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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 →
240Owner complaints

Model-year median: 91

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
354
2000240
2001121
200268
200391
2004
Compare all Ls years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
110Air Bags
33Engine And Engine Cooling
26Visibility
16Electrical System
14
All reported categories
Power Train
14Steering
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12Structure
11Vehicle Speed Control
11Wheels
9Equipment
7Exterior Lighting
6Engine
5Seats
4Seat Belts
3Unknown Or Other
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Tires
2Interior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes
1Traction Control System
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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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71,000 miles · Jan 15, 2007
Suspension

LOUD WARBLING NOISE COMING FROM BACK END OF VEHICLE. DEALER CHANGED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WHICH FIXED SOME OF THE PROBLEMS BUT ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. TOTAL COST $3,000 FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 71,000 MILES ON IT. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT A PROPERLY DESIGNED AND BUILT VEHICLE CAN REQUIRE SUCH A SUBSTANTIA…

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LOUD WARBLING NOISE COMING FROM BACK END OF VEHICLE. DEALER CHANGED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WHICH FIXED SOME OF THE PROBLEMS BUT ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. TOTAL COST $3,000 FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 71,000 MILES ON IT. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT A PROPERLY DESIGNED AND BUILT VEHICLE CAN REQUIRE SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL FIX AFTER SO FEW MILES? I MAINTAIN THAT THE DESIGN IS FLAWED, FORCING THE BEARINGS TO SIT NOT SQUARE ON THE WHEELS AND THE GEARS TO GRIND IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD FIX. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178719

99,500 miles · Jan 9, 2007
SuspensionWheels

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH THE WHEEL CAVED IN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATE THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A COPY OF RECALL #00V359001. THE CONTACT CALLED FORD, WHO STATED THE RECALL WAS NOT RELA…

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH THE WHEEL CAVED IN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATE THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A COPY OF RECALL #00V359001. THE CONTACT CALLED FORD, WHO STATED THE RECALL WAS NOT RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT FORD WASN'T ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WILL FURTHER INVESTIGATE, AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED AS THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING IF IT HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT AT A MUCH FASTER SPEED.*AK UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10178214

95,000 miles · Dec 25, 2006
Suspension

2001 LINCOLN LS V8...LOOSE BALL JOINTS CAUSING MAJOR DRIVING PROBLEMS. FIRST COMPLAINT IN NOV. WHEN THE CAR APPEARED TO BE DRIVING ON ICE...I COULDN'T CONTROL THE STEERING. WHEN TOOK TO GET CHECKED OUT, REP STATED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. FOUND IT TO BE A LOOSE BALL JOINT. TIGHTENED, AND THEN 2 WEEKS LATER, T…

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2001 LINCOLN LS V8...LOOSE BALL JOINTS CAUSING MAJOR DRIVING PROBLEMS. FIRST COMPLAINT IN NOV. WHEN THE CAR APPEARED TO BE DRIVING ON ICE...I COULDN'T CONTROL THE STEERING. WHEN TOOK TO GET CHECKED OUT, REP STATED RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. FOUND IT TO BE A LOOSE BALL JOINT. TIGHTENED, AND THEN 2 WEEKS LATER, THE PROBLEM WAS BACK...WORSE...THIS TIME, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT BALL JOINTS WERE TIGHTENED, AND THIS LASTED TIL I DROVE THE CAR HOME. SAID THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A BIG EXPENSE ON MY PART...NOT TO MENTION THE REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES, ROTORS, AND TIRES. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE VERY LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10176911

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2006
Suspension

CAR PULLS AND WEAVES. TOOK CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. THEY INDICATED RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM BROKEN. RUINED FRONT TIRES ($177 EACH - LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON THEM). FOUND NHTSA RECALL INFO. TALKED TO LOCAL DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE. BOTH ASSERT THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF RECALL 00V359001. I'M PAYING INDEPENDENT …

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CAR PULLS AND WEAVES. TOOK CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. THEY INDICATED RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM BROKEN. RUINED FRONT TIRES ($177 EACH - LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON THEM). FOUND NHTSA RECALL INFO. TALKED TO LOCAL DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE. BOTH ASSERT THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF RECALL 00V359001. I'M PAYING INDEPENDENT SHOP TO REPAIR (AND KEEPING OLD PARTS AND RECEIPTS IN THE EVENT LINCOLN CONFESS TO THEIR PROBLEM.) *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175933

97,000 miles · Nov 21, 2006
Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND. THE NON SERVICE DEALER EXPRESSED THE WHEELS COULD FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL #00V359001 DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10174008

59,000 miles · Oct 11, 2006
Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S STEERING MADE SOUNDS FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A NON-SERVICE DEALER CONFIRMED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL #00V359001 REGARDING SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S STEERING MADE SOUNDS FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A NON-SERVICE DEALER CONFIRMED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL #00V359001 REGARDING SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10170563

76,400 miles · Sep 22, 2006
Suspension

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. I BELIEVE MY LEFT BALL JOINT HAS WORN OUT DUE TO INADEQUATE TORQUE OF THE LOWER BALL STUD-ATTACHING NUTS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE BALL JOINT, BUT NOT UNDER SAFETY RECALL 00S39. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169006

70,000 miles · Jul 11, 2006
Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH, THE BOLT ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HIT THE FENDER, AND ALSO DAMAGED THE DOOR. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10MPH, THE BOLT ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HIT THE FENDER, AND ALSO DAMAGED THE DOOR. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10162120

95,000 miles · May 8, 2006
SuspensionCrashInjury

I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WHEN MY FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT CAME APART TEARING MY CARS FENDER OFF AND RUINING MY TIRE AND WHEEL . I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156982

65,000 miles · Apr 25, 2006
Suspension

TOOK CAR TO SHOP THINKING I HAD AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, THE ISSUE IS THE LOWER BALL JOINT NUT WAS ALMOST OFF AND CAUSED MUCH DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, DENTED RIM, ALIGNMENT, HOLE IN SPLASH SHIELD, WORE THE ROTOR, ETC. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156051

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.