New Aviator Reserve w/25 miles and 1/2 dozen problems

2021AviatorBlueNJ

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So, we took delivery of a beautiful Aviator Reserve yesterday afternoon after months of waiting for it to be built to the specs we chose in December. Unfortunately, the next few hours were less than special...
  1. Upon walkthrough at delivery, I found that the automatic folding seat in 2nd row on the passenger side doesn’t work. Pressing the button on top of the seat below the headrest does nothing, and the mechanism (which can be heard working on the driver’s side) does not make any sound at all.
  2. Sometime after 10:00PM my wife received a warning message on the Lincoln App (which shows it occurred at 3:15PM, oddly enough when we were at the dealership, parked, taking delivery) for a “Restraints Indicator Lamp Warning” saying that “The restraints control module has detected a fault with the second row passenger side seatbelt sensor.” We have 3 young children and this is a significant concern.
  3. At 10:57PM, upon returning from a 2-block drive to pick up one of our sons at a friends house, the dashboard showed a warning for the “second row passenger side seatbelt.” When I put the car in park, that was the first time the dashboard showed the warning. Again, 3 kids, not a safe feeling.
  4. Upon detailed inspection at home, after coming directly from the dealership lot, we found a dent in the front right fender in front of the passenger door.
  5. We also found a clear paint chip on the passenger door that had obviously been touched up with paint by the factory or dealership, and not so well that it wasn’t obvious.
  6. It was discovered that the cooling feature on the driver’s side 2nd row seat does not work.
  7. The “soft close” door feature that we didn’t realize even existed until watching a video at home, does not work, unless it’s a setting that I need to go through - which you would think the dealer would explain during delivery...?
We are now planning on spending a good portion of the day today testing every single feature to make sure everything else works. It sucks that a $77,000 Christmas present to my wife is tarnished now and already my confidence in FMC is dropping FAST.

Hoping to build a list (actually hoping to NOT add to the existing one) and get this back to the dealer for a loaner and let them fix and RE-DELIVER the automobile we were excited for as it was being built these last few months.

Interested in hearing from you all and reading more here, hoping to get constructive but honest feedback on what I’m in for, good or bad, with my choice in buying what I expected to be a well-built luxury automobile. Praying I’m not regretting it, but not so happy after less than 24 hours...
 
Some States have a 3 day car return policy. I would very quickly tell the dealer you want a replacement. I would also photograph the paint flaws and error messages. I also suggest you email that to the dealer so you have something in writing. If you don't get an immediate satisfactory response from the dealer, I would contact Lincoln with the same information. I am sorry to hear of your plight; it is scary!

PS- Can you cancel your method of payment?
 
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Some States have a 3 day car return policy. I would very quickly tell the dealer you want a replacement. I would also photograph the paint flaws and error messages. I also suggest you email that to the dealer so you have something in writing. If you don't get an immediate satisfactory response from the dealer, I would contact Lincoln with the same information. I am sorry to hear of your plight; it is scary!

PS- Can you cancel your method of payment?
Not my state...
 
So, we took delivery of a beautiful Aviator Reserve yesterday afternoon after months of waiting for it to be built to the specs we chose in December. Unfortunately, the next few hours were less than special...
  1. Upon walkthrough at delivery, I found that the automatic folding seat in 2nd row on the passenger side doesn’t work. Pressing the button on top of the seat below the headrest does nothing, and the mechanism (which can be heard working on the driver’s side) does not make any sound at all.
  2. Sometime after 10:00PM my wife received a warning message on the Lincoln App (which shows it occurred at 3:15PM, oddly enough when we were at the dealership, parked, taking delivery) for a “Restraints Indicator Lamp Warning” saying that “The restraints control module has detected a fault with the second row passenger side seatbelt sensor.” We have 3 young children and this is a significant concern.
  3. At 10:57PM, upon returning from a 2-block drive to pick up one of our sons at a friends house, the dashboard showed a warning for the “second row passenger side seatbelt.” When I put the car in park, that was the first time the dashboard showed the warning. Again, 3 kids, not a safe feeling.
  4. Upon detailed inspection at home, after coming directly from the dealership lot, we found a dent in the front right fender in front of the passenger door.
  5. We also found a clear paint chip on the passenger door that had obviously been touched up with paint by the factory or dealership, and not so well that it wasn’t obvious.
  6. It was discovered that the cooling feature on the driver’s side 2nd row seat does not work.
  7. The “soft close” door feature that we didn’t realize even existed until watching a video at home, does not work, unless it’s a setting that I need to go through - which you would think the dealer would explain during delivery...?
We are now planning on spending a good portion of the day today testing every single feature to make sure everything else works. It sucks that a $77,000 Christmas present to my wife is tarnished now and already my confidence in FMC is dropping FAST.

Hoping to build a list (actually hoping to NOT add to the existing one) and get this back to the dealer for a loaner and let them fix and RE-DELIVER the automobile we were excited for as it was being built these last few months.

