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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

What owners actually said

240 reports
74,955 miles · Feb 2, 2007
Air Bags

AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING WENT BAD ON THE 2001 LINCOLN LS THIS CLOCK SPRING CONTROLS THE SRS SYSTEM. I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD BE THE CAR OWNERS PROBLEM TO PAY FOR THIS PART IF IT GOES BAD AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181430

74,955 miles · Feb 2, 2007
Air Bags

SRS CLOCKSPRING ON LINCOLN LS 2001 BAD CLOCKSPRING WITCH CONTROLS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM GONE BAD.. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181426

76,000 miles · Feb 1, 2007
Suspension

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LX. THE CONTACT COMPLAIINED ABOUT SAFETY RECALL 00V359001 CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THE SAFETY RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD A BROKEN BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED …

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LX. THE CONTACT COMPLAIINED ABOUT SAFETY RECALL 00V359001 CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THE SAFETY RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD A BROKEN BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10181364

98,000 miles · Jan 19, 2007
Steering

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING HIS 2001 LINCOLN LS AT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, CAUSING HIS CAR TO BE MISALIGNED. THIS CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS AND HIS TIRES TO BECOME LOOSE AND DAMAGED. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THESE PROBLEMS THE COST FOR THE VEHICLE'S REPAIR WAS $800.00. THE …

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TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING HIS 2001 LINCOLN LS AT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, CAUSING HIS CAR TO BE MISALIGNED. THIS CAUSED THE BALL JOINTS AND HIS TIRES TO BECOME LOOSE AND DAMAGED. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THESE PROBLEMS THE COST FOR THE VEHICLE'S REPAIR WAS $800.00. THE MISALIGNMENT CAUSED HIS TIRES TO BE WORN UNEVENLY SO THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC THAT DID THE REPAIRS STATED THAT THERE WAS A NARROW RECALL ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY A CERTAIN FACILITY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179198

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2007
SuspensionCrash

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING TIRE CAME OFF OF HER 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT CALLED HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND INFORMED THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE INSURANCE DENIED HER CLAIM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL. WHEN SHE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. ABOUT THIS FAILURE, THEY INFORMED HER THAT HER CAR WAS NOT COVERED …

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TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING TIRE CAME OFF OF HER 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT CALLED HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND INFORMED THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE INSURANCE DENIED HER CLAIM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL. WHEN SHE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. ABOUT THIS FAILURE, THEY INFORMED HER THAT HER CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10179041

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

65,000 miles · Jan 4, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAR WAS RUNNING OUT OF COOLANT VERY FAST. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. YOU CAN SMELL FUMES COMING THROUGH THE HEATING VENTS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & OIL IS MIXING WITH THE SPARK PLUGS & WITH A WATER MIDST. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 09/2005 WITH 39,000 MILES. ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED AT 67,000 MILES. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO …

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THE CAR WAS RUNNING OUT OF COOLANT VERY FAST. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. YOU CAN SMELL FUMES COMING THROUGH THE HEATING VENTS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & OIL IS MIXING WITH THE SPARK PLUGS & WITH A WATER MIDST. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 09/2005 WITH 39,000 MILES. ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED AT 67,000 MILES. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN 5 MONTHS. ESTIMATE COST TO REPLACE WITH A USED ENGINE IS $3,794.60. THE DEALER SOLD THIS CAR IN THIS CONDITION. THEY NEED TO RECALL ALL THE LINCOLN LS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177723

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MIS-FIRING COILS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF VALVE COVER GASKETS. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 8 COILS AND VALVE COVER GASKET SEALS. PARTS $$ OVER 800, LABOR FOR WORK WAS ANOTHER $1000. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10176993

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

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.