California Lemon Law · Lincoln · 2020–2025
Lincoln Aviator Lemon Law
Talk to a Lincoln lemon law attorney — your Lincoln Aviator may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement.
If your Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring plug-in hybrid has been recalled for a high-voltage battery problem, won't hold a charge, or shifts harshly, you're not alone — these are known defects on the Aviator. If Lincoln can't fix the problem after a fair number of attempts, your Aviator may qualify as a California lemon.
The Aviator Grand Touring PHEV battery problem
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.
Commonly Reported Lincoln Aviator Problems
Not every Lincoln Aviator is affected. Any substantial, warranty-covered defect that can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts — or that keeps your vehicle out of service — may support a claim.
Is Your Lincoln Aviator a Lemon?
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.
Estimate your Aviator buyback with our free calculatorLincoln Aviator Lemon Law FAQs
Is the Lincoln Aviator PHEV battery recall a California Lemon Law claim?
It can be. The high-voltage battery defect on 2020–2021 Aviator Grand Touring PHEV models was recalled (NHTSA 23V626), but a recall alone isn't a lemon. If the repair doesn't fix the problem, the failure keeps recurring, or your Aviator sits unusable waiting on parts or a fix, you may be owed a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with Lincoln paying your attorney fees.
My Aviator's 12-volt battery dies while it's charging — does that count?
It can. Charging and electrical faults that leave the vehicle unable to start or drive are exactly the kind of defect the Lemon Law addresses. Have the dealer document it, keep every repair order, and note each day the Aviator was out of service so you can support a claim.
I have the Aviator Grand Touring plug-in hybrid. Are its problems different?
It carries everything the standard version does plus a high-voltage battery, an on-board charger, and the software managing the handoff between electric and gas running. Owners report charging sessions that will not initiate or drop out partway, electric-only range short of what was advertised, the vehicle defaulting to gas and refusing to run on battery, 12-volt faults and no-start conditions, and hybrid-system warnings. You paid for a plug-in hybrid, and one that cannot reliably charge is not the vehicle you bought — the law asks whether a defect impairs use or value, not whether it strands you.
My Aviator charges at home but fails at public fast chargers. Is that a lemon law issue?
It can be. A vehicle that cannot reliably recharge away from home has a defect going to the heart of what you paid for. The difficulty is proving it, because the fault often will not reproduce on the dealer's connection. Insist every visit is written on a repair order with the date, the mileage, and specifics — which station, which network, what error appeared, and whether the session ever initiated. Photos of the error screen at the charger are genuinely useful.
How long do I have to file a Lincoln claim in California?
Tighter than most owners assume, and several competing firms still publish the wrong figure. Lincoln opted into California's AB 1755 procedures, so a claim generally must be filed within one year of your express warranty's expiration and no later than six years from the vehicle's original delivery date — materially shorter than the four-year rule applying to manufacturers who did not opt in. If your warranty has lapsed or is close to it, check the date first, not last.
My Aviator has had several different problems, not the same one repeatedly. Does that count?
Yes. California law does not require every complaint to be the same complaint. A collection of substantial defects that together impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle can support a claim even where no single symptom recurred four separate times. Service advisors treat each as unrelated; the statute does not.
My Aviator has been waiting on a service appointment or parts. Does that help my case?
It can matter a great deal. The law counts days your vehicle is out of service regardless of the reason. Thirty or more cumulative days during the warranty period creates a presumption in your favor. The days need not be consecutive, and being given a loaner does not stop the clock. Keep a written log of every date the vehicle was unavailable.
My Aviator has high mileage. Does that kill my claim?
Usually not, and this is a common reason owners never call. The mileage offset is calculated from the miles you drove before your first repair attempt, not from your current odometer — so miles accumulated while the manufacturer worked through the problem do not reduce your recovery.
My Aviator is leased. Am I covered?
Yes. Civil Code section 1795.4 gives a lessee the same rights and remedies as a buyer. Restitution on a lease covers your capitalized cost reduction and down payment, the payments you have made, and taxes and fees, and the manufacturer pays off the remaining lease obligation. There is no equity component, so the figure runs lower than a purchased vehicle at the same sticker — but the claim is just as real.
How much does an Aviator lemon law case cost me?
Nothing out of pocket. Under California's Lemon Law, Lincoln pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so you can pursue a buyback or replacement without paying upfront.
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Every case is different and the outcome depends on its own facts and circumstances. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case.
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