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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
80,000 miles · Jan 2, 2009
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE YANKED TO THE LEFT AS IF THE CONTACT HAD LOST CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE CONTROL ARM AND KNUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND STATED THAT HE WAS IN DANGER OF THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE YANKED TO THE LEFT AS IF THE CONTACT HAD LOST CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE CONTROL ARM AND KNUCKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND STATED THAT HE WAS IN DANGER OF THE WHEEL ACTUALLY DETACHING IF THE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10253593

98,000 miles · Nov 24, 2008
Power Train

2001 LINCOLN LS HAS AN E THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY AND EVERY TIME IT SHIFTS TO THE NEXT GEAR IT ALMOST JERKS I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND NOW IT IS MESSING UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249638

73,400 miles · Nov 18, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,400. UPDATED 12/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10249103

100,000 miles · Nov 3, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURREN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10247622

100,000 miles · Oct 12, 2008
Power Train

I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE AND IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE! THE SHIFTING ON THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY ERRATIC AND IS IN NO WAY SAFE. I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND LINCOLN IS NO HELP. THEY WILL NOT AND CAN NOT FIX OR SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THEIR ONLY ANSWER …

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I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE AND IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE! THE SHIFTING ON THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY ERRATIC AND IS IN NO WAY SAFE. I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND LINCOLN IS NO HELP. THEY WILL NOT AND CAN NOT FIX OR SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THEIR ONLY ANSWER IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND WHEN THAT IS DONE THE PROBLEM COMES BACK! WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 85 MPH MY CAR DECIDES TO CUT OUT ON ME AND DISPLAY AN ERROR MESSAGE. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME IS THAT THE CAR BEHIND WE WAS ABLE TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY. MY CAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NO LONGER KNOW HOW TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. IT IDLES IN BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES AND AT TIMES TAKES MINUTES TO ACTUALLY SWITCH GEARS AND SPEED UP THE ENGINE. MOST OF THE TIME ALL THAT WILL HAPPEN IS THE RPMS WILL RAISE TO 4500 AND I WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH TONS AND TONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245182

85,000 miles · Aug 6, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 LINCOLN LS WITH V8. VEHICLE HAD 70,000 MILES WHEN PURCHASED ONE YEAR AGO, NOW HAS 102,000. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ENGINE MISFIRES (WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL OR SPUTTER DURING ACCELERATION,) WHICH RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO REPLACE THE COIL ON PLUG ASSEMBLIES AND SPARK PLUGS. THE REASON THESE COIL PACKS GO BAD IS BECAU…

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2001 LINCOLN LS WITH V8. VEHICLE HAD 70,000 MILES WHEN PURCHASED ONE YEAR AGO, NOW HAS 102,000. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ENGINE MISFIRES (WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL OR SPUTTER DURING ACCELERATION,) WHICH RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO REPLACE THE COIL ON PLUG ASSEMBLIES AND SPARK PLUGS. THE REASON THESE COIL PACKS GO BAD IS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE VALVE COVER GASKET, WHICH LEADS TO OIL GETTING IN THE SPARK PLUG WELLS. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THE VALVE COVER GASKETS FROM THE FACTORY ARE FAULTY, BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT GASKETS THEY MANUFACTURE ARE MADE OF A BETTER MATERIAL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON BOTH VALVE COVER GASKETS AND THE COIL ON PLUG ASSEMBLIES. I NOTICED THAT THE FORD THUNDERBIRDS USE THE SAME 3.9L V8 ENGINE, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, AND FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE VALVE COVER GASKETS ON THESE ENGINES, JUST NOT FOR THE LINCOLN LS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237223

26,000 miles · Jul 9, 2008
Power TrainSuspension

3 OF 4 WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED IN A 2001 LINCOLN LS WITH APPROXIMATELY 26,000 ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233624

700,000 miles · Jun 25, 2008
Suspension

WHEN I WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL ON MY CAR I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN 2006 FOR REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED AND THAT WAS ALL THAT WOULD BE DONE. SINCE THE INSPECTION BOTH BALL JOINTS FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSE A ACCIDENT . MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE BA…

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WHEN I WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL ON MY CAR I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN 2006 FOR REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED AND THAT WAS ALL THAT WOULD BE DONE. SINCE THE INSPECTION BOTH BALL JOINTS FAILED AND ALMOST CAUSE A ACCIDENT . MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE BALL JOINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232239

65,000 miles · Jun 2, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2001 LINCOLN LS V8 HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES, WAY MORE THAN I CAN REMEMBER. THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION COILS, HYDRAULIC FANS, STARTER, COIL PADS. THIS HAS ALL BEEN REPAIRED WITH NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF DOLLARS. I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO KEEP UP WITH THIS CAR. THERE IS CONSTANT MISS FIRES AND BAD SHIFTING. …

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MY 2001 LINCOLN LS V8 HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES, WAY MORE THAN I CAN REMEMBER. THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION COILS, HYDRAULIC FANS, STARTER, COIL PADS. THIS HAS ALL BEEN REPAIRED WITH NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF DOLLARS. I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO KEEP UP WITH THIS CAR. THERE IS CONSTANT MISS FIRES AND BAD SHIFTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229592

89,000 miles · May 30, 2008
Air BagsSuspensionUnknown Or Other

AIR BAG LIGHT ON WON'T GO OFF/FRONT SUSPENSION MAKING NOISE (BALL JOINTS) HORN WON'T WORK AND WINDOW MOTOR BROKE IN 2007 WE REPLACED FRONT DRIVER NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE FRONT PASSENGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229317

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.