Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Lincoln Aviator engine problems

17 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator, which is 10% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
17 10% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
80,000 miles 14 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2003 Lincoln Aviator Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 80,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 1 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 0 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 1 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 5 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 5 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 2 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 80,000 miles
Based on 14 complaints that include mileage. 14% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles1
20k to 40k miles0
40k to 60k miles1
60k to 80k miles5
80k to 100k miles5
100k to 120k miles2
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 14 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 80,000 miles, and 14% were reported before 60,000 miles.

None of the engine complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.

What owners wrote

Consumer states that dealer put aftermarket rims tires on vehicle. The vehicle experienced the following; difficulty turning the vehicle, heater bubbling making noises, difficulty starting the vehicle, jerking in the steering wheel, noise in the steering, noise in the heating/vent bubbling, pulsating in the steering wheel, vibration of the tires, the tire monitoring system had to be cut off reconnected and adjusted, the passenger front windows rattled, motor made loud noises when the vehicle accelerated, front end…

September 2004

At 76,000 miles began hearing a noise under the hood. It was determined by an authorized ford dealer that the idler pulleys were bad. Changed 3 pulleys and the noise was still there. Driving on a country paved road at 25 miles an hour a loud thump and the car died. Could not get it restarted. The plastic tensioner guide broke causing the timing chain to come off and broke pistons, valves and rockers. New engine from ford $8,000.... Had to replace it for $5,000 and will be trading it in immediately.

Reported at 77,000 miles, October 2011

Other problems reported for the 2003 Lincoln Aviator

Engine problems in other years

  • 2027
  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003

Engine problems across all Lincoln models