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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Suspension complaints

110 reports
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80,000 miles · Jan 2, 2009
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE YANKED TO THE LEFT AS IF THE CONTACT HAD LOST CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE CONTROL ARM AND KNUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND STATED THAT HE WAS IN DANGER OF THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE YANKED TO THE LEFT AS IF THE CONTACT HAD LOST CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE CONTROL ARM AND KNUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND STATED THAT HE WAS IN DANGER OF THE WHEEL ACTUALLY DETACHING IF THE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10253593

73,400 miles · Nov 18, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,400. UPDATED 12/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10249103

100,000 miles · Nov 3, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURREN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10247622

26,000 miles · Jul 9, 2008
Power TrainSuspension

3 OF 4 WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED IN A 2001 LINCOLN LS WITH APPROXIMATELY 26,000 ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233624

700,000 miles · Jun 25, 2008
Suspension

WHEN I WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL ON MY CAR I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN 2006 FOR REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED AND THAT WAS ALL THAT WOULD BE DONE. SINCE THE INSPECTION BOTH BALL JOINTS FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSE A ACCIDENT . MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE BA…

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WHEN I WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL ON MY CAR I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN 2006 FOR REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED AND THAT WAS ALL THAT WOULD BE DONE. SINCE THE INSPECTION BOTH BALL JOINTS FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSE A ACCIDENT . MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE BALL JOINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232239

89,000 miles · May 30, 2008
Air BagsSuspensionUnknown Or Other

AIR BAG LIGHT ON WON'T GO OFF/FRONT SUSPENSION MAKING NOISE (BALL JOINTS) HORN WON'T WORK AND WINDOW MOTOR BROKE IN 2007 WE REPLACED FRONT DRIVER NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE FRONT PASSENGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229317

79,200 miles · May 23, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT HARD WHEN GOING ON A BUMP. AS A RESULT, THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TREAD ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,200. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS 05/20/2008.

NHTSA ODI #10228757

110,236 miles · May 19, 2008
Suspension

2001 LINCOLN LS HAS A RECALL NOTICE #00V359001 FOR FRONT BALL JOINTS NOT BEING TIGHTENED TO SPEC CAUSING FAILURE. MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE LISTED, HOWEVER THE BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING $1800 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I KNOW THAT MANUFACTURERS CAN NOT DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT CARS WERE EFFECTED AND WHAT CARS WERE NOT, …

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2001 LINCOLN LS HAS A RECALL NOTICE #00V359001 FOR FRONT BALL JOINTS NOT BEING TIGHTENED TO SPEC CAUSING FAILURE. MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE LISTED, HOWEVER THE BALL JOINTS FAILED CAUSING $1800 WORTH OF DAMAGE. I KNOW THAT MANUFACTURERS CAN NOT DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT CARS WERE EFFECTED AND WHAT CARS WERE NOT, SO TO EXCLUDE MY VEHICLE FROM THE REPAIR DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. WITH JUST 100,000 MILES ON A CAR THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY A COUPLE IN THE MID 50'S THE BALL JOINTS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE THE SWAY BAR WAS ALSO DAMAGED. MY WIFE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF I DID NOT FIX THE RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228156

146,000 miles · Apr 29, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THERE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS BE REPLACED. AS OF APRIL 29, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REP…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THERE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS BE REPLACED. AS OF APRIL 29, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V359001) HOWEVER, THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #10226092

87,000 miles · Apr 20, 2008
Suspension

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THOUGHT I HAD A BLOWOUT ON A TIRE, SLOWED DOWN AND THEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AND STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. A CITY CREW WAS ABLE TO JACK UP THE CAR, THEY FOUND THAT THE NUT ON THE BALL JOINT WAS STILL ON THE SUSPENSION. THEY RECONNECTED T…

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WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THOUGHT I HAD A BLOWOUT ON A TIRE, SLOWED DOWN AND THEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AND STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. A CITY CREW WAS ABLE TO JACK UP THE CAR, THEY FOUND THAT THE NUT ON THE BALL JOINT WAS STILL ON THE SUSPENSION. THEY RECONNECTED THE BALL JOINT AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE BALL JOINT. IT WAS NOW BAD . YOU CAN PULL UP AND DOWN ON IT. THE BALL JOINT SEPARATED BECAUSE THE NUT BACK OFF, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANY THREADS AND THE CREW WAS ABLE TO REUSE THE SAME NUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225196

Official recalls

1

00V359001 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.