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2003 Lincoln Ls

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Lincoln Ls do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 91.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
68Owner complaints

Model-year median: 91

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2003 Lincoln Ls

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 68 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Power Train: 20 reports
  • Electrical System: 11 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 8 reports
  • Engine: 7 reports
  • Suspension: 7 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
354
2000240
2001121
200268
200391
200490
200518
2006
Compare all Ls years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
20Electrical System
11Engine And Engine Cooling
8Engine
7Suspension
7
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
7Air Bags
6Seats
6Steering
6Wheels
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Equipment
3Fuel/propulsion System
3Service Brakes
3Tires
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Parking Brake
2Traction Control System
2Electronic Stability Control
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

57 reports with mileage · 11 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
40,000 miles · Aug 4, 2006
Electronic Stability ControlEngine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ELEVATED FOLLOWED BY WHITE STEAM ERUPTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE AUTOMATIC STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED WHICH CAUSES …

Read full complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ELEVATED FOLLOWED BY WHITE STEAM ERUPTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE AUTOMATIC STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRACTION ASSIST CLUSTER SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

NHTSA ODI #10164473

Recall campaigns

1

03V136000 · Wheels

Apr 7, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED. THESE WHEELS MAY CRACK AT THE LUG-NUT HOLES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE LUG-NUT TORQUE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN THE WHEEL SEPARATING FROM THE HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN HEAT-TREATED. ANY WHEEL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATED WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-521-4140.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.