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2002 Lincoln Ls

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Lincoln Ls do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 91.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

89 reports with mileage · 32 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

25 reports
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161,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE IN FIRESTONE, CHECKING WHY HEAT BLOWING COOL AIR, OVERHEATED TWICE SINCE THE REPAIRS CAR HAS OVERHEATED 5 TIMES, EVERY TIME RETURNED TO SHOP THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578670

95,000 miles · May 11, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspensionCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. THEN I FELT THE CAR GO OUT OF CONTROL AND I MANAGED TO SAFELY GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. MY PASSENGER DOOR SIDE AIRBAG CAME OUT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR MY TIRE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY OF THE RIM. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE R…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE. THEN I FELT THE CAR GO OUT OF CONTROL AND I MANAGED TO SAFELY GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. MY PASSENGER DOOR SIDE AIRBAG CAME OUT. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR MY TIRE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY OF THE RIM. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW AXLE, WHEEL BEARING, CONTROL ARM, ROTOR, RIM AND TIRE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY REALIZED THE RIM WENT THROUGH THE UNDERSIDE OF TRUNK AND DAMAGED BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THEY ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST ABOUT $3,000 TO FIX NOT INCLUDING THE BODY DAMAGE. I JUST REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY AND CONTROL ARM IN FEB. 2011. I HAVE REPLACED ENGINE COILS AND VALVE COVERS NUMEROUS TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #10400468

25,000 miles · Sep 11, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR HAS NUMEROUS PARTS THAT TEAR UP REPEATEDLY, WITHIN A 6 MONTHS TIME. VALVE COVER GASKET HAD REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A 6 MONTHS TIME. THE COIL PACKS GO UP VERY OFTEN. I HAD PANEL BUTTONS JUST TEAR UP FOR NO REASON THREE TIMES! WHEEL CAPS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. OVERHEATING ISSUES, DOOR LOCKING ISSUES, BATTERY REPLACED TWIC…

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MY CAR HAS NUMEROUS PARTS THAT TEAR UP REPEATEDLY, WITHIN A 6 MONTHS TIME. VALVE COVER GASKET HAD REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A 6 MONTHS TIME. THE COIL PACKS GO UP VERY OFTEN. I HAD PANEL BUTTONS JUST TEAR UP FOR NO REASON THREE TIMES! WHEEL CAPS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. OVERHEATING ISSUES, DOOR LOCKING ISSUES, BATTERY REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 2 YEARS TIME. AC ISSUES, (I NEVER USED MY AC..AT ALL) . THIS CAR HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS ON THE T.S.BULLETIN. I CONTACTED FORD IN REFERENCE TO THE MULTIPLE ISSUES I WAS HAVING WITH THE CAR, THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES TOLD ME TO TAKE THE COMPLAINT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WHICH I HAD BEEN DEALING WITH. THEN THEY SAID LINCOLN IS AN INDEPENDENT OWNED ESTABLISHMENT SO I AM TOTALLY CONFUSED BY THIS WHOLE ORDEAL, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OUT OF THAT CAR. AND THEY REFUSE TO RECALL SOME OF THOSE (AS I WOULD SAY) HAZARDOUS ISSUES. I WAS AT THE DEALER 2 WEEKS AGO, I WAS CONVERSING WITH A REP. AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS TELLING ME HOW THE LINCOLN LS WAS THEIR MOST PROBLEM VEHICLE, AND CASH MAKER FOR REPAIRS. (OH BY THE WAY.......I RESEARCHED TO FIND THIS SITE. TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IN THE CONSUMER SECTION). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355036

75,000 miles · Aug 20, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2002 LINCOLN LS'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE END ON MAY, I HAD AUTOZONE DO A FREE TEST ON IT AND IT READ THAT IT WAS MISFIRING ON CYLINDERS 3 AND 4. I TOOK IT ON AND HAD A TUNE UP AND REPLACED 2 OF THE 8 COILS (WHICH WAS ABOUT $500 TOTAL). A MONTH LATER IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, IT SHUTTERS WHEN I REACH THE SPEED OF 4…

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MY 2002 LINCOLN LS'S ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE END ON MAY, I HAD AUTOZONE DO A FREE TEST ON IT AND IT READ THAT IT WAS MISFIRING ON CYLINDERS 3 AND 4. I TOOK IT ON AND HAD A TUNE UP AND REPLACED 2 OF THE 8 COILS (WHICH WAS ABOUT $500 TOTAL). A MONTH LATER IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, IT SHUTTERS WHEN I REACH THE SPEED OF 40 MPH AND IT IDLES LIKE A SEMI. I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT IN, I RARELY DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF IT. I GOT AN ESTIMATE FOR ANOTHER $500, JUST FOR THE OTHER 6 COILS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281142

73,000 miles · Aug 19, 2009
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

MY 2002 LINCOLN LS V8 HAS BROKEN DOWN IN NUMEROUS WAYS. ALL IGNITION COILS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, TWO WINDOW MOTORS, AIRBAG CONNECTOR CLIP, MY TIE ROD ENDS ARE BAD, MY CAR HAS ACTUALLY SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING UP THE 15 NORTH THREE TIMES WHILE MY SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY STOPPE…

