104 of the 1,366 complaints filed about the Lincoln LS are about the electrical system — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.
104
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
7
Crashes
2
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car accident with full left side impaction door will not open doors will not open and I was not able to move out of my seat and yet I was stuck behind the steering wheel behind smashed impacted buckled, steering wheel did not deploy the airbags
NHTSA complaint #11516435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11079093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR GOES INTO FAIL SAFE EACH AND EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. IT DID SO 19 TIMES TODAY. I CONNECTED A CODE READER WHICH IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEMS AS BEING RELATED TO THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND THE THROTTLE BODY. I PURCHASED THE CAR 1 1/2 MONTHS AGO. PRIOR OWNER HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WITH A NEW MOPAR UNIT 4 MONTHS AGO/ 2000.MILES AGO. DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN SINCE THIS IS LIKELY NOT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11043120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
COILS KEEP FAILING ON LOW MILEAGE CAR. ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH VARIOUS COMPONENTS AND SECURITY ALARM GOES OFF MANY TIMES EACH DAY.
NHTSA complaint #10990682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR TURNS ON AND RUNS BUT LOSES POWER RANDOMLY. IT EITHER SPUTTERS DEAD OR STALLS AND BACKFIRES. WHEN I TURN IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT REPEATS THE CYCLE. I HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMPS, THROTTLE BODY AND MAF SENSORS. AND STILL NO LUCK I SEE ON THE LINCOLN FORUMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM NOT YET RECOGNIZED BY THE NHSTA OR LINCOLN.
NHTSA complaint #10948483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000.
NHTSA complaint #10939508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ETC ENGINE FAIL SAFE - ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL REPLACED WITH OE... CONTINUES TO PRODUCE AN ETC ENGINE FAIL SAFE AND NO CODE(S) SPECIFICS FOR FAULTY COILS (OR WHICH COILS) (3 BAD COILS & PASSENGER SIDE VALVE/SPARK PLUG COVER GASKETS) OR POSSIBLE FAULTY ALTERNATOR. ALSO, CLIMATE CONTROL DEVICE FAILED 3 TIMES AND WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. CHEAP THIN WALLED ANTI-FREEZE AND WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR CRACKED DURING EXTREME COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10881943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TOOK TRANSMISSION FOR REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP COULD NOT LOAD NEW LINCOLN SOFTWARE ON NEW COMPUTER MODULE. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS AT ROWLETT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND NOW THE "ENGINE SIDE" OF THE NEW COMPUTER INSTALLED WILL NOT CLEAR. SAYS THERE IN AN ENGINE ISSUE NOW. THERE WAS NO ENGINE ISSUE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10875443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER PARKING CAR WOULD START UP BUT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR, WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP.RADIO WOULD NOT PLAY
NHTSA complaint #10716651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BRAND NEW BATTERY IN CAR. COME OUT TO START CAR. BATTERY IS DEAD. MY MECHANIC HAS CAR FOR THREE DAYS. HE TRIED TO FIND A SHORT. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE SURE ALL DOORS ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED AND LIGHTS ARE ALL OUT. THIS WAS AFTER MULTIPLE DEAD BATTERIES. I MADE SURE OF ALL THE ABOVE AND STILL CAME OUT TO DEAD BATTERIES. I MANUALLY TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AS I CAME OUT TO THEM BEING ON AFTER I HAD WATCHED THEM DIM AND GO OUT. I REPLACED THE NEW BATTERY WITH ANOTHER NEW BATTERY AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10605031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR HESITATES ON ACCELERATION SINCE IT WAS NEW. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONDITION GOT WORSE. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTS BUCKING AND MISFIRING. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SELLING LINCOLN DEALERSHIP (SESI LINCOLN MERCURY). THEY DEALERSHIP SAID THE DRIVERS DOOR NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. THIS MADE NO SENSE TO ME AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY SHORTLY AFTER THAT. NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND CAR HESITATES, BUCKS, STALLS AND RUNS ROUGH, MISFIRES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND MIL STARTS FLASHING. THE COWL PLASTIC PIECE HAS A POOR SEAL ON IT THAT LETS WATER ONTO THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND FORD ADMITS THAT SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, NOTHING A CUSTOMER CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS. FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE CARS AND FIXED THEM AT NO COST. THE FACT THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS WERE HIDING THE REAL REASON FOR THIS MISFIRE AND NOT REPAIRING THE VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY IS BREECH OF CONTRACT. FORD SHOULD BE FINED AND PUNISHED AND FORCED TO RECALL AND REPAIR ALL OF THESE CARS. I AM AN ASE MASTER MECHANIC. I TEACH AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THE CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED, IT LOOKS NEW. I FOUND THAT # 6 CYLINDER HAD A P0306 COIL MISFIRE DTC. I HAD TO REMOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD JUST TO SEE THE COIL ON PLUG SET UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BANK OF ENGINE. TURNS OUT THERE IS POOR SEALING OF THE WINDSHIELD COWL AREA AND WATER RUNS DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE AND ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE WATER SHORTS OUT THE COILS, SPARK PLUGS, COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN WET.
