2020 Aviator Hood Flex, Front Door Wind Noise

[Nemaha]

We LOVE our 2020 Aviator! Only a couple of issues we're wondering if anyone else has experienced:

1. The hood flexes a disturbing amount when meeting a semi on a 2-lane road, especially on a windy day. The flex is greatest at the left and right sides, but even in the center front (directly above the latch), it still moves up and down substantially. Dealer has checked and confirmed the latch adjustment twice.

2. When driving at highway speeds in a strong side wind, the top of whichever front door is downwind flexes outwardly enough that the top seal loses contact with the body/roof edge just ahead of the B pillar and allows noise in and air out. We assume it's due to lower external pressure in that zone, but can see no way to adjust the strike latch. We've attempted to video it because you can actually see the door flex which allows the seal to move rapidly away from and back to the body. Pulling in a bit on just the top back corner of the door completely eliminates the "flutter" and the noise.

Again, we really love this vehicle, but would welcome input on these issues.

 

[Furkmyster]

Hood flexes because it is aluminum. If it is closed and latched, it is fine.

 

[wheeling]

Even it is aluminum, it should not flex or vibrate in anyway. That is the basic design requirement. There must be something wrong when it did this.

 

[Nemaha]

Even it is aluminum, it should not flex or vibrate in anyway. That is the basic design requirement. There must be something wrong when it did this.

wheeling and furkmyster, thanks for your replies. The Aviator is my wife's daily driver and mine is a 2016 F150. I've driven that F150 60,000 miles and, while the hood flexes a little when meeting a semi on a 2-lane road on a windy day, it's nothing compared to the Aviator's flex. The general profiles of the hoods is fairly similar in that neither is just a flat slab - both have a decent amount of formed reinforcing profile (see attached pics). Thanks again for the input.

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[mapkos13]

That’s how it is. Mine was almost disturbing where I wanted to pull over one windy trip down the hwy. mentioned it to my service manager and he gave me a look like its a known design issue. Not that it will fail per se but just odd. Ive owned all types of vehicles and this is a first for me.

 

[Nemaha]

That’s how it is. Mine was almost disturbing where I wanted to pull over one windy trip down the hwy. mentioned it to my service manager and he gave me a look like its a known design issue. Not that it will fail per se but just odd. Ive owned all types of vehicles and this is a first for me.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not impressed with a design that does this, but do love driving this vehicle.

 

[Ktm450fe]

I have also had this issue with my hood ( 2021 model). I am getting my vehicle back today from service. They drove it and agreed, claimed they tightened it down, whatever that means! What really has me super aggravated is the vehicle leaves small puddles of a black oily soot on my garage floor. I was told it is turbo soot discharge and Lincoln is aware of it but has no fix yet. Anyone else have this issue? $75K to have my vehicle ruin my new garage floor sucks! Otherwise, for now, I still really like the Aviator!

 

[bbf2530]

I have also had this issue with my hood ( 2021 model). I am getting my vehicle back today from service. They drove it and agreed, claimed they tightened it down, whatever that means! What really has me super aggravated is the vehicle leaves small puddles of a black oily soot on my garage floor. I was told it is turbo soot discharge and Lincoln is aware of it but has no fix yet. Anyone else have this issue? $75K to have my vehicle ruin my new garage floor sucks! Otherwise, for now, I still really like the Aviator!

Hi Ktm. While we can not see exactly what you are describing...If it is condensation from the mufflers, puddling under the small weep holes in the mufflers at the rear of the car, then yes, it could be considered normal. But we can't see it.

The sooty color may alleviate some as the engine and exhaust system breaks in and burns off the fluids left from manufacturing. However, there is often some amount of condensation that will drip from there. That is the design of the mufflers. It allows condensation to escape, thus minimizing corrosion.

If it is coming form somewhere other than the muffler drain holes? Then no, that is not normal and needs to be properly diagnosed and addressed.

Keep us updated and good luck.

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[G-558818]

We also have the hood flex issue
Sometime when I’m driving I feel it is going to lift up

 

[bnyczb]

So we have 2020 model and the hood flexes real bad, it's been in 5 times already and it still flexes. Are there any fixes for this issue? It's super annoying while driving.

 

[Corsart]

So we have 2020 model and the hood flexes real bad, it's been in 5 times already and it still flexes. Are there any fixes for this issue? It's super annoying while driving.

Open the hood and look for the circular rubber pads at the front. Try to unscrew them a few times to raise them so they contact the hood when closed a bit tighter. But be aware that the more you raise them, the more of a slam you might need to engage the latch.

 

[rjabend]

I put thin pieces of masking tape across the gap between the hood and fenders on the sides and front of my 2021 Aviator Black Label and they all popped loose at higher speeds. I didn't notice it while driving through. Is there a related sound or vibration symptom associated with the flex?

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[bbf2530]

I put thin pieces of masking tape across the gap between the hood and fenders on the sides and front of my 2021 Aviator Black Label and they all popped loose at higher speeds. I didn't notice it while driving through. Is there a related sound or vibration symptom associated with the flex?

Hi rja. Two things: First...Are you having an abnormal hood flex issue...or...did you perform this test to try and determine if you have a hood flex issue? Do you see your hood flexing at "higher speeds"? Do you hear any sounds coming from the hood/front end area? Do you feel any vibrations? If not, then you do not have a hood flex issue.

Second...just to explain: The test you developed ("...thin pieces of masking tape across the gap between the hood and fenders on the sides and front...") is not an accurate test to detect hood flex. The reason? At "higher speeds", the volume of air rushing into the front end through the grill and other openings will need a place to escape. Some of the places it will normally escape is the gaps in the hood area. So those pieces of tape will naturally be "popped loose", whether your hood is rock solid or vibrating.

