Lincoln bulletin SSM 51536
Lincoln filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Apr 4, 2023, received May 4, 2023, about the structure. It names 43 model years (2016–2023). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are followed when diagnosing the condition prior to all module replacements and only order modules using the correct VIN.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 51536 | Service bulletin | Apr 4, 2023 | 10235153 |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5; the full text comes from the manufacturer or a dealer. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. Quote it at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themand 1 more model years on this site.
Also filed against model years this site has no page for: 2019 Lincoln MKX; 2020 Lincoln MKX.
A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Lincoln SSM 51536 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the SSM 51536 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does SSM 51536 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 43 model years: 2023 Lincoln Aviator, 2022 Lincoln Aviator, 2021 Lincoln Aviator, 2020 Lincoln Aviator, 2020 Lincoln Continental, 2019 Lincoln Continental and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.