2003 Lincoln Aviator Problems
High Complaint Volume
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator.
Complaints
168
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
7
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2003 Lincoln Aviator Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#124 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:113,923 mi
#216 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:48,022 mi
Crash-related:1
#312 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:79,286 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 24 | — | — | 113,923 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 16 | 1 | — | 48,022 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 12 | — | — | 79,286 mi | |
| Body Structure | 9 | — | — | 74,905 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | — | — | 85,646 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | 2 | — | 71,800 mi | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 5 | — | — | 23,500 mi | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 | — | — | — |
Transmission / Drivetrain
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
113,923
Automatic Transmission
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,022
Engine & Cooling
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,286
Body Structure
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,905
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,646
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,800
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
23,500
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Lincoln Aviator Years
2003 Lincoln Aviator — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Lincoln Aviator reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2003 Lincoln Aviator has 168 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 24 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2003 Lincoln Aviator?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (24 complaints, avg 113,923 mi); Automatic Transmission (16 complaints, avg 48,022 mi); Engine & Cooling (12 complaints, avg 79,286 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Lincoln Aviator?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 79,442 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2003 Lincoln Aviator?
NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator include 5 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2003 Lincoln Aviator have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2003 Lincoln Aviator?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (transmission / drivetrain) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Lincoln Aviator reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Lincoln Aviator
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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