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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
99,000 miles · Aug 11, 2011
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH OVER A MANHOLE COVER, HE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A SLIGHT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH OVER A MANHOLE COVER, HE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A SLIGHT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO TURN IN ON A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. MOST RECENTLY, THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10418566

130,244 miles · Jun 9, 2011
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,244 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,376.

NHTSA ODI #10405719

108,000 miles · Apr 21, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureVisibility

THE CAR STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISE WHILE RIDING ON HWY 85 AND I PULLED OVER OFF ON AN EXIT AND THE CAR STOP WOULD NOT CRANK. IT ONLY HAPPEN THIS ONE TIME. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. I HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. MY LINCOLN LS ONLY HAS 108,000 MILES ON IT. MY CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND I TOOK THE CAR FOR INSPECTIO…

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THE CAR STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISE WHILE RIDING ON HWY 85 AND I PULLED OVER OFF ON AN EXIT AND THE CAR STOP WOULD NOT CRANK. IT ONLY HAPPEN THIS ONE TIME. IT HAD TO BE TOWED. I HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. MY LINCOLN LS ONLY HAS 108,000 MILES ON IT. MY CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND I TOOK THE CAR FOR INSPECTION. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE REMEDIED HOWEVER , THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO BACKFIRE AND DRIVE ABNORMALLY ROUGH ,,IN ADDITION , THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT ABNORMAL NOISES AND AN OVERPOWERING OIL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS IN FORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND COIL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRANT MILEAGE WAS108,000. THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED TWO TIMES AND THE PAINT IS PEELING. I BOUGHT THIS LINCOLN LS BECAUSE I NEW IT WAS A GOOD CAR BUYING IT FROM THE FORD & MERCURY DEALER . I M SAD TO SAY THEY HAVE LET ME DOWN AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE PAYING DOUBLE FOR IT. I AM A PERSON WHO BELIEVE IN TAKING CARE OF WHAT I LIVE TO PAY FOR. I ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH OIL CHANGING AND KEEPING A CLEAN CAR . I HAVE OVER PAID MORE THAN WHAT THIS 2001 LS LINCOLN IS WORTH. I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT NOT BUYING ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AGAIN.THE COST OF AN NEW ENGINE AND OTHER REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS COST ME OVER $7000.00 IN CASH ADDED ON TO MY CAR BEING PAID OFF. I PAID $ 23000.00 AND MAID MY PAYMENTS ON TIME . THANK YOU FOR YOUR SINCERE CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10397077

170,000 miles · Apr 18, 2011
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10396661

105,000 miles · Mar 7, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE REMEDIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO BACKFIRE AND DRIVE ABNORMALLY ROUGH. IN ADDITION, THE E…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE REMEDIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO BACKFIRE AND DRIVE ABNORMALLY ROUGH. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT ABNORMAL NOISES AND AN OVERPOWERING OIL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND COIL SPRINGS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ODI #10386745

126,000 miles · Jan 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BEING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BEING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 12/19/2011 *LN

NHTSA ODI #10373907

130,000 miles · Sep 30, 2010
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 1 MPH, THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND LOWER BALL JOINT SUDDENLY FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE RIM TO CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00V359001 (…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 1 MPH, THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND LOWER BALL JOINT SUDDENLY FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE RIM TO CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00V359001 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10358520

98,000 miles · Sep 23, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL; YET, WHEN HE WANTED TO TURN IT OFF HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE HE COULD TURN IT OFF BY PRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL.…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL; YET, WHEN HE WANTED TO TURN IT OFF HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE HE COULD TURN IT OFF BY PRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI #10357211

104,000 miles · Sep 22, 2010
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT WHEN TRAVELING OVER A BUMP THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SWAY LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT WHEN TRAVELING OVER A BUMP THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SWAY LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104000.

NHTSA ODI #10356944

100,000 miles · Sep 2, 2010
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH MAKING A TURN, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL NON RESPONSIVE. SHE HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTERED. SHE HAS HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN ORDER TO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH MAKING A TURN, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHICH MADE THE STEERING WHEEL NON RESPONSIVE. SHE HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTERED. SHE HAS HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE WHAT WAS DONE. WHATEVER THE DEALER REPAIRED CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY FOR A LIMITED TIME. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WITH THE STEERING HAD RECURRED. SHE REFERENCED RECALL 00V359001, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ODI #10353519

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.