A 6 inch crack developed at rear center tailgate body panel made out of plastic below the rear window. There had been reports that the rear window could fall out and internal tailgate components could be damaged due to water entry from the crack. This appears to be a common problem from my research.

- Valley Center, CA, USA

Rear plastic litigate applique broke off hitting a passenger car's windshield. The windshield cracked. This the third piece failure. The Lincoln was traveling West on the dulles greenway.

- Kensington, MD, USA

While parked at the gas station getting ready to pump gas the rear window exploded, glass shattered everywhere, left hinge cracked and frame around liftgate bend and curled up. My rear liftgate has the same cracked as previously reported. I replaced the entire liftgate in 2011 & on the new liftgate the same crack came back

- Depew, NY, USA

I have the same cracking problem with the back gate which resulted in the breaking of hinges. Also a known defect in using defective parts in the engine such as timing chain cassettes and tensioner. Ford knew about the problem and issued an technical bulletin on it but never fixed the problem. The mechanic told me he repaired this very frequently for this engine

- Roseville, MN, USA

When purchased used 2 yrs old [xxx], I noticed a crack in the middle of the liftgate. I have owned this vehicle for almost 7yrs and have taken very good care of it, but I now have 3 cracks in the liftgate. It seems to be very thin across the bottom of the back window and every time you open and close the window, it puts stress across the bottom of it. This should be a recall because there are a lot of other owners with the same problem and obviously this is a defect!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). Updated 4/19/2016

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

I noticed a crack on the back panel of my tailgate. There was no accident or incident and since then I have noticed at least 3 other cars in my small town with the same defect. I have written to Ford and gotten no response. From what I have seen on the internet, this is not an isolated problem. I feel that Ford/Lincoln should recall the affected models of car (including Ford Explorer) and make these repairs. The mechanism that keeps my tailgate window closed and locked is also broken and I think it is directly related to the crack in the tailgate. This compromises our safety in the car by making the car unable to be locked properly. Someone could easily get into the car from the tailgate and steal anything in the car, steal the car itself, and pose an immediate threat to our personal safety.

- Voorheesville, NY, USA

I purchased a 2005 Lincoln Aviator brand new. I have the same problem as many others with the crack. Told Ford Lincoln Mercury about it the first cold season for the car, 2005/2006. Although I heard and saw several other complaints for the same issue Ford has done nothing. Now the gate won"T close, the window won"T close because the mechanism has corroded allowing it to open on its own. There is no security with the vehicle now and this is extremely dangerous! even better my glass company ordered replacement 07/31/2014 and I still have not seen it. I spoke with [xxx], and their supervisor at Ford customer care relations who was of no help. They can't answer when the glass will come in. They give dates it may be available but will not guaranty. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Dudley, MA, USA

One morning I noticed that a crack had appeared on the back of my vehicle on the lift gate right by the Lincoln emblem. I called and spoke to the dealership and they advised me it was a common occurrence that happens for no reason on Lincoln Aviators of certain years. Now all of a sudden the lift gate hinge on the right side has slightly shifted and I have not even opened it in months. This I was notified is also another common defect on these vehicles! I literally am scared to even open the back lift gate now and nothing has happened to cause either of these issues.

- Bay Village, OH, USA

The lift gate cracked right down the center for no apparent reason. One second the vehicle was fine, the next second, the entire lift gate frame split in two. See thousands of reports of it on google but wondering why there is no recall?

- Commerce, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2005 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while trying to open the liftgate, the liftgate panel split in half. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic or dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 72,000.

- Plains Field, IL, USA

I was driving along and suddenly heard a loud crack coming from the rear of the vehicle. Something like the sound of a rock hitting it. Later I was checking around for signs of damage and found that the upper liftgate section had cracked completely in half from the emblem by the window down to the lower edge of the panel.

