Ford Motor Company has issued a safety recall for 132,914 Lincoln Aviator vehicles from model years 2020-2025 due to C-pillar trim appliques and window division bars that may detach while driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety recall report, approximately 3.2% of these vehicles, or about 4,253 vehicles, are estimated to have the defect.
The recall affects Lincoln Aviators manufactured between October 19, 2018, and May 30, 2025.
The defective trim components may detach from the vehicle’s rear side doors during operation, creating a serious road hazard for other drivers.
When these parts fall onto the roadway, they can cause other vehicles to swerve, brake suddenly, or even crash while trying to avoid the debris.
The Reason Behind the Detaching Trim Parts Recall
The Lincoln Aviator recall stems from a manufacturing defect in the adhesive application process used to attach C-pillar trim appliques and window division bars to the vehicle’s rear side doors.
According to Ford’s investigation, the components may detach due to inadequate application pressure during assembly at the supplier facility, which results in insufficient adhesive retention.
The supplier, Cooper Standard Automotive Inc., located in Aguascalientes, Mexico, was responsible for manufacturing these glass run channel components.
Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group initially investigated similar reports between April 2022 and May 2023 but concluded at the time that the issue did not present an unreasonable safety risk.
However, in April 2025, Ford’s Product Development Quality team identified a loose C-pillar applique on an internal test vehicle, prompting a more thorough investigation.
Through May 2025, Ford’s engineering teams worked to better understand the factors leading to component detachment.
The investigation included reviewing field and warranty data, statistical projections for future occurrences, and a new assessment of road hazard risks based on recent safety recalls and discussions with NHTSA.
As of May 29, 2025, Ford has received 1,105 warranty claims globally for C-pillar appliques or division bars falling off vehicles.
These claims were filed between June 17, 2020, and April 14, 2025.
How to Tell If Your Lincoln Aviator is Affected
To determine if your Lincoln Aviator is included in this recall, you can check your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) starting July 22, 2025, when the VINs are planned to become searchable in Ford’s system.
Unlike some vehicle defects that have no warning signs, this Lincoln Aviator trim issue may provide visual clues before complete detachment occurs.
According to Ford’s recall report, owners may notice that the C-pillar applique and division bar begin to separate from the vehicle before they completely fall off.
You can also verify if your vehicle is affected by:
- Calling Ford’s toll-free customer service line at 1-866-436-7332
- Contacting your local Ford or Lincoln dealership, where service representatives can check your specific vehicle using Ford’s Online Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database
- Visiting the NHTSA or Lincoln website and entering your VIN once the recall information becomes available
The recall affects all Lincoln Aviator vehicles manufactured during the specified production period, regardless of trim level or options.
What Are the Dangers of Driving an Affected Lincoln Aviator?
Driving a Lincoln Aviator with potentially defective trim components poses serious safety risks, not just to the vehicle’s occupants, but to other drivers on the road.
When C-pillar trim appliques and window division bars detach while driving, they create immediate road hazards.
Road hazards here are obstacles that other drivers must avoid, potentially causing sudden lane changes, hard braking, or swerving that can lead to accidents.
The risk is particularly high because the detachment can happen without warning during normal driving conditions, giving neither the Lincoln Aviator driver nor other drivers time to prepare for or avoid the hazard.
Steps for Affected Lincoln Aviator Owners
If you own a 2020-2025 Lincoln Aviator, here are the important steps you should take:
- Check Your Vehicle’s Status: Contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or visit a Ford or Lincoln dealership to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in the recall.
- Wait for Official Notification: Ford plans to begin mailing interim owner notification letters on July 28, 2025, with completion expected by August 1, 2025. The timing for remedy notification letters is still being determined.
- Schedule Your Repair: Once you receive notification and the remedy becomes available, contact your local Ford or Lincoln dealership to schedule the necessary repairs. All repairs will be performed at no cost to vehicle owners.
- Keep Documentation: Save all correspondence, repair records, and receipts related to this recall. If you previously paid for repairs related to this issue, you may be eligible for reimbursement under Ford’s general reimbursement plan.
- Consider Legal Options: If you continue experiencing problems after the recall repair, or if this issue has significantly affected your vehicle’s use or value, consider consulting with a lemon law attorney.
How Consumer Action Law Group Can Help Protect Your Legal Rights
If your Lincoln Aviator continues to have problems despite recall repairs, or if repeated issues have affected your vehicle’s safety, reliability, or value, you may have rights under California’s lemon law.
California’s lemon law protects consumers who purchase or lease defective vehicles.
If your vehicle cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, you may be entitled to a replacement vehicle or full refund.
Consumer Action Law Group has been helping hundreds of consumers in California with lemon law claims since 2010.
Our legal team has successfully recovered millions of dollars for clients dealing with defective vehicles from major manufacturers, including Ford.
If your Lincoln Aviator has had repeated safety issues, required multiple repair attempts, or has been out of service for extended periods due to warranty repairs, you may have a valid lemon law claim.
Contact Consumer Action Law Group today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options and determine if your case qualifies for lemon law protection.
Our team can evaluate your situation and help you understand your rights as a California consumer.
To get started, call us or fill out a form on our website to schedule your free consultation.
Citations
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V407.” NHTSA, 2025, https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V407-8066.pdf.
- Tucker, Sean, “Lincoln Recalls Aviator SUVs for Shedding Trim.” Kelley Blue Book, 2025, https://www.kbb.com/car-news/lincoln-recalls-aviator-suvs-for-shedding-trim/.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “RCAK-25V407-6048: Lincoln Aviator Trim Parts Detachment Recall.” NHTSA, 2025, https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCAK-25V407-6048.pdf.
- Ford Motor Company, “Check For Lincoln Recalls And Field Service Actions | Lincoln Owner Support.” Ford Motor Company, July 14 2025, https://www.lincoln.com/support/recalls/.
