codes mentioned: Hill Start Assist not available, Service AdvanceTrac, 4WD Malfunction, Pre-collision Assist not available, Rear Sense Braking not available
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted 'remove and throw out the electronic and replace with a manual' but did not provide detailed repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service advisor stated Ford is aware of the safety issue; TSB located with summer 2023 date; Lincoln customer service stated repair would have been covered under warranty if it had occurred during warranty period
Axle Shaft Seal Failure
Axle shaft seal fails, producing loud grinding noise with no prior warning. In one case, dealer quoted $5,000 for replacement of two shafts in the front end.
When: No specific mileage provided in complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding noise from axle area
Repairs/costs cited: One owner quoted $5,000 to replace two front-end shafts; shaft seal failure requires replacement
Rear Brake Sensor Over-Sensitivity
Rear brake support sensors are excessively sensitive, triggering automatic emergency braking on minor road surface irregularities (e.g., small cracks in driveway). Dealer stated this is normal, no defect found. Also reported stiff brakes in reverse that require release and reapplication to stop vehicle.
When: Early in ownership at 4,960 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic braking triggered by minor driveway cracks; Abrupt stops causing head impact with headrest; Stiff brakes when backing up; Brakes require release and reapplication to stop vehicle in reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated this is normal, no defect found
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
First the engine broke (critical damage) was replaced second the turbos were jammed, werereplaced third the throttle was inoperative stil unattended fourth the transmission ailed stil unattended
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated while responding however, the transmission failed to shift out of first gear. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three…
Upon starting the vehicle around 7p on Friday, 10/31/25, the following errors flooded the screen: Hill start assist not available Service advancetrac 4WD Malfunction service required Pre-collision assist not available Rear sense breaking not available Additionally, cruise control could not be turned on and utilized. There was no incident to trigger these. The car had been sitting parked and off…
Vehicle shifted into neutral while driving. Had to stop the vehicle in the median to put it back in drive.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2020 Lincoln Aviator?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 41,100 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Lincoln/Aviator.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.