NHTSA complaint #10595849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT WAS DRIVING FINE ONE DAY UNTIL I WENT TO START IT. IT SAID ETC ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE, CHECK PARKING BRAKE AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE GEARS. IT STARTS SOMETIMES, I'VE HAD IT SHUT DOWN WHILE DOING 50 MPH AND LOSE STEERING AND BAD BRAKING. THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR MY NEWBORN IN THE CAR. NOW IT WONT START AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HOW CAN THEY SELL A CAR THAT THEY CANT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM ON THEMSELVES AND SELL IT?
NHTSA complaint #10553224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 01 LINCOLN LS 3.9 V8 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 11:30 PM. BY THE TIME IT WAS NOTICED, THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF WAS ENGULFED. IT EXPLODED ABOUT 3 TIMES (POSSIBLY THE AIRBAGS EXPLODING). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT REACHED THE FUEL TANK. I HAD DRIVEN IT AROUND AN HOUR BEFORE. THE MOST DAMAGE WAS NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF CAR NEAR WHERE THE HEADLIGHT AND AIR FILTER WERE LOCATED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD NOT BURNED AS INTENSE AS THE DRIVER SIDE. (THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF THE HOOD HAD COMPLETELY BURNED AWAY..) THE FIRE DEPT SAID IT POSSIBLY STARTED IN THE ENGINE BUT THE FIRE HAD BURNED SO MUCH THAT THEY COULD NOT BE SURE. NO INVESTIGATION SINCE I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 2008 AND HAVE NOTICED DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS SUCH AS RADIO VOLUME INCREASING, INDICATOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COMING ON/OFF (ATC, ABS, AIR BAG, ECT). ABOUT ONE MONTH BEFORE FIRE THE CAR WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH NOT STARTING AND RANDOMLY DYING AS I WAS DRIVING. THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND WAS NOT THE ISSUE. I LOVED MY CAR BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER FREE OF ISSUES. (WINDOW REGULATORS/CLIPS REPLACED EACH WINDOW TWICE, OIL IN CYLINDERS-REPLACED ALL CYLINDERS/COILS/ECT TWICE, CAR WOULD LOSE POWER/HESITATE OVER 40MPH, GAS PEDAL WOULD GET STUCK IF PRESSED TO QUICKLY CAUSING RPMS TO SURGE BUT CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 25-30 MPH AND WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD TO STOP (IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUT ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING WHATEVER WAS IN FRONT OF IT) I WOULD TEMP FIX THIS ISSUE BY FLICKING THE IDLE CONTROL LEVER (WHICH I NOTICED ONE OF THE "E CLIPS" HAD COME OFF OF ONE OF THE ARMS) NEAR THE THROTTLE BODY (WHICH WOULD ALSO GET STUCK OPEN/CLOSED AND HAVE TO BE CLEANED ON REG BASIS.) MANY MORE ISSUES NOT LISTED HERE... BEAUTIFUL CAR BUT DEFINITELY A LEMON...
NHTSA complaint #10545536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTED THE CAR UP AT 8 AM. ON MARCH 22, 2013 AND IT BEGAN TO SHAKE HARSHLY. ON THE DASH BOARD IT CAME UP ELECTRIC FAIL SAFE MODE. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR SHOOK EVEN HARDER. SO I PULLED OVER, AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. STARTED IT UP AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON.
NHTSA complaint #10504081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE TRAVELING ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH MY CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWED TO ABOUT 10 MPH CAUSING VEHICLES BEHIND ME TO BRAKE AND/OR SWERVE AROUND ME. A "WRENCH" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I FOUND AFTER GETTING TO A SAFE SPOT AND STOPPING, THAT THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE CAR WAS IN THE "LIMP MODE" WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER AND NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR I SHUT IF OFF AND UPON RESTARTING, THE WARNING "WRENCH" LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE CAR ACTED NORMALLY. I DROVE TO A MECHANICS AND FOUND THAT IT'S A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM, DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED THAT IT NEEDED A THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT. AFTER SPENDING OVER $525,THE PROBLEM RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR MANY OTHER FORD VEHICLES AND MUST BE TURNED INTO A RECALL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC OR ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT 65 MPH PLUS, THIS COULD QUITE POSSIBLY CAUSE A HIGH SPEED CHAIN REACTION FATAL CRASH. THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS JUST WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE USATODAY NEWSPAPER.
NHTSA complaint #10501292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE INTERMITTENT ERROR MESSAGES ABOUT THE PARKING BRAKE NEEDING SERVICE AND THE CLIMATE CONTROL BEGAN TO BLOW ONLY HOT AIR. VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILES, GARAGED METICULOUSLY, SERVICED. LINCOLN CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO HAVE DEALER RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND THEN THEY COULD KNOW WHETHER THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP WITH REPAIRS TO CLIMATE CONTROL. PAID 170.00 FOR DIAGNOSTICS, DEALER AND LINCOLN REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING STICKING ME WITH THE BILL. THEY MADE THE EXCUSE THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE I DIDN'T DRIVE IT ENOUGH. I WAS SHOCKED , ITS FIRST TIME THAT I'VE HEARD SUGGESTED THAT TAKING CARE OF SOMETHING CAUSED IT TO BREAK! . RIDICULOUSLY POOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DEPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10499467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR, ITS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS I'VE EXPERIENCED AREN'T ANY DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHER LS OWNERS. COIL PACKS GOING BAD, THE A/C BLOWING HOT AIR, THE CAR GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR. IT LOOKS LIKE THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE FORD STARTED PRODUCING THE CAR. NOW WONDER THEY NEEDED BAILOUT MONEY. I GOT IN MY CAR THIS MORNING AND IT WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE 3X'S BEFORE I COULD GET OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY! ALL OF THESE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR DATING AS FAR BACK AS 2001, AND NO RECALLS, C'MON MAN. MY TAX DOLLARS WENT TO HELP OUT THIS COMPANY!!!! [XXX]SHAME!!!! THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST TIME BUYING A FORD! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10482686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING DOWN THE SIDE STREET AND MY CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE. READS ETC .START UP WILL MOVE ABOUT 1/4 OF THE BLOCK AND DOES IT AGAIN. HAD TO KEEP TURNING IT OFF AND ON TO GET HOME.ONCE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR LS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. HAVE NOT GOT MY CAR FIX BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10478546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ENGINE FAILURES BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2005 AND HAVE CONTINUED THROUGH THIS DATE. THIS ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE TYPES OF PROBLEMS CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CREATE ERRONEOUS MECHANICAL READOUTS PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM PASSING STATE'S EMISSION INSPECTIONS. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN DUE TO FAULTY PLASTIC TENSIONERS CAUSING THE TIMING CHAINS TO BECOME LOOSE, THUS CAUSING ENGINE FAILURES. I'M LUCKY I WAS NOT GOING ANY FASTER WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED TWICE CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY STEERING CAPABILITIES, ETC. MOST MECHANICS ARE REPLACING IGNITION COILS BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING MISFIRE READINGS ON SPECIFIC CYLINDERS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE TIMING CHAINS THAT GO OUT EVENTUALLY. CURRENTLY, I HAVE FOUR DIAGNOSTIC READINGS ON MY ENGINE STATING THAT NUMBER 4 CYLINDER IS MISFIRING, WHEN INDEED TWO MECHANICS ARE STATING THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS THE PROBLEM AND ANOTHER EXPERT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM SELLS THE SPECIFIC KITS TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM OF FORD'S. CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION: HTTP://STORES.CHRISTOPHERSFOREIGNCARPARTS.COM/-STRSE-TEMPLATE/ABOUT/PAGE.BOK. I HAVE HAD ALL 8 CYLINDER IGNITION COILS CHANGED; SPARK PLUG BOOTS; AND VALVE COVER GASKETS REPLACED AND STILL THESE ARE MISFIRING. LINCOLN KNEW OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS AND CHANGED THE FACTORY WARRANTY ON ALL MODELS AFTER 2002 FROM 50,000 MILES TO 80,000. PLEASE REFER TO EDMUND'S BLOG SITE UNDER LINCOLN LS FOR ADDITIONAL OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. ALSO, I FILED A CONSUMER COMPLAINT BACK ON 10.25.2007 AT THE STATE OF MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. FORD WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION CLAIMING THE CAR HAD TOO MANY MILES AND WAS TOO OLD.
NHTSA complaint #10467343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE HORN FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10465190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.