by Gabrielle DeSantis

Having something go wrong with your vehicle can be a real issue. This is just what some owners of the 2020 Lincoln Aviator faced. This new SUV model provides drivers with style and luxury, but some owners also had to deal with electrical system problems, which can lead to all sorts of issues. Here’s what went wrong with their 2020 Lincoln Aviator SUVs.

Electrical system problems in the 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The Lincoln Aviator | VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Very few problems with the 2020 Lincoln Aviator have been submitted to CarComplaints.com, a website that accepts vehicle complaints from owners. However, Car Complaints found that nine issues had been submitted to the NHTSA about electrical system problems with the 2020 Aviator.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the U.S. federal government agency that collects owner complaints as part of its transportation safety work.

The electrical problems have affected the Aviator’s backup camera, door locks, and sometimes its ability to drive properly. Some owners mentioned issues with the electric parking brake engaging while driving, a false engine coolant warning that prevented the engine from working properly, the failure of some of the advanced safety features, and the battery dying after one of the problems began. The backup camera is now covered by a recall.

How severe these electrical system problems are

While the electrical issues in the 2020 Lincoln Aviator have not resulted in crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths, owners did rate them with a severity rating of 8.7, or pretty bad. The issues began appearing on average at the low mileage of just 2,942 miles.

The electrical issues affect safety ranging from an inability to use the backup camera or other advanced safety features to being locked in the car. In the worst cases, owners were unable to drive their Aviators and had to have them towed.

What owners have experienced with the 2020 Lincoln Aviator

Owners shared their experiences with the NHTSA. One owner described what happened with the backup camera: “In reverse (both static and in motion), rearview camera flickers constantly between image and black screen making it unsafe to use car in reverse and depend on camera for visibility of obstacles. 4+ attempts to fix by Lincoln, including replacement of the rear backup camera under warranty, have not resolved this safety issue.”

Another talked about getting locked in the car: “Electronic door release on the interior drivers door has failed at 2200 miles. The button does not work at all and is loose in the door. This prevents exit from inside the car without using the manual override or rolling down the window to access the outside handle.”

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator

After existing for just a few years in the early 2000s, the Lincoln Aviator was relaunched as a brand-new model for 2020. The Aviator is the smaller version of the Lincoln Navigator. One of its cool features is that it has buttons that open the power doors instead of interior door handles. However, this is one of the features that has experienced issues.

The Aviator has a powerful 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine, producing 400 hp. That is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available. A plug-in-hybrid version, called the Aviator Grand Touring, is also available.

The Aviator offers plenty of tech features and lots of comfort. That includes an optional 28-speaker audio system and available 30-way massaging seats in the front. It provides a good amount of cargo room, but its third row is a bit snug, says Car and Driver.

It comes standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced safety features comes standard and includes blind spot monitoring, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, a rearview camera, and automatic high beams. Co-Pilot360 Plus is available. It adds traffic-sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and a self-parking feature.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator has a high-quality interior and a powerful engine, but owners should be aware of the potential for electrical system problems. These issues could affect a wide variety of features within the SUV.

RELATED: Advanced Safety Features Are Driving up the Cost of Car Repairs

The post Some 2020 Lincoln Aviator Models Faced Electrical System Problems appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is one of the best compact crossovers available today. With its elegant exterior, visually appealing cabin, and exciting driving experience, the CX-5 has most of the features consumers are looking for in a smaller SUV. It’s also loaded with great tech.

Speaking of tech, the latest Mazda CX-5 has one drawback. Which feature is it missing? Would it be a deal breaker for you?

A nice big display screen

Manufactured Mazda CX-5 models | Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images

One of the new features for the 2021 Mazda CX-5 is a new infotainment system. You get the new Mazda Connect interface with the updated system which includes Mazda Connected Services like access to remote vehicle functions using an app on your phone, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

It also comes with a bigger 10.3-inch display screen that’s standard across the lineup. Many SUV shoppers will like the bigger screen that is now mounted at the top of the dashboard. It’s especially impressive when you consider the Honda CR-V only has a 5.0-inch standard screen with a 7.0-inch version available.

Okay, before you get excited, realize that the new, bigger screen is simply a display screen – not a touchscreen. 

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 lacking this feature a deal-breaker?

