← New search

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
85,000 miles · Apr 8, 2013
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE SEAT BELTS SEIZED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AP…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE SEAT BELTS SEIZED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10507536

72,678 miles · Mar 29, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2001 LINCOLN MERCURY LS V-8 WITH 72,678 MILES ON THE ODOMETER .. FREQUENTLY (WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS) I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AROUND TOWN IN THE 25-45 MPH SPEED RANGE. HITTING THE BRAKES FAILS TO OVERRIDE THE ACCELERATION. THE ONLY SOLUTION TO PREVENT AN A…

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2001 LINCOLN MERCURY LS V-8 WITH 72,678 MILES ON THE ODOMETER .. FREQUENTLY (WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS) I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AROUND TOWN IN THE 25-45 MPH SPEED RANGE. HITTING THE BRAKES FAILS TO OVERRIDE THE ACCELERATION. THE ONLY SOLUTION TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT OR TO SLOW THE VEHICLE IS TO THROW THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND CLEAR THE ACCELERATION WITH A HARD PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE THE CAR IS NEUTRAL. THE OTHER REMEDY IS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION WHILE IN TRAFFIC. NEITHER ONE OF THESE SOLUTIONS IS ACCEPTABLE AND FORD/LM DENIES THAT THIS ISSUE EXISTS ON ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES DATING BACK 10-15 YEARS. MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS A 2000 CROWN VICTORIA AND I EXPERIENCED THE VERY SAME ISSUE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED 60,000 MILES. FORD/LM IS WELL ARE OF THESE ISSUES AND HAS FAILED TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR FEAR OF LIABILITY AND THE COST TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT AN OWNER SHOULD DO IN THIS SITUATION. I BELIEVE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS RECENTLY BEEN FILED AGAINST FORD/LM ON BEHALF OF OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. IN THE MEAN TIME THE COMPANY FAILS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER A GOVERNMENT ORDERED RECALL OR WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504949

135,000 miles · Jan 21, 2013
Power Train

CAR TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NOW ONLY DRIVE AND REVERSE WORK, SO THE CAR STARTS OFF IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY. DOES NOT SHIFT TO OVERDRIVE OR DOWNSHIFT TO LOWER GEARS. REPLACED SOLENOID BLOCK FOR $400 AND HAVE IT IN TRANSMISSION SHOP NOW. MECHANIC CLEARS CODES, AND ALL FAI…

Read full complaint

CAR TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NOW ONLY DRIVE AND REVERSE WORK, SO THE CAR STARTS OFF IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY. DOES NOT SHIFT TO OVERDRIVE OR DOWNSHIFT TO LOWER GEARS. REPLACED SOLENOID BLOCK FOR $400 AND HAVE IT IN TRANSMISSION SHOP NOW. MECHANIC CLEARS CODES, AND ALL FAILURE CODES THEN REAPPEAR THE MOMENT THE ENGINE IS STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493653

67,000 miles · Jan 11, 2013
SteeringSuspension

I AM A 66 YR OLD WIDOW, OWNER OF A 2001 LS PURCHASED JUNE 2001, A RECALL FIX WAS TO HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE MY PURCHASE IN MARCH OF 2001 TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS. I READ ONLINE THAT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE DAMAGE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE CORRECTED FOR WHEN THEY GET TO ABOUT 67000 MILES, I AM AT 67000 MILES, TOOK…

Read full complaint

I AM A 66 YR OLD WIDOW, OWNER OF A 2001 LS PURCHASED JUNE 2001, A RECALL FIX WAS TO HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE MY PURCHASE IN MARCH OF 2001 TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINTS. I READ ONLINE THAT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE DAMAGE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE CORRECTED FOR WHEN THEY GET TO ABOUT 67000 MILES, I AM AT 67000 MILES, TOOK MY CAR IN FOR INSPECTION AND NEED AN 1800 DOLLAR FIX TO CORRECT THE ISSUE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE AVOIDED BY THE RECALL. FORD SAID, TOO LONG AGO, NO WARRANTY BEYOND THE NORM FOR RECALL FIXES. I CAN NOT BELIEVE WITH THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT THESE CARS ALL REQUIRE A FIX AT 67000 MILES THAT FORD ISN'T FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE A WHILE LONGER, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT AWAY WITH A RECALL THAT DID NOT PROVIDE THE FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492247

63,000 miles · Aug 18, 2012
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

AFTER BACKING UP, STOPPING AND PLACING VEHICLE INTO THE "D" POSITION. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. BRAKE APPLICATION DID NOTHING TO SLOW VEHICLE UNTIL WITHIN SECOND AND FEW HUNDRED FEET, VEHICLE CAME TO REST INTO A TREE. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, INJURIES INCURRED. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS A '01 LINCOLN, FORD CAME OUT WITH RECA…

