Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Lincoln Aviator, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train55
- Structure15
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Vehicle speed control11
- Electrical system8
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Air bags7
- Visibility6
- Suspension5
- Tires5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 2003 Aviator vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Lincoln Aviator failed the safety check 2.64% of the time — 25% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 149,287 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 17.1 L/100 km (about 14 mpg US), CO₂ 393 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 19.6 | 14.1 | 17.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator.
| 2003027 6 Feb 2003 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles, both Daytime Running Lights will deactivate when either the right or left turn signal is activated. Correction: Dealer will replace the e… |
| 2002224 22 Nov 2002 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the transmission shifter cable may become dislodged from the shifter cable bracket resulting in incorrect gear indication, which can includ… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE SHIFT CABLE BRACKET.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Lincoln told its dealers about the 2003 Lincoln Aviator: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10028736 | FORD: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT OIL SEPARATION FROM THE INTERNAL LUBE FOUND IN THE UNITIZED CARTRIDGE SEAL. OIL SEPARATION APPEARS TO BE AND IS OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED, AS AN AXLE LUBE LEAK. *PE |
| 10021944 | EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLIES. *KB |
| 10019912 | ENGINE MISFIRE WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) PEWEE, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0307, P0308, AND P0316. *TT |
| 10019384 | LOW TIRE INDICATOR ON - TPMS SYSTEM SENSOR WAKE UP. *TT |
| 10019379 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH PCM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0463 AND/OR IC DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1201 - FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY OR SLOW TO UPDATE AFTER REFUELING. *TT |
| 10018956 | INOPERATIVE LIFTGATE LATCH ACTUATOR WITH FUSE F2.16 OPEN. *TT |
| 10018745 | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT |
| 10018064 | NOISE FROM REAR WHEEL HUB BEARINGS. *TT |
| 10017902 | LOW SPEED STEERING SHUDDER DURING LOW-SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 10017892 | REAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR. *TT |
| 10017876 | DRIVER WINDOW INITIALIZATION PROCEDURE. DRIVER WINDOW WILL NOT TRAVEL ALL THE WAY DOWN, OR MAY BOUNCE BACK WHEN REACHING IT'S UPPER TRAVEL LIMIT. *TT |
| 10016832 | BACKGLASS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE AND AN INTERMITTENT DOOR AJAR LAMP. *TT |
| 10014668 | AXLE SEAL LEAKS. *EH |
| 10014664 | FRONT SEAT(S) SLIGHT MOVEMENT WHEN ACCELERATING AND/OR DECELERATING. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10014062 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10013369 | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013303 | REAR POWER WINDOW(S) INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 10013121 | FRONT AXLE TUBE LEAK. *EH |
| 10013116 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT |
| 10013078 | HIGH SIDE PRESSURE FLUCTUATIONS ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FIXED SCROLL A/C COMPRESSOR. *TT |
| 10013060 | CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH |
| 10012959 | AXLE WHINE HOWL SERVICE WITH INDIVIDUAL PARTS INSTEAD OF AN AXLE ASSEMBLY. *EH |
| 10012954 | SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation