IllustrationVEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND FORCED INTO GUARDRAIL STRAIGHT ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
2001 Lincoln Ls
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ls years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Lincoln Ls are substantially higher than the model-year median of 91.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ls years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
1225–50K
3350–75K
5275–100K
50100–150K
7150K+
166 reports with mileage · 74 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Suspension. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports1 fire reports11 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
33 reportsVEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, GEARSHIFT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT/ BACK UP LIGHT WERE NOT WORKING. *AK CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DRIFTED ACROSS THE CENTER LANE AND SIDESWIPED 2 VEHICLES, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, HOWEVER THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS RELATED TO RECALL 00V35…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, GEARSHIFT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT/ BACK UP LIGHT WERE NOT WORKING. *AK CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DRIFTED ACROSS THE CENTER LANE AND SIDESWIPED 2 VEHICLES, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, HOWEVER THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS RELATED TO RECALL 00V359001, PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED. CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED AND DEALER HAD TO REPOSITION A DROPPED AIR BAG. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED ACROSS CENTER LANE, AND SIDE SWIPED ONCOMING TRUCK. DAMAGE WAS $ 7200. AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER, ABOUT 45 DEGREES. DEALER THEN ALIGNED FRONT END. 2 WEEKS LATER, WHEEL WENT OFF CENTER OI OTHER DIRECTION BY 45 DEGREES. DEALER THEN FOUND ONE LOWER BA…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED ACROSS CENTER LANE, AND SIDE SWIPED ONCOMING TRUCK. DAMAGE WAS $ 7200. AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER, ABOUT 45 DEGREES. DEALER THEN ALIGNED FRONT END. 2 WEEKS LATER, WHEEL WENT OFF CENTER OI OTHER DIRECTION BY 45 DEGREES. DEALER THEN FOUND ONE LOWER BALL JOINT MISSING. AND SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT COMPONENT. CONSUMER DID NOT GET RECALL LETTER , DALER CHECKED VIN, AND THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. AFTER REPAIR WAS DONE, REPAIR BILL STATED LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE, NOT MISSING. THEN WHEEL WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. DEALER THEN REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY AND RESET AIRBAG. CONSUMER FELT INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY MISSING BALL JOINT. *AK
Official recalls
100V359001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Nov 3, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS WHEN THEY WERE ATTACHED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, THEY CAN LOOSEN AND, ULTIMATELY, RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE BALL JOINT STUD. IF THE BALL JOINT FRACTURES, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE TWO BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS. VEHICLES WITH LOOSE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS WILL EITHER HAVE THE FASTENERS TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION, OR IF NECESSARY, THE BALL JOINTS WILL BE REPLACED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.