Used car safety, rank #90 of 188
Lincoln Aviator 4WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Lincoln Aviator 4WD, a midsize luxury SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition · 2021–2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits · Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Lincoln Aviator 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 32 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury SUVs average of 17, which is 88% above the class average. That places it #90 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 54.5/100.
What the Lincoln Aviator death rate means
At 32 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Lincoln Aviator 4WD is 88% worse than the midsize luxury SUVs average of 17. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 67, which overlaps the class average, so some of the gap may be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 39 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Lincoln Aviator. Its 95% confidence interval is 9–69. It is higher than the Lincoln Aviator's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury SUVs
The safest midsize luxury SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Lincoln Aviator 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD | 2020-23 | 0 (0 to 25) | 95.3 | n/a | n/a |
| Porsche Macan 4WD | 2020-23 | 4 (0 to 11) | 93.0 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X5 4WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 11) | 92.6 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X5 2WD | 2020-23 | 6 (0 to 17) | 91.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Volvo XC90 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 22) | 90.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Volvo XC60 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 17) | 90.4 | n/a | n/a |
| BMW X3 4WD | 2021-23 | 11 (0 to 23) | 85.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 4WD | 2020-23 | 13 (0 to 25) | 81.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Lincoln Aviator 4WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 32 (0 to 67) | 54.5 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize luxury SUVs: 17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Lincoln Aviator
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Lincoln Aviator we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Lincoln Aviator | No award | 94.4 (provisional) |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 54.5 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Lincoln Aviator 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
16 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering seats, seat belts, back over prevention, fuel system, gasoline, structure, equipment, power train.
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Seats: mid/rear assembly
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
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Seat belts
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.
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Back over prevention: software
Risk: An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: software
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge.
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Seats: mid/rear assembly
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.
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Structure: body
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.
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Seat belts: front, warning light/devices
Risk: An audible warning chime that does not properly alert of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the audio control module software, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: software
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Image Processing Module software, free of charge.
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Equipment: other, labels
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: display function
Risk: A flickering or distorted rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to use their cell phones while reversing until the remedy is completed. Dealers will install shielding on the accessory protocol image module (APIM), free of charge.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, and update the software and wiring as necessary, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission
Risk: The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the image processing module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Interim
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Seat belts: front, warning light/devices
Risk: An audible warning chime that does not properly alert of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the audio control module software, free of charge.
Partial lookup: At least one NHTSA model-variant request failed. The campaigns shown were returned successfully; additional campaigns may be missing. Check your VIN.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Lincoln Aviator 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Lincoln Aviator 4WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 32 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Lincoln Aviator 4WD, 88% above the class average (17 for midsize luxury SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 54.5 out of 100 and rank #90 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Lincoln Aviator 4WD driver death rate?
32 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 67. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Lincoln Aviator died at a rate of 39 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Lincoln Aviator 4WD compare with other midsize luxury SUVs?
The midsize luxury SUVs class averages 17 driver deaths per million; the Lincoln Aviator 4WD sits at 32. Among the 9 midsize luxury SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 2WD with a death rate of 0.