2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

MY LINCOLN AVIATOR STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 4, 2011. MY WIFE TOOK THE AVIATOR TO THE AAA CAR CARE CENTER TO FIND AND REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE AAA CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN PLACED THE AVIATOR ON THE LIFT AND DISCOVERED THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WAS HANGING FREELY AND LITERALLY SWINGING UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE WELDING THAT HOLDS THE MOUNT TO WHICH THE DIFFERENTIAL UNTIL IS BOLTED, BROKE FROM THE FRAME. THIS ISSUE OF A DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT WELD BREAKING FREE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BY THE AAA CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN OR THE AAA SERVICE MANAGER WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. FURTHERMORE, THE MOUNT WAS ONLY WELDED ON ONE SIDE (SIDE CLOSEST TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE). I VISITED THE LOCAL LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE WITH MY AVIATOR?S DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ONLY BEING WELDED ON ONE SIDE AND ASKED TO SEE AN AVIATOR OR EXPLORER THAT WOULD HAVE THE SAME DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING SYSTEM. THIS LINCOLN DEALERSHIP HAD AN EXPLORER UP ON THE LIFT AND SHOWED ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT ON ALL AVIATORS AND EXPLORERS DO INDEED HAVE THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNT WELDED ON BOTH SIDES TO THE FRAME. THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVE SHAFT BECOMING DISLODGED IS EXCEEDINGLY HIGH AND COULD POSE A FATAL SCENARIO. I AM ASKING FOR LINCOLN TO INVESTIGATE THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL ERROR OF ONLY HAVING ONE WELD SEAM HOLDING THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT MOUNT TO THE FRAME AND INSPECT FOR ANY FURTHER DAMAGES AS A RESULT, IN ADDITION TO INSPECTING FOR OTHER AREAS OF FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS IN NO WAY THE ERROR OF THE CONSUMER OR DRIVING BEHAVIOR. THIS ISSUE POINTS DIRECTLY TO THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND INTEGRITY OF THE WELD AND QUALITY CONTROL OF LINCOLN. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

VEHICLE SHUT OFF SUDDENLY AFTER A BEEPING SOUND AND A LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES THE SAME DAY AND AFTER SEEN THIS INCIDENT REPORTED BY OTHER CUSTOMERS, QUITE DANGEROUS CONSIDERING THAT ONE COULD BE HIT BY A VEHICLE DRIVING BEHIND IF THE DRIVER IS NOT KEEP SAFE DISTANCE AND CAN STOP. THE STEERING BECOMES STIFF AND THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS GET LOCKED INTO PLACE. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE OCCURRENCE IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND PUTS ONES LIFE AT RISK. *TR

Mileage: 31,000

ENGINE BEGAN IDLING ROUGHLY, AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR NUMBER 8 CYLINDER. TALKING TO LINCOLN MECHANICS AND CHECKING VARIOUS DISCUSSION GROUPS ON THE WEB SHOWED THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER LINCOLN AVIATORS, AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ENGINE WERE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME FAILURE. THE ROUGH IDLE CAN BE ALLEVIATED BY INCREASING THE IDLE SPEED OR TAKING THE CAR OUT OF GEAR WHILE IDLING. BOTH OF THESE ACTIONS ARE DANGEROUS AND CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS.

Mileage: 94,000

MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR ENGINE HAS A BURNT VALVE WITH LESS THAN 90K MILES ON IT. RICH MORTON LINCOLN DEALERSHIP IN GLEN BURNIE, MD SAYS MY REPAIR WILL BE $5,400 IF I WANT TO FIX IT, WHICH THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND. I SEE ONLINE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE THE VERY SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO TOW IN MY CAR AS SEVERAL TIMES THE GEARSHIFT STUCK IN PARK AND COULD NOT BE SHIFTED TO DRIVE. I SPOKE WITH OTHER OWNERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, MY TAILGATE WINDOW RANDOMLY FLIES UP WHILE DRIVING, JUST LIKE OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED. MY MAIN ISSUE IS THAT MY VEHICLE, AN EXPENSIVE ONE, IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE AND NEEDS THE $5,400 REPAIR BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE THAT FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. HELP, PLEASE. *TR

