5 Mid-Size SUVs To Avoid When Looking For A Used Car In 2024

The Lincoln Aviator checks all the boxes for a top-tier midsize SUV — almost. It’s roomy, powerful, fast, and bejeweled with fancy electronics. The high-tech features of the 2025 Aviator are nothing short of cutting-edge, with a 360-degree camera, parking assist, and even automatic braking while reversing to avoid accidental fender-benders. However, the success of the 2025 model doesn’t exactly represent the earlier model years that populate the used car market.

Since its 2003 debut, the Aviator has been plagued with reliability problems, which persisted as recently as 2023. In fact, the 2023 Aviator is often ranked as one of the year’s worst SUVs, with a reliability rating of one out of five. The most common complaints include the electronics, drive-train, and peeling paint. But if you don’t give much creed to consumer complaints, consider the recalls. It’s had five recalls thus far, and that’s only after two years on the road — no wonder RepairPal estimates the annual repair cost of an Aviator at a whopping $626.

Stepping back two years, the 2021 Lincoln Aviator has a laundry list of red flags as well. Problems with the seatbelts, power train, steering, suspension, electronics, and more have given the 2021 model the distinction of “worst year to buy used” on TopSpeed.com’s analysis. Still, each year has its fair share of issues. 

These examples display a pattern of problems with the Lincoln Aviator. That being said, its hybrid models, released alongside their gasoline equivalents starting in 2020, are impressively fuel-efficient. It’s an important consideration when shopping around the used car market, with gas models offering 23 mpg and hybrid models offering 56 miles to the gallon. Thus, the Aviator line has some positives, so this is another midsize worth looking into with extreme shrewdness.