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Lincoln Aviator
95octane says every 2026 Aviator is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that produces 383 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a buttery-smooth 10-speed automatic transmission, and that after a substantial refresh for 2025, changes for 2026 are relatively minor, with the Black Label succeeding most when driven in a reserved fashion. Car and Driver says the Aviator can get a little close to the Navigator in price, at least if you're looking at the range-topping Black Label, which starts at $87,605, and comes standard with Lincoln's 30-way-adjustable Perfect Position front seats, a $7,995 option package on the lower Reserve trim, offering separate left- and right-side under-thigh extensions. Observer says the 2026 Aviator, a three-row midsize SUV, sits one tick below the Navigator in Lincoln's lineup, with the Black Label offering most of the features and all of the spoils of the Navigator without the extra bulk and cost, and that with 400 horsepower, the Aviator Black Label delivers muscle in a civilized package.
Engine specs, minor 2026 changes
95octane (opens in a new tab) says every 2026 Aviator is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that produces 383 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a buttery-smooth 10-speed automatic transmission, and that after a substantial refresh for 2025, changes for 2026 are relatively minor.
Black Label pricing and seats
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the Aviator can get a little close to the Navigator in price, at least for the range-topping Black Label, which starts at $87,605, and comes standard with Lincoln's 30-way-adjustable Perfect Position front seats, a $7,995 option package on the lower Reserve trim, offering separate left- and right-side under-thigh extensions.
Nearly all the Navigator's spoils, for less
Observer (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Aviator sits one tick below the Navigator in Lincoln's lineup, with the Black Label offering most of the features and all of the spoils of the Navigator without the extra bulk and cost, and that with 400 horsepower, the Aviator Black Label delivers muscle in a civilized package.
Questions buyers ask
How much horsepower does the Lincoln Aviator have?
95octane (opens in a new tab) says 383 hp and 415 lb-ft from its twin-turbo V6.
How much does the Lincoln Aviator Black Label cost?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says it starts at $87,605.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator is built around 3.0L turbo V6, rated at 400 horsepower across its three-row luxury SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2025 Lincoln Aviator is published to tow is up to 5,000 lb.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns and 16 owner complaints for the 2025 Aviator.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Lincoln Aviator
Every 2025 Aviator shares the same 400-horsepower turbo V6; AWD is optional on Premiere and Reserve but standard on Black Label.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Lincoln Aviator model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Lincoln Aviator | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Lincoln Aviator | 1 | 2026 record → |
| 2025 Lincoln Aviator | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Lincoln Aviator.
The Lincoln Aviator is a mid-size, three-row luxury SUV manufactured and marketed under the Lincoln brand of Ford Motor Company — and now in its second generation, with a hiatus from 2006 to 2020. The first generation Aviator was manufactured for 2003–2005 model years as a rebadged variant of the third generation Ford Explorer — and assembled at the now-closed St. Louis Assembly in Hazelwood, Missouri, alongside the Explorer and Mountaineer.
- Recalls and problems
- In June 2026 Ford issued a recall order of over 741,000 vehicles, including the Aviator, in the U.S. due to a transmission issue that may damage the park system.
Source: Lincoln Aviator (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
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
Lincoln Aviator generations
The Lincoln Aviator has been redesigned in 2020, gaps of 17 years, an average of 17.0 years between generations. The current generation (second generation, U611) began in 2020.
| Generation | Code | Began | 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. |
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).
Year by year
The Lincoln Aviator across 8 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Lincoln Aviator | 20 | $3,250 | 2 | |||
| 2026 Lincoln Aviator | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 6 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Lincoln Aviator | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 15 | 14 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Lincoln Aviator | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Lincoln Aviator | 19–23 | $2,700–$3,300 | 4 | 16 | 22 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Lincoln Aviator | 20–23 | $2,700–$3,100 | 3 | 21 | 44 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Lincoln Aviator | 20–23 | $2,700–$3,100 | 3 | 28 | 38 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Lincoln Aviator | 20–23 | $2,700–$3,100 | 3 | 30 | 107 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Lincoln Aviator, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 20.5 to 20.0 | |||
| 2023 to 2024 | 4 to 2 | 21.0 to 20.5 | Labels: Aviator PHEV AWD; Engines: 3L 6-cyl, 3L 6-cyl SIDI; without Stop-Start; Fuels: Regular Gas and Electricity | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 3 to 4 | 21.5 to 21.0 | Engines: 3L 6-cyl, 3L 6-cyl SIDI; without Stop-Start | Engines: 3L 6-cyl SIDI; PHEV |
Buying used
What the Lincoln Aviator recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | trailer hitches; visibility (windshield); seat belts; 3 more | None |
| 2025 | 15 | back over prevention (software); equipment (other); power train (automatic transmission); 9 more | 1 fixable over the air |
| 2024 | 8 | back over prevention (display function); equipment (other); seats (mid/rear assembly); 4 more | None |
| 2023 | 16 | seat belts (front); back over prevention (sensing system); power train (automatic transmission); 7 more | None |
| 2022 | 21 | fuel system, gasoline (storage); seats (front assembly); structure (frame and members); 12 more | None |
| 2021 | 28 | steering; engine; back over prevention (display function); 15 more | None |
| 2020 | 30 | power train (automatic transmission); seats (front assembly); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 15 more | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 73 | 31% | 2020 (39) |
| unknown or other | 44 | 18% | 2020 (24) |
| back over prevention | 29 | 12% | 2020 (16) |
| power train | 28 | 12% | 2020 (22) |
| engine | 25 | 11% | 2020 (7) |
| structure | 23 | 10% | 2020 (8) |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Lincoln Aviator trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiere | AWD | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 383 | 412 | 4,829 | – | – | $59,190 |
| Reserve | AWD | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 383 | 412 | 4,829 | – | – | $68,990 |
| Black Label | AWD | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 383 | 412 | 4,829 | – | – | $87,605 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Lincoln Aviator model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 383 | 4,829 | – | 20.2 |
| 2026 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 383 | 4,862 | 5,000 | 20.2 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400 | 4,862 | 5,000 | 20.2 |
| 2024 | 4 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) | 400 | 4,745–4,862 | 5,600 | 20 |
| 2023 | 6 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Hybrid, Twin Turbo) | 400–494 | 4,745–5,673 | 5,600 | 18–20 |
| 2022 | 6 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo, Hybrid) | 400–494 | 4,745–5,673 | 5,600 | 18–20 |
| 2021 | 6 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Hybrid, Twin Turbo) | 400–494 | 4,745–5,673 | 5,600 | 18–20 |
| 2020 | 5 | 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo) / 3.0-liter V6 (Twin Turbo, Hybrid) | 400–494 | 2,416–2,972 | 4,500 | 18–20.2 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Lincoln Aviator.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2022 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2020 | – | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Lincoln Aviator: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Lincoln Aviator : 6 recalls on file (average across published years is 17.7).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2020 Lincoln Aviator : 30 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and seat belts.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | not available | visibility/wipers, seats, trailer hitch, seat belts |
| 2025 | 15 | 14 | seats, backup camera, powertrain, structure |
| 2024 | 8 | 6 | backup camera, seats, equipment, structure |
| 2023 | 16 | 22 | backup camera, seat belts, seats, powertrain |
| 2022 | 21 | 44 | backup camera, seats, seat belts, fuel system |
| 2021 | 28 | 38 | backup camera, seat belts, visibility/wipers, electrical system |
| 2020 | 30 | 107 | backup camera, seat belts, powertrain, visibility/wipers |
| 2019 | not available | ||
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lincoln Aviator model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Lincoln Aviator?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2020 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Lincoln Aviator model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator has 30 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, seat belts, powertrain. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Lincoln Aviator model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Lincoln Aviator has 6 recalls on file: below this model's own average of 17.7. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Lincoln Aviator by model year?
2026: visibility/wipers, seats, trailer hitch, seat belts. 2025: seats, backup camera, powertrain, structure. 2024: backup camera, seats, equipment, structure. 2023: backup camera, seat belts, seats, powertrain. 2022: backup camera, seats, seat belts, fuel system. 2021: backup camera, seat belts, visibility/wipers, electrical system.
Q05Why do some Lincoln Aviator model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Lincoln Aviator model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Climate and electrical, Buying, records and recalls, Transmission and drivetrain, Engine and cooling.
2020 Lincoln Aviator owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls and Transmission and drivetrain.
Trim ladder
1 Lincoln Aviator trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Lincoln Aviator is most often compared with.
Nearest Lincoln models
Other Lincoln models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Aviator come in?
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator (three-row luxury SUV) comes in 3 trims: Premiere, Reserve, Black Label.
Q02What are the 2025 Aviator trims?
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator trims are Premiere, Reserve, Black Label, listed from the entry Premiere up to the top Black Label.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Aviator use?
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator is built around 3.0L turbo V6, rated at 400 horsepower across its three-row luxury SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Aviator have?
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator is rated at 400 horsepower (3.0L turbo V6).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Aviator?
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator is offered with RWD / AWD.