2021 Lincoln Aviator Steering Recall (20V726)
Ford Motor Company · 690 vehicles · Reported November 20, 2020
Ford Motor Company is recalling 690 2021 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The steering knuckles may have been manufactured improperly. The improperly manufactured knuckle may fracture, reducing steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 20V726 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 20V726000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 20S69 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 20, 2020 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 690 |
| Component | Steering |
| Safety risk | The improperly manufactured knuckle may fracture, reducing steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Lincoln Aviator in recall 20V726?
The steering knuckles may have been manufactured improperly.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The steering knuckles may have been manufactured improperly.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Aviator with recall 20V726?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: The improperly manufactured knuckle may fracture, reducing steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: The improperly manufactured knuckle may fracture, reducing steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Aviator shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the steering, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 20V726?
Recall 20V726 covers 690 vehicles: 2021 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 690 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Aviator steering recall?
Yes. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front knuckle, and replace it if necessary, free of charge.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front knuckle, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 16, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S69.
When was recall 20V726 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 20V726 to NHTSA on November 20, 2020.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 20, 2020 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 20V726000. |
This recall was filed 71 months ago. If your Aviator was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Aviator is part of recall 20V726?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 20V726 is open on your Aviator, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Aviator vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Aviator owners do about recall 20V726?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 20V726000 applies to your Aviator.
- Call a Lincoln dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the steering happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Aviator owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the steering.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the steering have been filed since recall 20V726 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 39 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the steering. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 1 about the steering
Can recall 20V726 make my Aviator a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A steering problem on the 2021 Lincoln Aviator is the kind of safety defect that California law treats seriously. Fewer repair attempts may be needed for a claim than with a comfort or convenience defect.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Lincoln Aviator has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Aviator been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Lincoln Aviator recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 20V726
Is the 20V726000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Aviator is part of recall 20V726000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 20V726000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Lincoln. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.