2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Ford Explorer | 2021 Lincoln Aviator |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 407 | 38 |
| Recall campaigns | 26 | 28 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 289 | 255 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–27 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 42,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Lincoln Aviator |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 112 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 40 | 11 |
| Engine | 44 | 6 |
| Back Over Prevention | 36 | 3 |
| Structure | 23 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 23 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 19 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 31 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 15 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 12 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 10 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 9 | 0 |
2021 Ford Explorer
2021 Lincoln Aviator
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Lincoln Aviator years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.