2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator Warning Light and Devices Recall (22V953)

Recall 22V953 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator in recall 22V953?

When the driver's seat belt is not buckled and the vehicle is started, the seat belt warning system may activate the audible warning chime for an insufficient amount of time of less than 4 seconds.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a Revel Audio System. When the driver's seat belt is not buckled and the vehicle is started, the seat belt warning system may activate the audible warning chime for an insufficient amount of time of less than 4 seconds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Is it safe to drive a 2021-2023 Aviator with recall 22V953?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An audible warning chime that does not properly alert of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An audible warning chime that does not properly alert of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during 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 warning light and devices.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V953?

Recall 22V953 covers 101,001 vehicles: 2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair.

NHTSA lists 101,001 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Aviator warning light and devices recall?

Yes. Dealers will update the audio control module software, free of charge.

Dealers will update the audio control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C35.

When was recall 22V953 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 22V953 to NHTSA on December 23, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as February 7, 2023.

This recall was filed 45 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 22V953?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V953 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 2021-2023 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 22V953?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V953000 applies to your Aviator.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Lincoln dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. 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.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the warning light and devices happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. 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 177 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the seat belts.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 22V953 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 177 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 of them involve the seat belts. 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 Lincoln Aviator: 45 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2022 Lincoln Corsair: 35 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
• 2021 Lincoln Corsair: 34 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
• 2023 Lincoln Aviator: 24 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

Seat belt not working properly, no fix or remedy as of yet. Do not feel safe driving vehicle with passengers. Called Lincoln certified dealer in area and all do not have a fix or availability for months to service vehicle.

2023 Lincoln Aviator owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11528021, filed June 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Corsair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V953000 (Seat Belts) and 23V022000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.

2021 Lincoln Corsair owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11518888, filed April 25, 2023

Can recall 22V953 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)).

Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2023 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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 22V953