Sunita Somvanshi
Ford Motor Company has issued a recall for nearly 133,000 Lincoln Aviator SUVs because of a serious safety issue. The luxury vehicles, spanning model years 2020-2025, have defective trim pieces that could detach while the car is moving, creating hazards for other drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on June 17 that approximately 132,914 Lincoln Aviators may have insufficient adhesive bonding on two critical exterior components: the C-pillar trim and the rear door window bars.
The C-pillar trim is the decorative piece positioned toward the back of the vehicle, just behind the rear door and above the wheel well. This trim and the window division bars may come loose and eventually detach completely from the vehicle while driving.
“These detaching parts could pose a hazard to other road users and increase the risk of crashes,” according to the NHTSA report. Although relatively lightweight with no sharp edges, these flying parts create unpredictable road hazards.
The parts received “inadequate application pressure during assembly,” resulting in “insufficient adhesive retention.” The issue affects Aviators built at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant between October 19, 2018, and May 30, 2025. Ford estimates about 3.2% of the recalled vehicles actually have the defect.
Vehicle owners might notice early warning signs before parts detach. “The customer may visually notice that the C-Pillar applique and division bar begin to separate from the vehicle,” Ford noted in its report.
Despite the high number of warranty claims, Ford states it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.
Similar Posts
Affected Lincoln Aviator owners will receive notification letters by mail starting July 28, 2025. A second letter will follow once dealers are ready to perform repairs. The fix will involve repairing or replacing the C-pillar appliques and window division bars at no cost to owners.
Aviator owners with questions can contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. They can also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit www.nhtsa.gov.
This recall is one of several quality issues Ford has faced recently. According to automotive industry reports, Ford has issued more recalls in the first half of 2025 than it did throughout all of 2024. Earlier this year, the company recalled nearly 400,000 trucks, SUVs and other vehicles for various issues. The Aviator itself has been subject to multiple recalls this month alone, including problems with second-row seats and radio software.
The recurring quality problems raise questions about Ford’s manufacturing processes and quality control systems at a time when the company faces intense competition in the luxury SUV market from brands like Lexus, Volvo, and Audi.
