2022 Lincoln Aviator Engine Recall (22V454)
Ford Motor Company · 776 vehicles · Reported June 24, 2022
Ford Motor Company is recalling 776 2022 Ford Explorer; 2022 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 301, "Fuel System Integrity." Improperly heat-treated engine rails may reduce the vehicle's structural protection in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. In addition, an engine rail may detach and contact the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V454 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V454000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 22C13 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 24, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2022 Ford Explorer; 2022 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 776 |
| Component | Engine |
| Safety risk | Improperly heat-treated engine rails may reduce the vehicle's structural protection in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. In addition, an engine rail may detach and contact the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Lincoln Aviator in recall 22V454?
The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Aviator with recall 22V454?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Improperly heat-treated engine rails may reduce the vehicle's structural protection in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. In addition, an engine rail may detach and contact the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Improperly heat-treated engine rails may reduce the vehicle's structural protection in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. In addition, an engine rail may detach and contact the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the engine.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V454?
Recall 22V454 covers 776 vehicles: 2022 Ford Explorer; 2022 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 776 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2022 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Aviator engine recall?
Yes. Dealers will perform an engine rail strength test and replace the rails as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will perform an engine rail strength test and replace the rails as necessary, free of charge. If the engine rails require replacement, owners will have the option for a vehicle replacement or buyback. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C13.
When was recall 22V454 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 22V454 to NHTSA on June 24, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 22, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 24, 2022 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V454000. |
| August 22, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 52 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 22V454?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V454 is open on your Aviator, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V454000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Aviator owners do about recall 22V454?
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 22V454000 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 engine 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Aviator owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 312 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 37 of them about the engine.
Since recall 22V454 was reported on June 24, 2022, owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 4 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the engine and were received on or after June 24, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related engine issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 312 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 37 of them involve the engine. 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.
- 2022 Ford Explorer: 267 complaints in total, 31 about the engine
- 2022 Lincoln Aviator: 45 complaints in total, 6 about the engine
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal knocking sound emanating from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the camshaft and timing chain.
2022 Ford Explorer owner, DE, NHTSA complaint 11634850, filed January 8, 2025
My wife was driving the car all of a sudden the check engine light came on, and it started to flash on and off. The car started sputtering. She pulled over turned the car off and called me. I informed her to wait a little bit and restart the car.
2022 Ford Explorer owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11635503, filed January 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, the contact was notified by the Ford App that the check engine warning light was illuminated and the message “Fuel Door Open" was displayed.
2022 Ford Explorer owner, IA, NHTSA complaint 11652806, filed April 4, 2025
Can recall 22V454 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.
Recall 22V454000 does not automatically make your Aviator a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
An engine problem that leaves you stranded, or that keeps lighting up the check engine light after a repair, is the kind of defect that can substantially impair a vehicle's use, value or safety.
This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same engine again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2022 Lincoln Aviator has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 20V788000.
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.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
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 22V454
Did the recall 22V454 fix work?
Since recall 22V454 was reported on June 24, 2022, owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the engine on these vehicles. 4 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed August 22, 2022.
Is the 22V454000 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 22V454000?
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.
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 22V454000 (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 Ford, Lincoln. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.