2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator Warning Light and Devices Recall (25V338)

Recall 25V338 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator in recall 25V338?

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 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a Revel Audio System that were repaired incorrectly under recall 22V-953. 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 25V338?

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.

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 warning light and devices, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 25V338?

Recall 25V338 covers 4,442 vehicles: 2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2023 Lincoln Corsair.

NHTSA lists 4,442 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 July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C18.

When was recall 25V338 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V338 to NHTSA on May 23, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 3, 2025.

This recall was filed 16 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 25V338?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V338 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 25V338000. 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 25V338?

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 25V338000 applies to your Aviator.
2. Call a Lincoln dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
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 191 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 25V338 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 191 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
• 2023 Lincoln Corsair: 14 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts

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

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

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

Can recall 25V338 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.

Owners often ask whether this warning light and devices recall means their Aviator qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair 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.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same warning light and devices again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021-2023 Lincoln Aviator has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 22V953000.

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 25V338