Ford has recalled 23,000 units of its Lincoln Aviators due to a dangerous window defect. This window malfunction poses a serious safety risk to passengers. Therefore, if you own a 2025 Lincoln Aviator or are planning to buy one soon, here are the things you need to know.
What’s the Window Defect on the Lincoln Aviator?
Federal documents show that the rear side windows have a defect where they fail to reverse direction properly when closing. Normally, for a vehicle to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), closing windows using the “global closing” feature should automatically reverse direction when they encounter an object. Due to this defect, the rear windows of the Lincoln Aviator may exert excessive force when encountering an object, and this could pinch a passenger before reversing, which violates the federal safety standards.
This defect is a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, “Power-Operated Window Systems.” According to the NHTSA, vehicles using the “global closing feature” which is a function that closes all power-operated windows at once, should retract automatically when it encounters an object.
No Accidents Reported, but the Defect Should be Fixed
According to Ford, there are no injuries or accidents reported related to the window defect. However, the company is aware that the defect poses a safety risk and is therefore recalling the affected vehicles and repairing them for free.
To correct the problem, Ford dealers will be authorized to update the software in the Driver Door Module (DDM) and Passenger Door Module (PDM). These updates will enable windows to reverse as they should whenever they detect an obstruction when closing.
The company’s recall ID is 25C33, and the corresponding NHTSA campaign number is 25V484000.
Owners to be Notified Starting September
Ford will begin sending notification letters to owners of the Lincoln Aviators on September 15, 2025. The letters will include instructions for scheduling the software update at a local dealership.
In the meantime, drivers can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions or concerns. One can also check the recall status of their vehicle by entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA website.
How to Know if Your Lincoln Aviator is Affected
Note that only the 2025 Lincoln Aviator is affected by this recall. Therefore, it is important to verify whether your vehicle needs the repair by liaising with the NHTSA, even if you have not experienced any window issues.
Why the Recall is Urgent
Although Ford has not received news of any injuries resulting from this window defect, the potential for harm cannot be ignored. A power-operated or electric window that fails to reverse when it detects an obstruction or resistance can injure passengers, especially children, and this is the case on the rear windows of the 2025 Lincoln Aviator.
The defect must be repaired promptly to ensure that the vehicle remains compliant with federal safety standards and reduces the risk of unexpected injury.
What to do if You Own a 2025 Lincoln Aviator
If you own a 2025 Lincoln Aviator, you should:
- Wait for the federal letter or call your Ford dealer to schedule the repair.
- Using the VIN of your vehicle to confirm the recall status of your vehicle. This can be done on NHTSA’s website or Ford’s support page.
- Avoid using the global window-closing feature on your 2025 Lincoln Aviator until it is repaired at a Ford dealership.
Note that the repair is entirely free and easy because it can be performed through a software update once Ford has made it available.