IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK *JB
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
What owners actually said
240 reportsON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR AND SQUEAKING WHEN BRAKING. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY TURN THE FRONT ROTORS TWICE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION WHICH THE PROBLEM HAD RECURRED AND NOW THE FRONT ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCER…
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ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR AND SQUEAKING WHEN BRAKING. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY TURN THE FRONT ROTORS TWICE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION WHICH THE PROBLEM HAD RECURRED AND NOW THE FRONT ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND FILL OUT THE REMAINING QUESTIONNAIRE. *PH
CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING PREMATURELY.*AK
: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. I TOOK MY CAR INTO VELDE LINCOLN MERCURY IN PEORIA, ILL. 7/11/03 AND TOLD THEM THAT MY CAR WAS FISH TAILING IN THE FRONT. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW TIRES, THEY DID NOT TELL ME THAT ANYTHING ELSE WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR.I WAS GETTING NEW TIRES AND THE PLACE WHERE I PUT THE TIRES O…
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: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. I TOOK MY CAR INTO VELDE LINCOLN MERCURY IN PEORIA, ILL. 7/11/03 AND TOLD THEM THAT MY CAR WAS FISH TAILING IN THE FRONT. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW TIRES, THEY DID NOT TELL ME THAT ANYTHING ELSE WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR.I WAS GETTING NEW TIRES AND THE PLACE WHERE I PUT THE TIRES ON TOLD ME THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE. THEY TIGHTENED IT UP, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT IN TWO DAYS WITH LINCOLN IN SPRINGFIELD, ILL. TO GET IT LOOKED AT. THE NEXT NIGHT THE BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE I WAS GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR. I REINJURED MY BACK.*AK
MY HEADLIGHTS FILL UP WITH WATER WHENEVER ANY WATER IS PRESENT. IF IT RAINS OR I WASH THE CAR BOTH HEADLIGHTS LEAK WATER IN THE ASSEMBLY. I HAVE HAD AS MUCH AS 1/2" OF WATER IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. I HAVE TO REMOVE THE ASSEMBLIES AND DRAIN THE WATER THROUGH THE BULB SOCKET HOLES THEN REINSTALL THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PRO…
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MY HEADLIGHTS FILL UP WITH WATER WHENEVER ANY WATER IS PRESENT. IF IT RAINS OR I WASH THE CAR BOTH HEADLIGHTS LEAK WATER IN THE ASSEMBLY. I HAVE HAD AS MUCH AS 1/2" OF WATER IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. I HAVE TO REMOVE THE ASSEMBLIES AND DRAIN THE WATER THROUGH THE BULB SOCKET HOLES THEN REINSTALL THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE IS A POSSIBLITY OF SOMEONE HAVING WATER IN THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THEY COULD HIT A BUMP AND CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL BECAUSE OF THE WATER SPLASHING ON THE BULBS AND BURNING OUT, I HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, WITH ONE BULB. SOMEONE IS GOING TO A FATAL CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO PAY TO HAVE THEIR POOR DESIGN REPLACED WITH NEW LENSES AS RECOMMENDED BY MY DEALER.*AK
WHEN APPROACHING A STOP THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND NO COMMON DENOMINATORS CAN BE FOUND. THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN WHEN BRAKING, BUT ON OCCASION THE CAR WILL CONTINUE MOVING EVEN WHEN BRAKES ARE FULLY APPLIED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN STOP SIGNS, INTERSECTIONS, AND REAR ENDING OTHER VEHICLES. AL…
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WHEN APPROACHING A STOP THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND NO COMMON DENOMINATORS CAN BE FOUND. THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN WHEN BRAKING, BUT ON OCCASION THE CAR WILL CONTINUE MOVING EVEN WHEN BRAKES ARE FULLY APPLIED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN STOP SIGNS, INTERSECTIONS, AND REAR ENDING OTHER VEHICLES. ALSO WHEN BRAKING IT TAKES A LONG DISTANCE TO DO SO.*AK
WHINE IN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION DURING IDLE WHEN THE ENGINE RPM IS INCREASED OR DECREASED. NOISE IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT CITY SPEEDS (1000 TO 1400 RPM).PITCH CHANGES WITH ENGINE RPM. *NLM
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION. SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK UP. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
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.