I am not saying your hood is not abnormally flexing/vibrating, as some of the other members here seem to be experiencing. I am only stating that your masking tape test is not an accurate predictor of an abnormally flexing/vibrating hood.

If you can see, hear or feel some sort of abnormal flex/vibration in your hood, have it checked by the Service Departmen at your Dealership. If you do not see, hear or feel anything, you are not having this issue.

Good luck.

 

[rjabend]

Hi rja. Two things: First...Are you having an abnormal hood flex issue...or...did you perform this test to try and determine if you have a hood flex issue? Do you see your hood flexing at "higher speeds"? Do you hear any sounds coming from the hood/front end area? Do you feel any vibrations? If not, then you do not have a hood flex issue.
I performed the test to determine if I had hood flex. No sounds or vibration apparent.
Second...just to explain: The test you developed ("...thin pieces of masking tape across the gap between the hood and fenders on the sides and front...") is not an accurate test to detect hood flex. The reason? At "higher speeds", the volume of air rushing into the front end through the grill and other openings will need a place to escape. Some of the places it will normally escape is the gaps in the hood area. So those pieces of tape will naturally be "popped loose", whether your hood is rock solid or vibrating.

I am not saying your hood is not abnormally flexing/vibrating, as some of the other members here seem to be experiencing. I am only stating that your masking tape test is not an accurate predictor of an abnormally flexing/vibrating hood.

If you can see, hear or feel some sort of abnormal flex/vibration in your hood, have it checked by the Service Departmen at your Dealership. If you do not see, hear or feel anything, you are not having this issue.

Good luck.

I used very thin sections of masking tape to reduce the chances of air flow breaking the tape loose so the lack of adhesion was likely due to some level of hood flexing; however small. In thinking about it, even a tiny amount of flex would break the tape loose.

Thanks for your input. It looks like I don't have a problem.

 

[bbf2530]

I used very thin sections of masking tape to reduce the chances of air flow breaking the tape loose so the lack of adhesion was likely due to some level of hood flexing; however small. In thinking about it, even a tiny amount of flex would break the tape loose.

Thanks for your input. It looks like I don't have a problem.

Hi rjabend. You are very welcome. It's good to hear you do not have a problem.

Good luck.

 

[Krash4011]

I have also had this issue with my hood ( 2021 model). I am getting my vehicle back today from service. They drove it and agreed, claimed they tightened it down, whatever that means! What really has me super aggravated is the vehicle leaves small puddles of a black oily soot on my garage floor. I was told it is turbo soot discharge and Lincoln is aware of it but has no fix yet. Anyone else have this issue? $75K to have my vehicle ruin my new garage floor sucks! Otherwise, for now, I still really like the Aviator!

Mine has the exact same issues with the hood and discharge. The soot discharge is under the vehicle and not from the rear. I am constantly cleaning my garage floor. I even clean the spots off of my driveway. Just assumed it was from the turbos, first time owning a turbo vehicle.

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[bbf2530]

Mine has the exact same issues with the hood and discharge. The soot discharge is under the vehicle and not from the rear. I am constantly cleaning my garage floor. I even clean the spots off of my driveway. Just assumed it was from the turbos, first time owning a turbo vehicle.

Hi Krash. There are weep holes in the mufflers that allow condensation (and soot discharge carried in the condensation) to drain from them. This is to help minimize interior corrosion. There may be other weep holes in the exhaust system aft of the catalytic converters. Not sure about the resonators.

Although it is impossible to blind diagnose if that is the cause of your "soot discharge", it may very well be normal.

If you think it is coming from somewhere else/an exhaust leak, you should have it looked at by your Lincoln dealer.

Keep us updated and good luck.

 

[Krash4011]

Hi Krash. There are weep holes in the mufflers that allow condensation (and soot discharge carried in the condensation) to drain from them. This is to help minimize interior corrosion. There may be other weep holes in the exhaust system aft of the catalytic converters. Not sure about the resonators.

Although it is impossible to blind diagnose if that is the cause of your "soot discharge", it may very well be normal.

If you think it is coming from somewhere else/an exhaust leak, you should have it looked at by your Lincoln dealer.

Keep us updated and good luck.

I figured it was coming from weep holes in the mufflers/exhaust system and figured it was normal. Thank you for your response and verifying it. It is appreciated.

 

[Graygoose]

We LOVE our 2020 Aviator! Only a couple of issues we're wondering if anyone else has experienced:

1. The hood flexes a disturbing amount when meeting a semi on a 2-lane road, especially on a windy day. The flex is greatest at the left and right sides, but even in the center front (directly above the latch), it still moves up and down substantially. Dealer has checked and confirmed the latch adjustment twice.

2. When driving at highway speeds in a strong side wind, the top of whichever front door is downwind flexes outwardly enough that the top seal loses contact with the body/roof edge just ahead of the B pillar and allows noise in and air out. We assume it's due to lower external pressure in that zone, but can see no way to adjust the strike latch. We've attempted to video it because you can actually see the door flex which allows the seal to move rapidly away from and back to the body. Pulling in a bit on just the top back corner of the door completely eliminates the "flutter" and the noise.

Again, we really love this vehicle, but would welcome input on these issues.

Had the same issues with excessive hood flex, very loud wind noise at highway speed that got worse heading into a wind on my 2020 Aviator.
Also had issues with front suspension noises.
Solution for me was to sell and buy a 2021 Ford Explorer ST.
Hood doesn’t flex, quiet as a mouse at highway speed and Front strut suspension is better than double A arms on Lincoln. Explorer feels more planted and rides better even with 21 inch wheels.

 

[G-536615]

My driver’s door flexes exactly as you describe