NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2025 Lincoln Aviator Safety Ratings
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator scores 82 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Strong), with a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 15 recalls, and 12 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 84/100, placing it in the Strong band. Crash protection is genuinely impressive, but 13 recalls in a single model year weigh on the defect record component and deserve close attention before purchase.
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator received a 5-star overall NHTSA crash-test rating and a NHTSA Safety Index of 84/100, sourced from NHTSA crash-test and recall data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 153 SUVs from 2025 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2025 Lincoln Aviator ranks 133 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- new and teen drivers who want standard crash-avoidance tech
- urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
| NHTSA Safety Index | 82 / 100 (Strong) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 5 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 5 / 5 / 4 stars |
| Rollover risk | 15.1% |
| Recalls on file | 15 |
| Owner complaints | 12 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 133 of 153 SUVs tested for 2025 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator presents a mixed safety profile. Its 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating, alongside a near-perfect crash protection subscore of 66 out of 70, indicates strong performance in impact scenarios. Further bolstering its active safety, the vehicle earns a full 10 out of 10 for avoidance technology, with standard forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and electronic stability control. However, these strengths are counterbalanced by a defect record subscore of only 7.5 out of 20, directly impacted by the vehicle's recall volume. Thirteen recall campaigns have been issued for this model year. These recalls address a broad range of systems, including software for back-over prevention, structural seat belt anchor hardware, windshield glass, trailer hitch fasteners, and trailer tail light function. Such a wide scope suggests quality control challenges across various supplier chains and vehicle systems. The Safety Index for the 2025 Aviator holds steady at 84 out of 100, mirroring the 2024 model. Owner complaints remain low at 12, but the concentration of reports concerning Service Brakes and Forward Collision Avoidance merits attention for future fleet assessment.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2025 Lincoln Aviator perform in crash tests?
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator earned a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, demonstrating strong performance in impact protection. This included perfect 5-star scores in both frontal and side crash assessments. The rollover rating presents as a relative weak point by comparison, at 4 out of 5 stars, with a 15-percent rollover risk. The dynamic tip test, however, yielded a No Tip result.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 20053
Index breakdown
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2025 Lincoln Aviator have any recalls?
Yes, 13 recall campaigns cover this model year. Named components include back-over prevention software, seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row positions, windshield glass integrity, trailer hitch assembly bolts, and tail lights that may fail to illuminate on a towed trailer when the vehicle is towing. No park-outside or do-not-drive directive appears in the provided campaign data.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST26V470000
Risk: Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S53.
Reported 2026-07-21
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY26V451000
Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notif
Reported 2026-07-14
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE26V165000
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image and certain driver assistance features, can reduce the driver’s ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The Image Processing Module A software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2025 Aviator, 2025 Explorer, 2025 Nautilus notified owners on 4/13/2026. Phase 2 will include 2025 Navigator will notify owners on or about 4/20/2026. Phase 3 will include 2022-2024 Navigator will notify owners on or about 6/8/
Reported 2026-03-19
SEAT BELTS26V159000
Risk: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Reported 2026-03-17
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD25V730000
Risk: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 27, 2025.
Reported 2025-10-24
TRAILER HITCHES25V687000
Risk: While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Reported 2025-10-10
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS25V543000
Risk: Trailer tail lights that do not illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the body control module C on vehicles with less than 9,000 miles. For vehicles over 9,000 miles, dealers will perform a functional check on the body control module C and replace it as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Aviator 2025 owner notification letters were mailed October 13, 2025. Explorer 2025 owner letters were mailed November 25, 2025. Owners may co
Reported 2025-08-22
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS25V484000
Risk: A closing window that does not reverse direction as expected can pinch a passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C33.
Reported 2025-07-25
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY25V393000
Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.
Reported 2025-06-13
STRUCTURE:BODY25V407000
Risk: Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace C-pillar appliques and window division bars, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S66.
Reported 2025-06-13
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS25V316000
Risk: A loose subframe bolt may reduce the vehicle's performance in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the subframe bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2025. Ford's number for this recall is 25S43.
Reported 2025-05-09
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:VALVES/VALVE BODY25V164000
Risk: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S19.
Reported 2025-03-14
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
Twelve owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for this model year. The most frequently alleged problem areas are Service Brakes with 4 reports, Forward Collision Avoidance with 3 reports, and Electrical System with 3 reports. All are unverified consumer allegations, not established defects.
12 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
Any shopper considering a used 2025 Lincoln Aviator should run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup tool before purchase. With 13 recall campaigns on record, confirming which remedies have been completed at a dealership is an essential step, not a formality.
- The 2025 model year carries 13 NHTSA recall campaigns, a high count that directly suppresses the defect record subscore to 7.5 out of 20 and is the primary reason the Safety Index did not improve over 2024 despite strong crash scores.
- A specific 2025 recall covers seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row positions across a broad range of Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles, making verification of remedy completion a priority safety check for any used example.
- The back-over prevention software recall affects multiple Lincoln models including the 2025 Aviator and involves a software correction, meaning a dealership software update may be required to close the campaign on a specific VIN.
- The rollover rating of 4 out of 5 stars with a 15-percent rollover risk is the only crash-test category below the maximum for this model year, a distinction worth noting for buyers who frequently carry full passenger loads in an SUV configuration.
RANKINGSWhere the 2025 Lincoln Aviator places
The 2025 Lincoln Aviator qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2025 Lincoln Aviator safety questions
Was the 2025 Lincoln Aviator crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2025 Lincoln Aviator, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 82 out of 100, placing it in the Strong band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2025 Lincoln Aviator crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2025 Lincoln Aviator earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall, 5 out of 5 stars for frontal, 5 out of 5 stars for side, and 4 out of 5 stars for rollover. Its measured rollover risk is 15.1%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2025 Lincoln Aviator have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 15 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2025 Lincoln Aviator. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2025 Lincoln Aviator?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 12 owner complaints are on file for the 2025 Lincoln Aviator. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Aviator years
Rivals in SUV (2025)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Lexus GX 550 | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2025 Lexus Rz 300e | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2025 Tesla Model X | 96/100 | not rated | 3 |
| 2025 Acura ADX | 96/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2025 Buick Envision | 96/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 20053), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Lincoln Aviator 2025.
- SCORE The NHTSA Safety Index (0-100) weights crash protection, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the defect record. Full formula on the methodology page. It ranks 133 of 153 in the SUV class for 2025.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.