2003 Lincoln Aviator

Typical pattern

6.1% of complaints about the 2003 Lincoln Aviator came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (56 complaints), typically at 7.8 yr or about 68,000 miles.

Complaints: 164
Median age at failure: 5.7 yr
Median mileage: 62,000 n=120
Crash / fire / tow: 4.9% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

In owners’ own words

Power train 500 mi 1.2 yr in service

OUR 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR STARTED A REAR END WHINE OR DRONE WITHIN THE FIRST 1000 MILES. THE DEALER HAS TWICE PUT IN A NEW DIFFERENTIAL BUT THE NOISE IS BACK. THE DEALER NOW WILL NOT ATTEMPT ANOTHER REPAIR AND HAS PUT US OFF UNTIL 12/10/03. WE SEEM TO HAVE NO ONE TO VOICE A COMPLAINT TO. THE DEALER GETS ONE MORE CHANCE UNDER SC LEMON LAW AND IS STALLING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTICED IN FORD EXPLORERS AND LINCOLN MOUNTAINEERS TOO.*AK

Power train mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service

LOVE MY '03 LINCOLN AVIATOR EXCEPT FOR THE SAME ANNOYING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END AS COMPLAINT NUMBER 10045568. CURRENTLY ON MY SECOND REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. NOISE RETURNED AT 1200-1500 MILES, AND WAS SO LOUD MY 76 YEAR OLD MOTHER ASKED WHAT THE WHINING NOISE WAS. LINCOLN NEEDS TO CORRECT PROBLEM, AND THIS MACHINE WILL BE PERFECT. *AK

Power train 67,000 mi 1.3 yr in service

CONSUMER STATED REAR END DIFFERENTIAL PRODUCED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALERS WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PART. *AK

Structure mileage not reported 2.3 yr in service

MOLDY ODOR COMING FROM A/C UNIT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED MOLD SPOTS WERE GROWING ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE ROOF PANEL. *JB

Other Aviator model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2003 Lincoln Aviator

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other Aviator model years

How to read this