Generation history
Lincoln Aviator generations and next redesign.
The Lincoln Aviator has been through 2 generations, starting in 2003 and 2020. The gaps were 17 years, an average of 17.0. Some of those waits were long. The current generation began in 2020. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2036 through 2038, centered on 2037. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: At the 2018 New York Auto Show, Lincoln unveiled a prototype version of its planned second-generation Aviator, scheduled to enter production in 2019. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the Lincoln Aviator model page.
Every generation
The Lincoln Aviator, generation by generation.
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
|---|
| First generation | UN152 | 2003–2020 | The Aviator was launched for the 2003 model year with three-row six-passenger seating configuration and optional second row bucket seats with center console or second-row bench seating (at no cost). |
|---|
| Second generation | U611 | 2020–present | At the 2018 New York Auto Show, Lincoln unveiled a prototype version of its planned second-generation Aviator, scheduled to enter production in 2019. |
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The Lincoln Aviator spent 17.0 years per generation on average. The current one is 6 years old. Treat 2036 to 2038 as a range, not a date.
Source: Lincoln Aviator (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.
Open the Lincoln Aviator model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.
In more detail
What each Lincoln Aviator generation changed.
First generation, 2003 to 2020
The Aviator was launched for the 2003 model year with three-row six-passenger seating configuration and optional second row bucket seats with center console or second-row bench seating (at no cost). Along with the choice of four-wheel drive (4WD) configuration and towing packages, the Aviator was offered with optional heated/cooled front bucket seats, xenon (HID) headlights, 17-inch chrome wheels, and a DVD-based navigation system. These options were late availability in 2003 on the premium model and 2004 (Ultimate), 2005 (Elite). The Aviator was equipped with dual front/side airbags, side-curtain airbags, stability and traction control.
Second generation, 2020 to today
At the 2018 New York Auto Show, Lincoln unveiled a prototype version of its planned second-generation Aviator, scheduled to enter production in 2019. A more detailed production was later introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 28, 2018. Lincoln confirmed that the Aviator would go on sale in the summer of 2019 as a 2020 model in North America and China afterward.
Generation notes adapted from Lincoln Aviator (Wikipedia).
Today's Lincoln Aviator
What the current generation is, and how it has held up.
Lincoln Aviator at a glance
- Production
- 2002–2005, 2019–present
- Model years
- 2003–2005, 2020–present
- Class
- Mid-size luxury SUV (2002–2005), Mid-size Luxury car, luxury crossover SUV (2019–present)
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout, Front-engine, four-wheel-drive
NHTSA rated the 2025 Lincoln Aviator overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (18 campaigns across the latest model years)
- July 2026, Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust. 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.
- July 2026, Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly. 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.
- March 2026, Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor. 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.
Owners filed 16 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Lincoln Aviator, most often about electrical system (5), service brakes (4), forward collision avoidance (3).