The 2003 Lincoln Aviator has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 25 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE SHIFT CABLE BRACKET.
THIS COULD RESULT RESULTING IN INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION.
DEALERS WILL ADD A STRAP TO THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTER TO PREVENT THE SHIFT CABLE FROM BECOMING DISLODGED. FORD HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“The contact owns a 2003 lincoln aviator equipped with cooper tires, tire line: hercules hts-terra-trac, tire size 245/65/r17, dot number: (n/a). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side front tire sidewall separated in the center. There were no warning…”
“The contact owns a 2003 lincoln aviator equipped with cooper tires, tire line: hercules hts-terra-trac, tire size 245/65/r17, dot number: (n/a). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side front tire sidewall separated in the center. There were no warning…”
“A year ago noticed when shifting and up to date my shifter gear indicator not shift to correct gear indicator and fail to work properly, I believed the transmission shift cable may become dislodged from the shift cable bracket. I take my truck to an transmission shop and the technician recommended…”
“I'm having problems with the front in that's control arm. The transfer case. *tr”
“I'm having problems with the front in that's control arm. The transfer case. *tr”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 lincoln aviator. The contact stated that the gear failed to shift from park into any other gear because the gear shifter was fractured. The vehicle was unable to be driven. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 02v313000 (power train); however, the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 lincoln aviator. The contact stated that the gear shift lever position was not in alignment with the transmission. The contact stated that the indicator did not display the correct gear that was being utilized. Antelope valley ford (located at 1155 auto mall dr,…”
“The button on the gear shift lever gets stuck. It may or may not be depressed at any given time. You must have your foot depressed on the brake to allow the car to be put it into gear. The brake sensor is working. After reading many complaints online of this identical problem it sounds like it may…”
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.