IllustrationTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN THE RAIN. *NLM
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS CAUSING FUMES TO COME UP THROUGH THE VENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER AND DIED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY WATER GETTING INTO THE ENGINE MOTOR AND BLOWING IT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
HOLDS WATER FORD REFUSES TO FIX DESPITE WARRENTY. DT
THE CONSUMERS WASHED THE VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THAT WATER WAS BEHIND THE RIGHT HEADLAMP INDICATING THAT IT WAS LEAKING. THEY THEN NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND UNDER WARRANTY, THE CONSUMERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON FOR 15 MINUTES, AND THIS SHOULD TAKE CAR…
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THE CONSUMERS WASHED THE VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THAT WATER WAS BEHIND THE RIGHT HEADLAMP INDICATING THAT IT WAS LEAKING. THEY THEN NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND UNDER WARRANTY, THE CONSUMERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON FOR 15 MINUTES, AND THIS SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT DID NOT. THE CONSUMER THEN CALLED FORD TO INFORM THEM THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AND WANTED FORD TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP., FORD IN RETURN STATED THAT THEIR POLICY ON THIS PROBLEM WAS TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS NOT REPLACE THE LEAKING HEADLAMP. THE CONSUMER TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 45 MINUTES,BUT THERE WAS STILL WATER BEHIND THE HEADLAMP COVER. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE WATER CONDENSATION ON THE HEADLIGHT LAMP COVER WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT IS TRANSMITTED BY THE HEADLIGHT TO THE ROADWAY, LIMITING VISION FOR NIGHT DRIVING. *SCC *NLM
THE CAPS ON THE LUG NUTS ON THE FRONT WHEELS IS STRIPED CAUSING IT TO BEDIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE TIRE. TS
TS
I AM A 57 YEAR OLD REGISTERD NURSE. I WENT TO WORK AT SAINT ELIZABETHS HOSPITAL IN BRIGHTON. I STOPPED AT THE PARKING GARAGE ENTRANCE TO GET A PARKING TICKET. WHEN THE ARM WENT AND I BE GAN TO PULL IN TO THE GARAGE THE GAS PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE UNCONTROLABLY . I HAD BOTH FEET PRESSED FIRMLY ON TH…
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I AM A 57 YEAR OLD REGISTERD NURSE. I WENT TO WORK AT SAINT ELIZABETHS HOSPITAL IN BRIGHTON. I STOPPED AT THE PARKING GARAGE ENTRANCE TO GET A PARKING TICKET. WHEN THE ARM WENT AND I BE GAN TO PULL IN TO THE GARAGE THE GAS PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE UNCONTROLABLY . I HAD BOTH FEET PRESSED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. IT RACED FORWARD WITH THE WHEELS SCREECHING ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, I WAS TERRIFIED. THE CAR HIT A PARKED CAR WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT SPUN THE CAR 180 DEGREES AROUND. ALL DURING THIS TIME 5 TO 10 SECONDS AND ABOUT 100 FEET THE ENGINE WAS RACING AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS FLOORED. BOTH MY FEET WERE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. I HOPE SOMEONE TAKES THIS COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND MAKES THE DEALER FIX THIS CAR BEFORE I OR SOMEONE ELSE GETS KILLED. I AM TERRIFIED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I AM THOUROUGHLY UPSET THAT THIS IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I SEE FROM YOUR BOARD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. TS
THE CAR HAS SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO KNOWN CAUSE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED - COULD NOT DUPLICATE, AND COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE. IT HAS NOW HAPPENED TWICE AT HIGH SPEEDS. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN PROVIDED.*AK
PURCHASED CAR USED BUT STILL UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. HAVE ASKED FOR THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO EITHER REPLACE OR REFUND MY MONEY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO. ALSO I WAS IN A LOANER LS WHICH WAS A 2002 MODEL THAT HAD THE S…
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PURCHASED CAR USED BUT STILL UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. HAVE ASKED FOR THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO EITHER REPLACE OR REFUND MY MONEY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO. ALSO I WAS IN A LOANER LS WHICH WAS A 2002 MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR PERIODS OF TIMES. I SUSPECT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR.*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.