Mileage: 89,500

2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR 74,000 MILES. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO INTERSTATE 95 S THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. FINAL DETERMINATION BY A MECHANIC DETERMINED THE #8 CYLINDER WAS NOT HOLDING PRESSURE BECAUSE THE VALVE WAS NOT SEALING CORRECTLY. THE 4.6L V8 FORD ENGINE'S VALVE'S ARE POWDER COATED AND THIS CAUSED THE VALUE TO STICK AND OVERTIME WARPED THE VALVE'S COMPONENTS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. THIS IS AN ENGINE DESIGN DEFECT AND THE ENGINE AND WILL REQUIRE A COMPLETE VALVE JOB TO REPLACE THE HEAD, HEAD GASKET AND FAULTY VALVE STEM. FORD HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE SUBJECT BUT WILL NOT PERFORM A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF THE VEHICLE LOSSES POWER WHILE MERGING WITH OR EVADING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IT STARTED TO DEVELOP PROBLEMS. THE REAR BEARING SEAL FAILED AND OIL IS LEAKING OUT. THE GEAR SHIFTER ON THE CONSOLE IS STARTING TO STICK AND NOT GO INTO GEAR. I UNDERSTAND THE AVIATOR IS HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THESE AREAS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 79000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT. FORD MUST HAVE USED INFERIOR MATERIALS TO MAKE THE AVIATOR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND IF SO FORCE FORD TO RECALL THE AVIATOR AND REPLACE THE INFERIOR PARTS WITH PARTS THAT ARE SAFE AND RELIABLE. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

WHEN I TURN ON MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR TO WARM UP IN THE MORNING THE SMELL OF THE GAS IS SO STRONG. WHEN I AM AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE CAR SHAKES SO MUCH THAT I HAVE TO PUT IT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID THE CAR FROM TURNING OFF. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR JERKS AND STALLS I FEEL SCARED WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE MY CAR SOMETIMES DOESN'T GO AS FAST AS THE OTHER CARS BECAUSE IT STALLS. THE CAR DRIVES ROUGH AND MAKES A WHINING NOISE ALL THE TIME. EVERYTIME I TURN ON THE AC IT MAKES A LOUD POPPING SOUND. I HAVE NOT HAD MY VEHICLE FIXED OR LOOKED AT DUE TO MY FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCE. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE WARRANTY. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF ME, MY FAMILY AND THE PUBLIC WHEN I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP. WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOWARD THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED REPEATEDLY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THE ACCELERATION FAILURE WHICH THERE WAS NO RESOLUTIONS. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE INTERMITTENT FAILURES WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING AND REVVING WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS; AND A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WOULD OCCUR DURING THE ACTIVATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONER. RECENTLY, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE TOTAL REPAIRS ON THE VEHICLE CONSISTED OF THE CYLINOID JOINTS REPLACEMENT; AND AN UPDATE OF THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM SOFTWARE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE HAD BEEN NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

Mileage: 8,000

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT MY 2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING IT... WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. NO STEERING, NO BREAKS, AND 60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAR IS SURE TO BE THE DEATH OF ME... I HAVE BEEN LUCKY 3 TIMES NOW, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT TIME??? VOLUNTARY SERVICE RECALL... MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE COIL PACKS... ISSUED BY EPA.GOV (FOUND AFTER DIGGING), REPLACEMENT OF THE COIL PACKS ARE COVERED UNTIL 120,000 MILES. FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE ONE AT A TIME, NOT ALL OF THEM, SO EACH TIME ONE IS REPLACED.. I STILL HAVE THE RISK OF ANOTHER GOING BAD. HAD FOUR REPLACED SO FAR, ANOTHER TOMORROW. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FORD CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS KNOWING THAT THEY ARE PUTTING PEOPLE'S LIVES IN DANGER. A CAR COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH BECAUSE OF A DEFECT DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS DOESN'T CAUSE CONCERN FOR A RECALL... BUT A CAR SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL DOES? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I AM ON THE INTERSTATE NEXT TIME DURING RUSH HOUR AND I HAVE NO STEERING OR BRAKES???? *TR

Mileage: 59,000

I PURCHASED AN 04 LINCOLN AVIATOR IN DEC. 2006, IN AUG. 2007 I NOTICED IT WAS NOT RUNNING RIGHT. IT WAS STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. IT WOULD SPUTTER LIKE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL. THE PROBLEM WORSENED FOR THE NEXT 6 WKS. NO MECHANIC COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD NOT COME ON. IN OCT. 2007, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER FOR A SPLIT SECOND. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG STILL. THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COIL PACK. I HAD THAT REPLACED AND 2 DAYS LATER, THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO FORD, BECAUSE A CAR WITH THAT FEW MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ENGINE TROUBLE. I TOOK IT TO FORD WHO TOLD ME IT WAS ANOTHER COIL PACK. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY SERVICE RECALL ISSUED FOR THE COIL PACKS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR UP TO 120,000 MILES. I TOLD FORD OF THIS AND THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE REMAINING 6 COIL PACKS, THEY SAID THEY COULD ONLY DO IT AS THEY WENT BAD. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT BREAK DOWN, IT WOULD JUST RUN BAD. 08/28/08 THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND I LOST ALL POWER DRIVING 60MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I LOT MY STEERING AND BREAKS. IT TOOK ALL THE STRENGTH I HAD TO MANEUVER THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. ONCE THE VEHICLE SLOWED, IT WAS NOT STOPPING (ON A HILL), I HAD TO USE THE E BREAK TO STOP IT. I TOOK IT TO FORD WHO REPLACED 2 MORE COIL PACKS. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE FORD TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND TO TRY TO WORK SOMETHING OUT. I DECIDED I DID NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING AROUND A DEATH MOBILE. THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME, EXCEPT REPLACE THE PARTS AS THEY GO BAD. I STILL HAVE 4 BAD COIL PACKS & 4 MORE CHANCES TO AVOID INJURY OVER AN UNDEFINED TIME PERIOD. FORD IS KNOWINGLY & WILLINGLY PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK IN THIS VEHICLE, THAT THEY KNOW COULD BREAK DOWN AT ANY MINUTE. *TR

