2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator High-Voltage Battery Recall (23V626)
Ford Motor Company · 2,954 vehicles · Reported September 8, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 2,954 2021-2022 Ford Explorer; 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. 0L PHEV engines. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V626 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V626000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23S53 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 8, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Ford Explorer; 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 2,954 |
| Component | Electrical System > Propulsion System > Traction Battery |
| Safety risk | Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator in recall 23V626?
0L PHEV engines.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.0L PHEV engines. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Aviator with recall 23V626?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
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 traction battery, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V626?
Recall 23V626 covers 2,954 vehicles: 2021-2022 Ford Explorer; 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 2,954 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2021-2022 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Aviator high-voltage battery recall?
Yes. Dealers will perform a Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) diagnostic test and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will perform a Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) diagnostic test and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford Motor Company's number for this recall is 23S53.
When was recall 23V626 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V626 to NHTSA on September 8, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 8, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V626000. |
| April 8, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 37 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 23V626?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V626 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 2021-2022 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 23V626?
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 23V626000 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.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the traction battery 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 781 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 98 of them about the ev and hybrid battery.
Since recall 23V626 was reported on September 8, 2023, owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 8 of them (12%) 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 ev and hybrid battery and were received on or after September 8, 2023, 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 ev and hybrid battery issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 781 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 98 of them involve the ev and hybrid battery. 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 Ford Explorer: 430 complaints in total, 42 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2022 Ford Explorer: 267 complaints in total, 36 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2022 Lincoln Aviator: 45 complaints in total, 8 about the ev and hybrid battery
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 12 about the ev and hybrid battery
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Lincoln Aviators 2020-2024 using the Sync 3 Radio screen. Have a issue not switching to dimmed/night mode during night time driving. This is a major safety issue because when driving a night you have a super bright display inches from your eyes creating a blinding issue at night.
2022 Lincoln Aviator owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11676669, filed July 28, 2025
My Aviator was parked with trunk open to load groceries from shopping cart. Must have stepped under bumper such that it triggered the kick sensor to close the tailgate. The problem is, it did NOT detect spouse’s body, did NOT stop the tailgate from closing & as a result, hit him on the head.
2022 Lincoln Aviator owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11688306, filed September 19, 2025
Emergency escape issue Like many modern cars the aviator was designed with electric opening doors. Of the four doors, only the front driver side door has a manual override in case of emergency.
2022 Lincoln Aviator owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11691190, filed October 3, 2025
Can recall 23V626 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)).
High-voltage battery and drive system defects in EVs and hybrids can mean reduced range, charging faults, loss of drive power or a fire risk. These repairs often need parts on backorder, so days out of service add up quickly.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
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 23V626
Did the recall 23V626 fix work?
Since recall 23V626 was reported on September 8, 2023, owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about the ev and hybrid battery on these vehicles. 8 of them (12%) 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.
Is the 23V626000 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 23V626000?
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.
Can a battery recall reduce my EV's range?
Some battery recalls limit the state of charge or range until a module or pack is replaced. Check your owner letter for any interim limits, and keep notes if range or charging changes after the repair.
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 23V626000 (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.