The new 10.3-inch display screen replaces the previous 7.0-inch version. The system is still navigated using a rotary controller and a center console volume knob. You can also use voice commands and buttons on the steering wheel for added convenience.

While the infotainment system is definitely geared toward safety, for some the inability to switch channels will be a problem. When a touchscreen is used, the driver’s attention is taken away from the road which is a safety risk. The system in the Mazda CX-5 positions the screen so you don’t have to look too far away from the road ahead. The controls are easy to use and consistent.

For music fans, the problem could be vexing. It’s even more so when you consider just how good the audio system sounds.

The 2021 Mazda CX-5

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-5 an SUV you should still consider buying? Absolutely.

The CX-5 offers an upscale vibe without a luxury sticker price according to Car and Driver. While the base engine is average on paper, it feels faster than it is. With its nimble handling and exciting driving dynamics, particularly with the turbocharged engine, the CX-5 is one of the most fun SUVs in its class to drive. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s visually elegant inside and out.

There’s also a new Carbon Edition added to the lineup. This special edition has a distinct Polymetal Gray paint color with red upholstery. You can get the turbo-four with the Carbon Edition without having to pay for one of the top two trim levels to get it.

You get all the features of the Touring models along with the features in the Preferred SV package. That adds a Bose audio system, power liftgate, sunroof, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and more. The Carbon Edition models also get distinctive styling cues for both exterior and interior. It’s outfitted with 19-inch black wheels and a black metallic grille.

The Signature trim gets a better quality 360-degree camera, rear automated emergency braking, and a driver attention alert system.

If you need another reason to consider the CX-5, let’s talk about safety. The 2021 Mazda CX-5 was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also earned a five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA).

You also get a full slate of driver-assist features like standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure alert with lane-keeping assist. 

While it may not have a touchscreen, there’s still a lot there that shows why you should give the 2021 Mazda CX-5 a shot.

RELATED: The 2021 Mazda CX-5 Is the Mary Poppins of Compact SUVs

The post The 2021 Mazda CX-5 Will Disappoint You if You Assume It Has This Infotainment Feature appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Cracked windshields are a way of life for any avid Jeep enthusiast. After the third or fourth Jeep Wrangler cracked windshield, most Jeep drivers just come to expect it. However, with the recent uptick of Jeep owners following all the new Wrangler models and the Jeep Gladiator, many new Jeepsters are pulling out their hair over a cracked windshield on their brand-new Jeep. Thankfully, Jeep is now working with Gorilla Glass to offer a solution. 

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited | Jeep

Why do Jeep Wranglers get cracked windshields so often? 

Jeep is now offering Gorilla Glass windshields to combat the constant cracking and chips that come with having a nearly flat windshield. Jeep Wranglers and Jeep Gladiators have always struggled with this annoying issue. 

On the one hand, the flat rectangular windshield of a Wrangler is one of the defining features that give proper Jeeps their look. On the other hand, it is a deeply flawed design that results in a chip or a crack if even the smallest pebble is kicked up. 

What is Gorilla Glass?

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe driving on a city street
2021 Jeep wrangler 4xe | Jeep

Gorilla Glass is often used in smartphone screens these days. Born from similarly annoying cracked screens, many phone manufacturers started making phone screens from this much more durable material. 

According to CarScoops, Jeep just informed dealers that orders for the Gorilla Glass windshields are now open. Not only are these new Jeep Wrangler windshields stronger, but they are also thinner and lighter. 

How do you get a Gorilla Glass Jeep Wrangler windshield?

A red 2021 Jeep Gladiator, with a diesel engine, the 2021 Jeep Gladiator is one of the most fuel-efficient new pickups
2021 Jeep Gladiator | Stellantis

These new Jeep Wrangler windshields are offered on Wrangler Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, Rubicon 392, Sahara 4xe, and Rubicon 4xe models, as well as the Gladiator Willys, Overland, Rubicon, and Mojave models. The Gorilla Glass windshield will cost an additional $95. 

CarScoops also mentions that this isn’t the first time Gorilla Glass windshields have been used in the automotive world. The latest generation of the legendary Ford GT also has a Gorilla Glass windshield. It is also found as an optional extra on other high-end hypercars like the McLaren Senna. 