- Derry, NH, USA

No accident or anything. All of a sudden a vertical crack down the center of the back plastic piece on the right side of the emblem. The window hinges also started to fall apart. Funniest thing is that I can only purchase the parts from Ford and there is a different price for the right hinge ($40) and the left hinge ($46.95) wtf? of course they are just plastic pieces also...sure wish Ford would take responsibility for this one - I mean page after page of the same complaint for a very expensive SUV - you would think they would fix it!!

- Saint Paul, MN, USA

The rear lift door has developed a crack just below the window allowing water to enter the door. I have seen several similar complaints of this problem. Design flaw.

- Boyds, MD, USA

The hinges that hold the liftgate glass have broken and are no longer holding the rear liftgate window in place properly. I can no longer open the window because I will not be able to close it. I took it to the dealer and event though they acknowledge the fact that this is an issue on Lincoln Aviators and that they have had to fix numerous Aviator in the past for this same issue they will not cover the repair if the vehicle is out of warranty.

- Lyndhurst , NJ, USA

Rear panel has a crack in it.... SUV was never in a accident...it just appeared. I had my truck at a Lincoln dealership for other things and asked the manager about this crack... he told me that I am not the only person that has complained and the company knows about it but won't do anything until that have enough people that complain.... I purchased this truck for not pennies and expect someone to rectify the problem. Unfortunately nothing has been done and I am very disappointed in the manufacturer... they should stand by the product they sell...very upset.

- Freehold, NJ, USA

Rear liftgate panel cracked vertically next to emblem under liftgate glass after warm day and a cool night. I called the dealer and they told me that they can repair it at my cost and they were not responsible for the repairs even though they were aware of this happening to numerous Aviator's and Mountaineer and it happened through no fault of my own, and they believe the part to be defective.

- Lyndhurst, NJ, USA

Transmission shift problems= we where ok when truck was on garage and just use it as weekends, but everything change when we stared to use it on daily basics transmission begin to slip and now lately begin to pull and back and forward and O/D sensor light up and afraid the rear shift go off any minute... and add up the rear panel just broke for the 2th time... it begins to make funny noise on rear axle, I very disappointed after paid closed to 20,000 dollars I want to return it to dealer but nobody wants to take charge. No fire or property damage but I not waiting to happen to me.

- Pasadena, TX, USA

2005 Lincoln Aviator has crack in rear applique panel. This crack occurred with no accident just appeared after a frost. This problem was relayed to Ford? Lincoln home office but nothing was done to repair the problem by Ford. The leak will destroy the inside panel and will eventually rot the back tailgate.

- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

I noticed a crack along the rear hatchdoor lift gate along the bezel or emblem that runs vertically down the lift gate, it was bought to my attention form other Aviator owners with the same exact defect on their rear hatch door liftgates, that this is a defect all Aviator have. I started to notice other Aviator and sure enough they all have the same crack, my neighbor was able to det his fixed with the Lincoln dealer in pembroke pines, who acknowledges this as being a common defect. Although I went to the dealer, and they were willing to cover part of the cost, but I will still be held responsible for a portion, I felt this should not be my responsibility but Lincoln for the poor design. I also did research online and did find others with the same situation, with the conclusion that the defect is caused by stress on the door, from opening and closing, and many of these cracked panels have been replaced. Lincoln is not taking full responsibility because it has not become a recall. I think it is about time to acknowledge this as a manufacturer defect due to the excess number of vehicles with the same defect going back to 2003 models. The Lincoln Aviator models has a defect along the rear hatch door lift gate, the a straight crack appears after.

- Cooper City, FL, USA

Design flaw. See NHTSA service bulletin number: 0485, date: 1/1/05, item number: 10008546. Design flaw acknowledged by Ford/Mercury. Repaired once by dealership, but now refuses to make repair after structure has again cracked allowing water access to structure, possibly causing electrical shortage, which could possibly cause accident if driving. Currently applying tape to body structure. Filed complaint with BBB, but negative results. Stated that even though a design flaw, their regulations & policies do not cover the above parameters unless within the warranty limit of vehicle.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA