2020 Lincoln Aviator
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas midsize or large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Aviator PHEV AWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 30 recall campaigns for this model year, 5 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 118 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Range | kWh/100mi | Charge (240V) | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator PHEV AWD | Plug-in hybrid | 4WD (part-time) | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 74 kW PMSM | 22 | 25 | 23 (31 MPGe blended) | 21 mi electric | 60 | 3.5 h | $2,700 |
| Aviator RWD | Gas | RWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 18 | 26 | 21 | — | — | — | $2,950 |
| Aviator AWD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 17 | 24 | 20 | — | — | — | $3,100 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42377, 41486, 41488.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (30)
Source: NHTSA recall databasePower Train
26S48Seat Belts
26C18Visibility
26S14Back Over Prevention
26C11Back Over Prevention
25S72Seats
25S67Structure
25S66Seat Belts
25C18Electrical System
25S58Back Over Prevention
25S27Seat Belts
25S09Equipment
24C39Back Over Prevention
24S35Electrical System
23S53Back Over Prevention
23S48Back Over Prevention
23S23Back Over Prevention
23S02Seat Belts
22C35Back Over Prevention
21S44Electrical System
21S34Back Over Prevention
21C09Suspension
21S11Visibility
21C01Engine
20S72Power Train
20S65Air Bags
20S48Fuel System, Gasoline
19S49Seats
19C07Power Train
19C06NHTSA defect investigations
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2019: 3 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 12 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 25
Most-cited components
What owners describe
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Other Aviator model years
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.