Jeep teased its introduction to the Jeep world with the Jeep Wrangler Orange Peelz concept at the 2021 Easter Jeep Safari. That radical Wrangler concept featured the Gorilla Glass windshield. 

This new Jeep Wrangler windshield may not be the most exciting addition to the line, but it is easily one of the most useful additions Jeep has added in a very long time. Mopar agrees, saying that they anticipate at least 80 percent of new Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator orders to come with the Gorilla Glass windshield. 

Bring on the practical changes 

Honestly, for an extra $95, a Jeep customer would have to be a fool not to snag this option. It will pay for itself. Just ask any older Jeep head. Over time, the frustration and money it costs to continuously replace that rectangular piece of glass is enough to make you almost not want a Wrangler. 

Jeep is making tremendous strides to update and become more practical. The Wrangler used to be little more than a toy that you could choose to drive daily if you wish. These days, the Wrangler and Gladiator are full-blown SUVs with real seating, four doors, real roofs, and now a functional windshield. 

It’s a bit of departure from the old days of cheap, rugged, and niche Wranglers, but that doesn’t mean it’s worse. 

RELATED: Jeep Got the 2020 Gladiator Wrong

The post The 2021 Jeep Wrangler and 2021 Jeep Gladiator Will Have Fewer Cracked Windshields appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There are a lot of smaller SUVs for buyers to choose from these days. With so many competitors, sometimes a vehicle that was popular just isn’t anymore. The Buick Encore, like any vehicle, has pluses and minuses, but the negatives seem to be weighing more heavily these days. Sales for the Buick Encore have slipped in recent years and fell off a cliff in 2020.

Falling sales for the Buick Encore

The 2020 Buick Encore | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Introduced for the 2013 model year, the Buick Encore took a little while to catch on. A refresh in 2017 helped out as well, points out Consumer Reports. In the United States, just 31,956 units of the Encore sold in 2013, its first year, reports GoodCarBadCar. There was steady growth each year until it hit its peak sales with 102,401 units sold in 2019.

Since then, sales of the Encore have fallen dramatically. In 2020, 44,353 units sold, and 2021 is on track to be even worse. Just 6,228 units sold in the first quarter of 2021. Sales in Canada peaked in 2018 with 10,637 units sold, and there has been a steep decline in sales since then in Canada too.

The effects of the pandemic on sales

The pandemic had a big effect on the auto industry, hurting production as well as sales in 2020. The first quarter of 2021, though, saw big increases in sales. Overall, the first quarter of 2021 was up 11 percent over the previous year’s first quarter. March saw a 61.9 percent jump compared to March of 2020. And that increase is even though pandemic-related shutdowns didn’t really begin until halfway through March of 2020.

The Buick Encore, on the other hand, did not experience a rebound during March of 2021. After selling 4,289 units in March of 2020, just 2,242 units of the Encore sold in March of 2021. That’s a drop in sales of almost 50 percent.

The Buick Encore might just have a quality issue

It might be that people aren’t buying the Buick Encore because it isn’t as great as other options out there. The 2021 Encore just barely makes it into the top 10, coming in at 10th in the U.S. News ranking of subcompact SUVs.

The Encore has a nice ride, a good-looking cabin, and an easy-to-use infotainment system. It is easy to maneuver, since it’s small, and there’s plenty of space for passengers. The interior has mostly high-quality finishes, giving it an almost luxury feel, and its 8-inch touchscreen is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

However, the Buick Encore also has what U.S. News describes as a “feeble engine.” It has a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 138 hp, which is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. On top of that, the Encore has an above-average starting price, which doesn’t help either. It starts at $23,200 and, as of 2021, only has two trim levels. It also doesn’t come standard with a long list of advanced safety features.

An additional factor in the Buick Encore’s falling sales number could be the arrival of the Encore GX in 2020, explains U.S. News. While they have very similar names, these two subcompact SUVs are different vehicles, and the Encore GX had much stronger sales than the Encore in the first quarter of 2021.

The Encore GX has two engine options: a 137-hp 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine or a 155-hp 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine.

While the pandemic played a role in shrinking sales, the Buick Encore’s declining quality also has buyers looking elsewhere.

RELATED: The 2021 Buick Encore GX Is Joining Its Luxury Competitors With This Feature

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