2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator Body Panel Recall (25V407)
Ford Motor Company · 132,914 vehicles · Reported June 13, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 132,914 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may have insufficient adhesive bonding, which can allow the trim to detach from the vehicle. Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V407 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V407000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S66 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 13, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 132,914 |
| Component | Structure > Body |
| Safety risk | Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator in recall 25V407?
The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may have insufficient adhesive bonding, which can allow the trim to detach from the vehicle.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator vehicles. The rear door window bars and C-pillar trim may have insufficient adhesive bonding, which can allow the trim to detach from the vehicle.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2025 Aviator with recall 25V407?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Detached trim may cause a road hazard and increase 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 body.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V407?
Recall 25V407 covers 132,914 vehicles: 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 132,914 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2025 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Aviator body panel recall?
Yes. Dealers will repair or replace C-pillar appliques and window division bars, free of charge.
Dealers will repair or replace C-pillar appliques and window division bars, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S66.
When was recall 25V407 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V407 to NHTSA on June 13, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 29, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 13, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V407000. |
| September 29, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
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 25V407?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V407 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 2021-2025 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 25V407?
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 25V407000 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 body 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 131 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 16 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Since recall 25V407 was reported on June 13, 2025, owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 2 of them (20%) 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 body, doors and seats and were received on or after June 13, 2025, 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 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related body, doors and seats issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 131 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 16 of them involve the body, doors and seats. 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, 6 about the body, doors and seats
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 4 about the body, doors and seats
- 2023 Lincoln Aviator: 24 complaints in total, 3 about the body, doors and seats
- 2025 Lincoln Aviator: 16 complaints in total, 3 about the body, doors and seats
- 2024 Lincoln Aviator: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2023 Lincoln Aviator. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V407000 (Structure), 25V393000 (Seats), 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was not contacted.
2023 Lincoln Aviator owner, NM, NHTSA complaint 11679071, filed August 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and attempting to press the button to raise the level of the third-row seats, the contact and her daughter were ejected from the seats. The contact stated that there were no injuries sustained. There was no warning light illuminated.
2023 Lincoln Aviator owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11599285, filed July 5, 2024
The 2nd row seats are malfunctioning, sliding up and folding while the car is moving. The button at the top of the seat seems to be getting stuck.
2025 Lincoln Aviator owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11699708, filed November 16, 2025
Can recall 25V407 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 body 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)).
Door latch, seat and body structure defects can affect safety in a crash and everyday use. If the recall repair does not solve the problem, the repeat visit is part of your record.
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.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Aviator went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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 25V407
Did the recall 25V407 fix work?
Since recall 25V407 was reported on June 13, 2025, owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 2 of them (20%) 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 September 29, 2025.
Is the 25V407000 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 25V407000?
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 25V407000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
State Bar of California license record · Avvo · Martindale-Hubbell · Lawyers.com · LinkedIn · Our attorneys
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.