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2020 Lincoln Aviator problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Lincoln Aviator. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.
Better than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Lincoln Aviator have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 30 of 108 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Lincoln Aviator concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2021 scores 31%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2020 compares with other Lincoln Aviator years
Of the 3 Lincoln Aviator years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (29%). The worst is the 2021 (31%), the best the 2022 (18%). By volume, the 2020 drew 108 complaints (30 drivetrain), against 39 for the 2021.
Lincoln Aviator years to avoid and best years →
2020 · 2021 Aviator problems · 2022 Aviator problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 30 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Lincoln Aviator engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 30 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The right hand motor mount fasteners may have been incorrectly tightened, and may loosen over time.
Risk: With a loose motor mount, motor vibration may cause the axle to disconnect from the engine and could result in loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and replace the right hand motor mount fasteners, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 2.0L or 3.3L engine and a 10 Speed Automatic Transmission with the All Wheel Drive package. The drive shaft may fracture along the weld seam.
Risk: Defective drive shafts may fail and cause a loss of connection between the transfer case and rear axle, possibly resulting in a vehicle rollaway when in Park or a loss of drive. Either condition can increase the risk…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shaft label inspected and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. Over time, the protective sleeve on the vapor fuel line may chafe through the plastic liquid fuel line and cause a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a longer protective sleeve on the liquid fuel line, as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners and interim notification on January 29, 2020. Recall began March…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) cover may not be installed. In addition, the vehicles may be in Factory Mode, which disables warning alerts and does not display the transmission gear selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 114, "Theft…
Risk: Without the cover, the MPR lever may be unintentionally moved, allowing the vehicle to roll away. Being in Factory Mode, the vehicle will not display warnings and/or gear selection on the instrument cluster. Both…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install a MPR cover. Dealers will verify the instrument cluster is not in Factory Mode and clear any fault codes, free of charge. The recall began…
25 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2020 Lincoln Aviator? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2020 Lincoln Aviator have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 30 of 108 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Lincoln Aviator concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Lincoln Aviator?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Lincoln Aviator is electrical system: 39 of 108 complaints (36%) name it, followed by power train (22) and back over prevention (16). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 29% of the relevant total.
Is the 2020 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 29% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 3 Lincoln Aviator years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2020 Lincoln Aviator involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 30 in total: 26V402000 (power train: automatic transmission), 20V788000 (engine), 20V693000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Lincoln Aviator years are better?
Among the Lincoln Aviator years we track, the 2022 (18%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (29%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/lincoln-aviator
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.