Mileage: 62,500

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 2 YEARS AGO OR SO. TOOK INTO SHOP. REPLACED COIL #8 AND SPARK PLUGS. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, THIS TIME #7. 2 DAYS LATER, LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, MUST HAVE BEEN A DEFECTIVE PART, REPLACED THE REPLACED #7. ANOTHER 2 DAYS LATER, LIGHT BACK ON. I'M TOLD IT'S A CYLINDER HEAD PROBLEM AND THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THE PROBLEM IS UNTIL THEY TAKE THE CYLINDER HEADS OFF. OR I CAN GET A NEW ENGINE.... LINCOLN WANTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH A CATASTROPHIC AND KNOWN PROBLEM. SINCE MY MILEAGE IS OVER THEIR WARRANTY (ALTHOUGH AT THE ONSET IT WASN'T). GEE, I WONDER WHY NO ONE WANTS TO BUY AN AMERICAN MADE CAR! *TR

Mileage: 56,000

THE BACK HATCH PANEL CRACKED WAS FIXED , THE STEERING NOT RIGHT SOME TIMES ITS HARD TO STEER. MAIN PROBLEM IS CYLINDER COILS GOING BAD ALOT. NOW #8 COIL WENT BAD AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 2TIMES, AND ITS STILL IN THE SHOP THEY CANT FIND OUT WHY IT KEEPS COMING UP #8 STILL MISFIRING .. THEY THINK ITS THE HEAD NOW. I UNDERSTAND LINCOLN HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS THAT THEY HAVE ALLOWED A 10YR. EXTENDED WARRANTY ON ALL THE COILS. IS THIS RIGHT ? I WANT LINCOLN TO DO SOMETHING. I AM SO MAD RIGHT NOW . I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER LINCOLN. HELP ME. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

2004 LINCOLN AVIATOR WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAR WOULD BE REPAIRED BUT AT HER EXPENSE BECAUSE OF HER NEGLECT. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. *KB THERE WAS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING A TURN. *JB

ENGINE MISFIRE DUE TO CYLINDER LEAKAGE. FORD RECOMMENDS REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD WITH TSB 06-5-13 FOR 2003-2004 MUSTANG, 1999-2004 NAVIGATOR, 2003-2003 BLACKWOOD, 2003-2005 AVIATOR, 2003-2004 MARAUDER. CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT WILL BE MADE IF CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY

Mileage: 52,000

AT 13,650 MILES THE ENGINE DESTROYED ITSELF DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT. I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A LOUD BANGING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY & CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I WAITED FOR 3 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK AND EVENTUALLY HAD TO CALL CT STATE POLICE WHO SUMMONED A WRECKER. THE LOWER HALF OF THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND ENGINEERS REQUESTED THE OLD ENGINE BE SENT TO THEM FOR INSPECTION AS THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS DEFECT BEFORE. I WAS WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR 15 DAYS. THE FIRST NIGHT I PICKED IT UP THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER LESS THAN 20 MILES ON MY WAY HOME, AGAIN AT NIGHT. IT WAS NOT A DUMMY LIGHT. ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE EGR MODULE. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING OCCASIONAL SKIPS WHEN THE VEHICLE TRIES TO SHIFT TO UPPER GEARS FROM A DEAD STOP. I AM CONFIDENT THIS PRODUCT IS A LEMON AND HAVE WORKED FRUITLESSLY TO TRY TO GET THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE AND I HAVE RECEIVED NO CONSIDERATION FOR A REPLACEMENT OTHER THAN TO TREAT THE TRANSACTION AS A NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE WITH MINE AS A TRADE. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST EVENT, I HAD ONLY OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND PUT ROUGHLY 6,700 MILES ON IT AS IT WAS A DEALER'S DEMO, DRIVEN BY THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP. IT HAD OVER 6000 MILES AT PURCHASE AND I HAD ONLY MADE 3 CAR PAYMENTS AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! *NM

Mileage: 13,650