Lincoln Aviator Lemon Law

The Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring uses a 3.0L twin-turbo plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with a high-voltage battery pack. Lincoln recalled 2020–2021 Aviator PHEV models under NHTSA campaign 23V626 because a manufacturing defect in one or more high-voltage battery cells can cause an internal short circuit and battery failure — a condition that can lead to a fire. Ford later re-addressed the issue with a Battery Energy Control Module software update after some earlier repairs were performed incorrectly.

Beyond the battery recall, Aviator PHEV owners report the 12-volt battery going dead while the vehicle is plugged in and charging, inoperative Level 2 charging, and regenerative braking that feels grabby or inconsistent. These charging and electrical faults can leave the vehicle unable to start or drive as intended.

The Aviator's 10-speed automatic transmission is another frequent complaint, especially on early 2020–2021 models, where owners describe harsh downshift "clunks" and lunging in stop-and-go traffic. Lincoln has also recalled certain 2025 Aviators for loose transmission cross-member bolts that can cause a loss of drive power. When any of these problems keeps recurring after repeated repairs, California's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback or replacement.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your Aviator has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Lincoln Aviator qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Lincoln pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.