1. I WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHEN ALL MY WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND MY CAR DIED. IT SAID LOW OIL PRESSURE. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RESTARTED, AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN. DEALER INDICATED THEY COULD DETECT NO PROBLEM. 2. PAINT IN DOOR JAMBS DIFFERENT COLOR THAN REST OF VEHICLE. DEALER INDICATED IN SMALL CRASH, PROBABLY AT TIME OF UNLOADING VEHICLE...DAMAGE REPAIRED AND REPAINTED. I HAD THEM REPAINT TO MAKE CAR SAME COLOR. 3. OTHER - THIS IS MY MOST FRUSTRATING PROBLEM. WHEN IT GETS HOT OUT (90 DEGREES OR MORE), THE LEFT SIDE PASSENGER DOOR MOULDING EXPANDS AND STICKS TO THE DRIVER DOOR. I CANNOT OPEN THE BACK DOOR WITHOUT FORCING IT, WHICH HAS CHIPPED THE PAINT ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT DOOR. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER DOOR, BUT NOT TO THE SAME EXTENT AS THE DRIVER SIDE. ALL MOULDINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE HAD IT IN ABOUT ANOTHER SIX TIMES SINCE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM...MOST OF THE TIME BEING TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO OR THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOW ORDERING SOME NEW MOULDING WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, IT TOOK ME THREE TRIPS FOR THEM TO FINALLY FIX THE AIR CONDITIONED SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH STOPPED WORKING. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED...I DROVE OFF THE LOT, AND AGAIN IT WASN'T WORKING. I TOOK IT BACK AND WAS PRETTY MUCH TOLD I WAS AN IDIOT, IT WAS WORKING. I DROVE OFF THE LOT, IT WASN'T WORK
2003 Lincoln Aviator complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR STOPS SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING.*MR *JB
CONSUMER STATED REAR END DIFFERENTIAL PRODUCED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALERS WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PART. *AK
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
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
IN THE LINCOLN AVIATOR, A LOUD WHINING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM. IN THE FRONT SEAT THE NOISE IS PRETTY LOUD BUT CAN BE OVERCOME BY TURNING THE RADIO UP REAL LOUD. IN THE REAR SEATS THE NOISE IS MORE INTENSE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. A SIMPLE SEARCH ON EDMUNDS, GOOGLE, DEJA NEWS, ETC. SHOWS THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND A WHILE AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITHOUT A FIX AND THAT I SHOULD JUST LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM. I AM GOING TO PURSUE LEGAL ACTION UNDER THE LEMON LAW TO TRY AND CORRECT THE SITUATION. *LA
REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW KEPT OPENING EVEN AFTER THREE REPAIRS BY GALPIN LINCOLN/FORD ON A 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR. IN ADDITION, OUTSIDE MIRRORS KEPT DROPPING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DRIVERS TO GO BLIND. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE FAILURE OF REAR LIFTGATE AND THE DROPPING OR MIRRORS, IN TRANSITION OF FILING CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW. *LA
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
POWER STEERING RACK HAS FAILED AFTER ONLY 4,500 MILES, AC SEAT FAILED, DOOR JAM CLEARANCE BETWEEN DRIVER'S DOOR AND REAR DOOR, WHISTLING NOISE AT 60 MPH. *AK
CHILD SAFETY SEAT QUESTIONNAIRE MODEL NUMBER : 22-625-MGN/OG2C. MR SCC *JB
DEFECTIVE AND POSSIBLY DEADLY 2003 LINCOLN AVIATOR MADE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY 1.CAR PURCHASED ON 2/15/03. PICKED UP SAME DAY ON 2/15/03. 2.GAS PEDAL SNAPS AND BREAKS ALMOST CAUSING A HIGH SPEED COLLISION! ON 03/30/03 - ON SUNDAY, 03/30/03 I AM TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO ICE SKATING PRACTICE WITH THIS CAR. I AM DRIVING DOWN THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY (I-495) IN THE LEFT LANE. MY EXIT IS COMING UP SO I HAVE TO GET OVER. IN ORDER TO DO SO I MUST SPEED UP QUICKLY TO GET AROUND ANOTHER CAR. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL. I AM STARTING TO SPEED UP WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CABLE OR SOMETHING SNAPS AND THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. A PIECE OF PLASTIC GAS PEDAL FLY??S OFF THE FLOOR AND LANDS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT NEXT TO ME. IT IS THE GAS PEDAL ITSELF (I STILL HAVE THIS PIECE IN MY POSSESSION FOR PROOF). - I AM NOW LOOSING POWER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHILE TRYING TO GET OVER AT THAT VERY MOMENT. I CAN NOT HIT THE BRAKE DUE TO TRAFFIC WHILE TRYING TO GET OVER. I SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND A MACK TRUCK DARTS OVER TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING ME. I MANAGE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. MY DAUGHTER IS NOW SCREAMING AND SCARED AND I AM VISIBLY SHAKEN BY THIS EVENT. - I WAIT 2 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE DRIVER HIMSELF CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT HE SEES. THE CAR IS TOWED TO NEIL LINCOLN MERCURY. I GO INTO THE DEALER AND VINNEY & ADAM ARE BOTH THERE TO TALK TO ME. THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND DO NOT BLAME ME FOR WANTING A REFUND. 3.FOLLOW UP WITH NEIL LINCOLN MERCURY - ON MONDAY;
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator → · Every Aviator year → · How the figures are calculated →