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MY 2002 LINCOLN LS V8 HAS BROKEN DOWN IN NUMEROUS WAYS. ALL IGNITION COILS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, TWO WINDOW MOTORS, AIRBAG CONNECTOR CLIP, MY TIE ROD ENDS ARE BAD, MY CAR HAS ACTUALLY SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING UP THE 15 NORTH THREE TIMES WHILE MY SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. WHEN IT CAME TO FIXING THE AIRBAG CONNECTOR PROBLEM LINCOLN TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED AND I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR AND IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING THE THREE BEEPS SO THEY FIXED IT FOR FREE AND THEN TOLD ME MY INSTRUMENT PANEL ON ONE SIDE WAS BURNED OUT BUT THE LIGHTS SEEMS TO WORK ON IT WHEN I TURN THEM ON. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 800 DOLLARS FOR THAT BUT I REFUSED. THE IGNITION COIL REPLACEMENT WAS ROUGHLY 1000 DOLLARS AND I AM WAITING ON MY ESTIMATE FOR MY TRANSMISSION. BOTH WINDOW MOTORS WERE 200 DOLLARS A PIECE. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS TAILLIGHTS REPLACED AND ACTUALLY HAD A DOOR LOCK JAM CLOSED ON ME. I TRULY FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND MY SON IF IT TURNS COMPLETELY OFF AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON A FREEWAY WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281000

78,000 miles · May 9, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

MISFIRING . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268293

75,000 miles · Dec 2, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD AS WELL AS "SOME LINCOLNS" FOR VALVE COVER LEAKING OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUGS. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BURN OIL AND FILL THE CABIN WITH BAD GASES. IT REQUIRES A CONSUMER TO SPEND APPR. $700.00 TO FIX; REPLACING THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND PROBABLY NEEDING THE SP…

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I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD AS WELL AS "SOME LINCOLNS" FOR VALVE COVER LEAKING OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUGS. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BURN OIL AND FILL THE CABIN WITH BAD GASES. IT REQUIRES A CONSUMER TO SPEND APPR. $700.00 TO FIX; REPLACING THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND PROBABLY NEEDING THE SPARK PLUGS THAT ARE FILLED WITH AND BURNING OIL REPLACED ON TOP OF THIS COST. THE 2002 LINCOLN LS HAS THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM, MADE AT THE SAME ASSEMBLY PLANT WITH THE SAME PARTS THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE RECALL BUT I WAS TOLD BY FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINED TO INCLUDE THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE CURRENT RECALL/ "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM" THROUGH FORD MOTOR IS: 07M07 AND IT REQUIRES FORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM 10 YEARS OR UP TO 100K MILES. IT IS DISAPPOINTING TO LEAVE THIS BURDEN ON CUSTOMERS WHO TAKE CARE OF THEIR VEHICLES AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250502

55,400 miles · Jun 7, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

PURCHASED 2002 LINCOLN LS WITH THE V8 MOTOR AND GOT EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM MEPCO " VCS PREMIER" ULTIMATE WARRANT CORP. FOR PAST 2-3 YEARS THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP OVER 6 TIMES; 3 TIMES FOR OVERHEATING. FIRST 2 TIMES OF OVERHEATING THEY STATED THE FAN CLUTCH WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT AND IT SEEMED TO NOT RUN HOT AS OFTEN BUT STI…

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PURCHASED 2002 LINCOLN LS WITH THE V8 MOTOR AND GOT EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM MEPCO " VCS PREMIER" ULTIMATE WARRANT CORP. FOR PAST 2-3 YEARS THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP OVER 6 TIMES; 3 TIMES FOR OVERHEATING. FIRST 2 TIMES OF OVERHEATING THEY STATED THE FAN CLUTCH WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT AND IT SEEMED TO NOT RUN HOT AS OFTEN BUT STILL HAD SYMPTOMS.. NOW WE ARE WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE NEW PROBLEM IS; IN THE MEANTIME THE WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE AND I FEEL I HAVE A LEMON CAR AND THE WARRANTY HAS YET PAID ME BACK FOR PAST FEW REPAIRS TO THIS CAR OWING US 726.17 AND IF THEY DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM I AM GOING TO END UP WITH A CAR NOTE IN REPAIRS ON THIS CAR SOON... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230223

60,000 miles · Dec 19, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR SIMILAR TO BURNING OIL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING ONTO THE MANIFOLD. THE DEALER STATED THAT NEW GASKETS AND COVERS WERE NEEDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR SIMILAR TO BURNING OIL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING ONTO THE MANIFOLD. THE DEALER STATED THAT NEW GASKETS AND COVERS WERE NEEDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10212301

61,200 miles · Oct 16, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE HAD BURNING OIL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT , VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING OIL INTO SPARK PLUG WELLS, REQUIRING SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT AND POSSIBLE COIL PACK DAMAGE IF NOT GASKETS NOT REPLACED. THIS JUST AFTER A 60,000 MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE, AIR FILTER CHANGE, FUEL FILTER CHANGE AND FUEL INDUCT…

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VEHICLE HAD BURNING OIL SMELL COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT , VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING OIL INTO SPARK PLUG WELLS, REQUIRING SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT AND POSSIBLE COIL PACK DAMAGE IF NOT GASKETS NOT REPLACED. THIS JUST AFTER A 60,000 MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, OIL CHANGE, AIR FILTER CHANGE, FUEL FILTER CHANGE AND FUEL INDUCTION SVC AT ANOTHER LINCOLN DEALER. LINCOLN SHOULD RECALL ALL LS'S AND REPLACE THE GASKETS AT NO COST IN ORDER TO PREVENT VEHICLE STALLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AS COIL PACKS AND PLUG DAMAGE CAN OCCUR AND CAUSE LOSS OF POWER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205809

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.