2003 Lincoln Aviator Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Lincoln Aviator, and owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
On certain sport utility vehicles, the transmission shift cable can become dislodged from the shift cable bracket.
Remedy: 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…
111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Lincoln Aviator have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 7 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 68,033 miles. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 14 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 18, 2022 · Tires
“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 fr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 5, 2020 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator (Aviator 2WD, Aviator 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 12 / 17 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 4.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
Compare Lincoln Aviator model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Lincoln Aviator model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Lincoln Aviator | 1 | 111 |
| 2004 Lincoln Aviator | 0 | 81 |
| 2005 Lincoln Aviator | 0 | 51 |
| 2020 Lincoln Aviator | 30 | 109 |
| 2021 Lincoln Aviator | 28 | 40 |
| 2022 Lincoln Aviator | 21 | 45 |
| 2023 Lincoln Aviator | 16 | 24 |
| 2024 Lincoln Aviator | 8 | 7 |
| 2025 Lincoln Aviator | 15 | 16 |
| 2026 Lincoln Aviator | 6 | 4 |
| 2027 Lincoln Aviator | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2003 Lincoln Aviator
How do I know if my 2003 Lincoln Aviator has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Lincoln Aviator; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lincoln dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V313000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Lincoln models
- Town Car3,308 complaints
- Continental1,678 complaints
- Mkz1,665 complaints
- Mkx1,417 complaints
- Navigator1,353 complaints
- LS982 complaints
- Mark VIII826 complaints
- Mkc599 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.