Interested in hearing from you all and reading more here, hoping to get constructive but honest feedback on what I’m in for, good or bad, with my choice in buying what I expected to be a well-built luxury automobile. Praying I’m not regretting it, but not so happy after less than 24 hours...
the soft close doors are only on the 2020 model year (don't know why they took it off in the 2021 model year)
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Very interesting. I questioned whether the soft-close doors were available on the 2021 Reserve because I couldn't find them in the options. They did come standard on my 2021 Black Label. The fact that the Op's vehicle was ordered in Dec. 2020 could indicate why there are so many quality problems that were prevalent on vehicles earlier than mine in the queue. The BlueNJ report had me worried though and as a result, I performed a more thorough check of functions such as the 3rd row seats and 2nd row air conditioning finding no flaws. So far the only quality problems I have found are a very minor paint flaw at the bottom edge of the rear hatch, the vertical window frame driver's side touch lock/unlock function is intermittent and a right front door panel that was not fully seated (corrected with a right uppercut :)). As an aside, I am not sure I see the benefit to soft close doors. So far, Lincoln quality and support are far better than several fairly recent European vehicles I have owned.

Thanks for your post.
 
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So, we took delivery of a beautiful Aviator Reserve yesterday afternoon after months of waiting for it to be built to the specs we chose in December. Unfortunately, the next few hours were less than special...
  1. Upon walkthrough at delivery, I found that the automatic folding seat in 2nd row on the passenger side doesn’t work. Pressing the button on top of the seat below the headrest does nothing, and the mechanism (which can be heard working on the driver’s side) does not make any sound at all.
  2. Sometime after 10:00PM my wife received a warning message on the Lincoln App (which shows it occurred at 3:15PM, oddly enough when we were at the dealership, parked, taking delivery) for a “Restraints Indicator Lamp Warning” saying that “The restraints control module has detected a fault with the second row passenger side seatbelt sensor.” We have 3 young children and this is a significant concern.
  3. At 10:57PM, upon returning from a 2-block drive to pick up one of our sons at a friends house, the dashboard showed a warning for the “second row passenger side seatbelt.” When I put the car in park, that was the first time the dashboard showed the warning. Again, 3 kids, not a safe feeling.
  4. Upon detailed inspection at home, after coming directly from the dealership lot, we found a dent in the front right fender in front of the passenger door.
  5. We also found a clear paint chip on the passenger door that had obviously been touched up with paint by the factory or dealership, and not so well that it wasn’t obvious.
  6. It was discovered that the cooling feature on the driver’s side 2nd row seat does not work.
  7. The “soft close” door feature that we didn’t realize even existed until watching a video at home, does not work, unless it’s a setting that I need to go through - which you would think the dealer would explain during delivery...?
We are now planning on spending a good portion of the day today testing every single feature to make sure everything else works. It sucks that a $77,000 Christmas present to my wife is tarnished now and already my confidence in FMC is dropping FAST.

Hoping to build a list (actually hoping to NOT add to the existing one) and get this back to the dealer for a loaner and let them fix and RE-DELIVER the automobile we were excited for as it was being built these last few months.

Interested in hearing from you all and reading more here, hoping to get constructive but honest feedback on what I’m in for, good or bad, with my choice in buying what I expected to be a well-built luxury automobile. Praying I’m not regretting it, but not so happy after less than 24 hours...
That is very interesting about your right front fender issue. After having our 2020 Aviator for several months, I noticed overspray on the right side of the hood after I had hand washed it. After closer inspection and in the right sunlight, I noticed a couple of blemishes and the fender was a slightly different color. Also the right front headlight had scrapes on it, there were push tabs missing from the inner fender cover and there were screws loose and hanging down from the right front fender/air dam area.
It was a very interesting conversation with the service dept. at the dealership. They actually noticed the issues, tried tracking it back but, found no paperwork trail. They fixed everything and our salesman had got upper management involved and they offered to trade out the vehicle. It was amazing how cooperative the dealership was.
 
That is very interesting about your right front fender issue. After having our 2020 Aviator for several months, I noticed overspray on the right side of the hood after I had hand washed it. After closer inspection and in the right sunlight, I noticed a couple of blemishes and the fender was a slightly different color. Also the right front headlight had scrapes on it, there were push tabs missing from the inner fender cover and there were screws loose and hanging down from the right front fender/air dam area.
It was a very interesting conversation with the service dept. at the dealership. They actually noticed the issues, tried tracking it back but, found no paperwork trail. They fixed everything and our salesman had got upper management involved and they offered to trade out the vehicle. It was amazing how cooperative the dealership was.
This forum is providing helpful information. Based on your above comments, I looked and found my left front fender liner to be torn at several of the attach points. I am taking the vehicle in for an oil change tomorrow and I will ask to have the liner replaced. Thanks for your input!
 
This forum is providing helpful information. Based on your above comments, I looked and found my left front fender liner to be torn at several of the attach points. I am taking the vehicle in for an oil change tomorrow and I will ask to have the liner replaced. Thanks for your input!
I took my Aviator in for an oil and filter change today and showed the dealer the fender liner damage. They have ordered a new one. I also took the opportunity to closely examine all vehicle underside areas while on the lift. Everything else looked fine. Lincoln needs to improve quality when such obvious assembly flaws seem to be pervasive.
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