LincolnAviator2020Overview/lincoln/aviator/2020/base/

2020 Lincoln Aviator

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Aviator.

Transmission Automatic (S10)

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator operates with an Automatic (S10) transmission and a 5W-30 engine oil capacity of 6.0 qt, delivering an EPA-estimated 17/24/20 mpg. Reliability data for this specific model year shows 98 total owner complaints and 29 recalls, with the top complaint area classified as Unknown Or Other. Within the model complaint history spanning 2003-2027, the 2020 Aviator's 98 complaints sit below the 2003 peak of 111 but remain well above the 2024 low of 5, defining its reliability standing between the model's recorded extremes.

Model year202520242023202220212020200520042003

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque150.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/24/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tire size255/60R19 109HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S10)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200 in
Overall width78.7 in
Overall height67.7 in
Wheelbase119.3 in
Curb weight4863 lb
Track (front / rear)66.5 / 66.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)51/49

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainPart-time 4-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Aviator of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.0–6.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.00 sec — 2020 Black Label Grand Touring PHEV
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Black Label Grand Touring PHEV 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 + Elec 13.6-kWh5.00 sec13.60 sec494 hpAWD
2020Grand Touring PHEV 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 + Elec 13.6-kWh5.40 sec13.80 sec494 hpAWD
2020Reserve 3.0L Twin-Turbo V65.40 sec14.00 sec400 hpRWD
2020Reserve 3.0L Twin-Turbo V65.40 sec14.10 sec400 hpAWD
2020Black Label 3.0L Twin-Turbo V66.00 sec14.60 sec400 hpAWD
2025Reserve II 3.0L Twin-Turbo V65.60 sec14.20 sec400 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, SAE 75W · Synthetic in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 150.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidMERCON® ULV Automatic Transmission Fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity12.9
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · Synthetic
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.27 pt
Engine Coolant Capacity16.
Engine OilSAE 5W · Synthetic
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)8.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)8.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)8.8 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)35.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)8.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill Plug25.0 ft-lbs
Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionFront: 81.0; Rear: 81.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts150.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts52.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub221.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug Type12405
Spark Plug Gap0.028–0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing Acceptable VarianceNot adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMNot adjustable rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeYN-35

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum58.0–75.4 psi
Engine Oil Pressure21 psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueM8 Bolts: 20.0, M10 Bolts: 34.0
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque129
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Minimum Pad Thickness0.059 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.201; Rear: 320mm
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: 0.0003; Rear: 0.001
Maximum Rotor Runout0.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
165.0 ft. lbs., 45°65 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: Loosen 360° Step 3: 37.0 ft. lbs. Step 4: 90°30 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
124.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: Loosen 180° Step 3: 24.0 ft. lbs. Step 4: 90°24 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Center Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1166.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: Loosen 360° Step 3: 26.0 ft. lbs. Step 4: 270°166 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
114.75 ft. lbs. Step 2: Loosen 2 full turns Step 3: 37.0 ft. lbs. Step 4: 180°14.75 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 45°22 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-83 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: Loosen 360° Step 3: 26.0 ft. lbs. Step 4: 180°30 ft. lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 45°7.4 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4 ft. lbs. Step 2: 45°7.4 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 200,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 200,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 12,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 200,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator sits at the peak of the current-generation complaint and recall arc, logging 98 complaints, 29 recalls, and 311 TSBs — the highest figures in the dataset, with the earlier 20032005 first-generation records not directly comparable. The complaint trend then declines sharply through 2024 (down to just 5 complaints) before a modest uptick to 13 in 2025, and recalls follow a similar but less dramatic descent from 29 in 2020 to 8 in 2024, with 2025 climbing back to 14. Notably, the 2020 model shows zero federal investigations, 1 crash complaint, and no fire complaints, which tempers the otherwise heavy recall count. The leading complaint areas — Unknown/Other (12), Electrical System (11), Power Train (7), and Back Over Prevention (7) — suggest a mix of early-build electronic glitches and drivetrain concerns typical of a launch-year vehicle. Because the 2020 model is the data set's high-water mark for both complaints and recalls, a prospective buyer should verify that all 29 recalls have been completed and budget for potential electrical or powertrain follow-ups, but the absence of fire or investigation escalation makes it a defensible choice among used Aviators if priced accordingly.

29
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
311
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
98
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 98 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other12
Electrical System11
Power Train7
Back Over Prevention7
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other4
Electrical System,Back Over Prevention3
Structure3
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 30 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V859000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 04/12/2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. Over time, the protective sleeve on the vapor fuel line may chafe through the plastic liquid fuel line and cause a fuel leak. Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a longer protective sleeve on the liquid fuel line, as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners and interim notification on…

20V788000EngineReported 17/12/2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The right hand motor mount fasteners may have been incorrectly tightened, and may loosen over time. Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and replace the right hand motor mount fasteners, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 311 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB 26-22872026-06-18Power TrainThis article supersedes 25-2302. Reason for update: update the labor time allowance for…
26N092026-06-11Visibility/WiperCustomer Satisfaction Program 26N09 Certain 2020 Model Year Escape, 2020-2021 Corsair…
SSM 549022026-06-05Power TrainFor 20202026 vehicles equipped with the 10R60 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch…
SSM 548272026-05-14Power TrainSome 2020-2026 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility/Aviator vehicles may require…
SSM 547872026-04-29Fuel/Propulsion SystemSome 2020-2023 Aviator and 2025-2026 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility hybrid vehicles…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Aviator. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2020 Aviator take?

6.0 qt of SAE 5W-30 - Synthetic Blend Motor Oil / XO-5W30-Q1SP, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Aviator have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 29 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Aviator get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.