Head-to-head reliability
Lincoln Aviator vs FORD F 150
How the Lincoln Aviator and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Lincoln Aviator vs FORD F 150: The Aviator averages 47.5 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1. The Aviator has 125 recalls, the F-150 145. Owners report rusted axles and handlebar detachment in the Aviator, and transmission hard shifts in the F-150. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lincoln Aviator or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lincoln Aviator
The Lincoln Aviator, a luxury SUV, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 47.5 per year over the last decade. Owners report issues with the powertrain, electrical system, and structure, including rusted axles, starting failures, and a handlebar that detached. These complaints suggest that while the Aviator offers premium features, it may have reliability concerns that could affect daily ownership.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a popular pickup, has a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 1,100 per year, reflecting its large sales base. The most common issues are with the powertrain, especially the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as jerky or prone to hard shifts. Electrical problems, such as camera malfunctions, also appear frequently, indicating that the F-150 may have more frequent issues but also more data due to its popularity.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lincoln Aviator | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 475 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 125 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 18 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 47.5 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Lincoln Aviator
- 01POWER TRAIN118
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM86
- 03STRUCTURE81
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER50
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING34
Owners report grinding noises when reversing and rusted axles, which can lead to driveline failure. Also, the vehicle may overheat in the garage due to fans activating, suggesting potential cooling or transmission issues.
Frequent failure to start, with at least ten instances in a few months, indicates a serious electrical problem. Additionally, the headlight control switch emits a high-pitched noise, which may be annoying but not safety-critical.
A passenger-side top handlebar fell off, causing a fall and injury. This is a safety concern, especially for passengers, and suggests potential quality control issues in interior components.
“My 2023 Lincoln Aviator has a grinding noise when I back up. Also a rattle has begun at all speeds. I had vehicled check and the axles were found to be totally rusted. Prior to having it towed to the detail i did some research and found the following -- A 202…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in the garage, the garage became extremely hot, and the fans underneath the vehicle activated. The contact opened the garage. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer,…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard shifts, jerks, and clunks between gears, and occasional loss of power. This can be alarming and may lead to costly repairs.
Owners report warnings for Front Camera Malfunction and Pre-Collision Assist Not Available, which appear every time the truck starts. This indicates a persistent electrical issue that may affect safety features.
Headlight-related recalls suggest potential issues with visibility, which is critical for night driving. Owners may experience dim or malfunctioning headlights.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Lincoln Aviator — 125 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The accessory protocol image module (APIM) can be affected by electromagnetic interference with a cell phone in the vehicle, causing the rearview camera image to flicker or become distorted.
The risk: A flickering or distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use their cell phones while reversing until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install shielding on the accessory protocol image module (APIM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement…
The risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.
The risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford'…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator vehicles. The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may have insufficient adhesive bonding, which can allow the trim to detach from the vehicle.
The risk: Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair or replace C-pillar appliques and window division bars, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recal…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Lincoln Aviator or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Lincoln Aviator has significantly fewer complaints per year (47.5) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131.1), but the Aviator's issues are still notable. In practice, the F-150's higher volume may be due to its larger sales, but the transmission problems are widespread and serious. The Aviator, while lower volume, has safety-related structural issues that are concerning.
Key differences
- The Aviator has a much lower complaint rate per year (47.5 vs 1,131.1), but its complaints include a dangerous handlebar detachment.
- The F-150's powertrain issues are dominated by transmission problems, with hard shifts and loss of power, while the Aviator's powertrain issues involve rusted axles and overheating.
- Electrical problems are common in both, but the Aviator's starting failures are more frequent in a short ownership period.
- The F-150 has more recalls (145 vs 125) but also more complaints, indicating a higher overall issue rate.
- Inspect the rear axle for rust and listen for grinding noises when backing up.
- Check the interior grab handles for secure attachment, especially on the passenger side.
- Test drive and feel for hard shifts or jerks, especially between 4th-5th and 5th-6th gears.
- Check for dashboard warnings about camera or pre-collision assist malfunctions on startup.
Before you buy
- Ask for service records and check if recalls have been performed, especially for structure and seats on the Aviator.
- For the F-150, verify if the transmission has been updated or repaired under warranty.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Aviator's axles for corrosion and the F-150's battery and electrical system.
- Test all interior handles and switches on the Aviator for looseness or noise.
- Check the F-150's exterior lights for proper function and any recall notices.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Lincoln Aviator | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 24 |
| 2025 | 14 | 329 |
| 2024 | 6 | 617 |
| 2023 | 22 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 44 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 38 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 107 | 33 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Lincoln Aviator or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lincoln Aviator vs FORD F 150
- Lincoln Aviator total complaints
- 475
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Lincoln Aviator total recalls
- 125
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Lincoln Aviator avg complaints/year
- 47.5
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Lincoln Aviator
- Lincoln Aviator top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN