Recalls
6campaigns
2 seat · 2 visibility · 1 seat belt
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
4filed
Owner reports, 2003–2026 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Fuel economy
21mpg combined
$3,110/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
3 L 6-cyl· 10-speed automatic
2 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (6)
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2026 Lincoln Aviator. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2026 Lincoln Aviator. Not checked against your VIN.
Driver's Seat May Recline Unexpectedly
Seats · front assembly · power adjust
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
- Consequence
- Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S53.
Repair progress not yet reported76,748 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V470000
Listed for 2026 Lincoln Aviator. Not checked against your VIN.
Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly
Seats · mid/rear assembly
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
- Consequence
- A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Repair progress not yet reported387,911 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V451000
Listed for 2026 Lincoln Aviator. Not checked against your VIN.
Inoperative Defrosting and Defogging System
Visibility · defroster/defogger/hvac system · fan/motor
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may fail, which can cause the defrosting and defogging system to become inoperative.
- Consequence
- An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and secure the instrument panel joints as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S22. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 3, 2026.
49.1% repairedof 55 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V202000
Listed for 2026 Lincoln Aviator. Not checked against your VIN.
Improperly Secured Seat Belt Anchors
Seat belts
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
- Consequence
- A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
31.6% repairedof 561 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 26V159000
Listed for 2026 Lincoln Aviator. Not checked against your VIN.
Windshield Air Bubbles Can Obscure Visibility/FMVSS 205
Visibility · windshield
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials."
- Consequence
- Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 27, 2025.
69.3% repairedof 56,841 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 25V730000
Listed for 2026 Lincoln Aviator. Not checked against your VIN.
Trailer Hitch Assembly May Detach
Trailer hitches
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
- Consequence
- While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
60.7% repairedof 1,412 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 25V687000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (4)
4 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The seats is mentioned most often.
0involved a crash
0involved a fire
0injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 2 | 50% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 25% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 25% |
How 2026 compares with other Aviator years
Best and worst Aviator years →2003111
200481
200551
2020109
202139
202245
202324
20247
202516
20264
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 111 | 1 |
| 2004 | 81 | 0 |
| 2005 | 51 | 0 |
| 2020 | 109 | 30 |
| 2021 | 39 | 28 |
| 2022 | 45 | 21 |
| 2023 | 24 | 16 |
| 2024 | 7 | 8 |
| 2025 | 16 | 15 |
| 2026 | 4 | 6 |
This year (2026)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined
21
mpg combined
18
city
25
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 423 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
$3,110per year
$259per month
714gallons a year
Miles ÷ 21 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 L 6-cyl · 10-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 10-speed automatic | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 447 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2026 Aviator for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2026 Lincoln Aviator FAQ
How many recalls does the 2026 Lincoln Aviator have?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns: 26V470000 (seat), 26V451000 (seat), 26V202000 (visibility), 26V159000 (seat belt), 25V730000 (visibility), 25V687000 (trailer hitches). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2026 Lincoln Aviator problems?
Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Seats (2), Latches/locks/linkages (1), Unknown or other (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2026 Lincoln Aviator get?
EPA rates the 3 L 6-cyl · 10-speed automatic version at 18 city, 25 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2026 Aviator compare with other years?
Among the 2003–2021 Lincoln Aviator model years at least five years old, the 2021 drew the fewest complaints (39) and the 2003 the most (111). The 2026 drew 4. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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