Read full complaint

AFTER BACKING UP, STOPPING AND PLACING VEHICLE INTO THE "D" POSITION. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. BRAKE APPLICATION DID NOTHING TO SLOW VEHICLE UNTIL WITHIN SECOND AND FEW HUNDRED FEET, VEHICLE CAME TO REST INTO A TREE. VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, INJURIES INCURRED. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS A '01 LINCOLN, FORD CAME OUT WITH RECALL ON '01 ESCAPE WITH IDENTICAL ISSUE TWO DAYS AFTER THIS CRASH, BLAMING THE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471362

130,000 miles · Apr 4, 2012
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

MY AIR BAGS LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON FOR NO REASON, I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT BECAUAE IM SCARE ITS GOIN TO BRAKE DOWN ON MY ONE DAY AND I HAVE MY NEW BORN BABY WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454149

70,114 miles · Mar 23, 2012
SteeringSuspensionWheels

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (APPROX. 70 MILES ROUND-TRIP). WHILE TURNING I HEARD A LOUD CRUNCH AND THEN FELT A HARD THUD, MY VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER, FELT ANOTHER CRUNCH. I PULLED INTO A PARKING STALL, AFTER PARKING MY VEHICLE, ANOTHER LOUD CRUNCH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF AND WAS WEDG…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (APPROX. 70 MILES ROUND-TRIP). WHILE TURNING I HEARD A LOUD CRUNCH AND THEN FELT A HARD THUD, MY VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER, FELT ANOTHER CRUNCH. I PULLED INTO A PARKING STALL, AFTER PARKING MY VEHICLE, ANOTHER LOUD CRUNCH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF AND WAS WEDGED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. ON MARCH 12TH, 2012 MY REPAIR FACILITY INFORMED ME ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT NEED REPLACED: UPPER AND LOWER LEFT FRONT BALL JOINTS, FRONT OUTER TIER ROD ENDS, NEW FUEL FILTER- DAMAGED IN THE INCIDENT, TWO NEW TIRES & AN ALIGNMENT. I REALIZED HOW LUCKY I WAS THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CONDUCTED GOOGLE SEARCH ON 2001 LINCOLN LS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, I WAS STUNNED ON THE AMOUNT OF SAFETY RELATED HITS OUT THERE (SUSPENSION RELATED), I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT ISOLATED TO JUST MY VEHICLE, THERE WERE PAGES-OF-PAGES OF PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2001 LINCOLNS. THERE WAS A SUSPENSION RELATED RECALL: LINCOLN / LS 2000-2001, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, DATE: NOV 01, 2000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V359001 N/A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT, NUMBER OF AFFECTED: 82,300 SUMMARY: 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: 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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452763

99,506 miles · Mar 2, 2012
Suspension

WE PURCHASED A LINCOLN LS ON 2/24/12 AND A I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME I HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED AS IF THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF ESPECIALLY AS I WENT OVER BUMPS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MIDAS AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, ALONG WITH THE STRUTS, AND GASKET COVER. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I FOUND THAT T…

Read full complaint

WE PURCHASED A LINCOLN LS ON 2/24/12 AND A I WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME I HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED AS IF THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF ESPECIALLY AS I WENT OVER BUMPS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MIDAS AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, ALONG WITH THE STRUTS, AND GASKET COVER. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED IN 2000 FOR THE BALL JOINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450118

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2012
Air Bags

I AM WRITING ABOUT TWO ISSUES WITH MY CAR: 1. I AM GETTING A WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES THAT MY AIR BAGS ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. 2. I AM ALSO BEING TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE BALL JOINTS AND SWAY BAR LINKS ARE DEFECTIVE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B…

Read full complaint

I AM WRITING ABOUT TWO ISSUES WITH MY CAR: 1. I AM GETTING A WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES THAT MY AIR BAGS ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. 2. I AM ALSO BEING TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE BALL JOINTS AND SWAY BAR LINKS ARE DEFECTIVE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447459

148,000 miles · Sep 12, 2011
SuspensionWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A ROADBUMP, THE CONTACT LOST SLIGHT CONTROL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE FOUR WHEEL RIMS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED NEAR THE HUB. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY INFORME…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A ROADBUMP, THE CONTACT LOST SLIGHT CONTROL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. IN ADDITION, THE FOUR WHEEL RIMS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED NEAR THE HUB. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL). THERE WAS ALSO A MANUFACTURER VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THE WHEEL RIMS BUT THE VIN WAS INELIGIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ODI #10424753

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.