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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

20 reports
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120,000 miles · Mar 26, 2011
Power Train

MY 2003 LINCOLN LS START SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE E IN THE GEAR BOX CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392934

52,000 miles · Jul 15, 2010
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE ECT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE ECT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A FULL THROTTLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10343516

109,300 miles · May 6, 2009
Parking BrakePower TrainTraction Control System

WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY THE ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE FREEWAY AND PULLED INTO A PARKING AREA AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER CALMING MY 87 YEAR OLD MOTHER DOWN I RESTARTED THE CAR AND NONE OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON. I PROCEEDED TO START DRIVING MY CAR HOME AND AGAIN…

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WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY THE ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE FREEWAY AND PULLED INTO A PARKING AREA AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER CALMING MY 87 YEAR OLD MOTHER DOWN I RESTARTED THE CAR AND NONE OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON. I PROCEEDED TO START DRIVING MY CAR HOME AND AGAIN ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE LINCOLNS AND THAT I SHOULD BRING IT IN WHICH I DID. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST APPROX. $2,000.00 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE LINCOLN ONLY COVERS AUTOMOBILES THAT ARE LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD OR HAVE LESS THAN 100K MILES. MY CAR HAS 109K BUT I FEEL THAT LINCOLN SHOULD COVER THIS SINCE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT LONG BEFORE MY CAR HAD 100K MILES AND THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR GETTING EVERY OIL CHANGE ON TIME AND EACH OF THE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED. LINCOLN HAS SAID THEY CAN'T HELP ME AND THE DEALER SAYS HIS HANDS ARE TIED, WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? ALSO I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267898

66,400 miles · Mar 15, 2008
Power Train

REPEATED FAILURE OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING AND LEFT DIFFERENTIAL SEAL. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED WHEEL BEARING AND SEAL 2X, SECOND TIME REPLACED LEFT AXLE SHAFT ALSO. FIRST INDICATION OF PROBLEM IS ODOR OF GEAR OIL LEAKING FROM DIFFERENTIAL, PARTICULARLY AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. NOTICED IT AGAIN TODAY, (3/15/08) WILL BE RETURNING …

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REPEATED FAILURE OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING AND LEFT DIFFERENTIAL SEAL. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED WHEEL BEARING AND SEAL 2X, SECOND TIME REPLACED LEFT AXLE SHAFT ALSO. FIRST INDICATION OF PROBLEM IS ODOR OF GEAR OIL LEAKING FROM DIFFERENTIAL, PARTICULARLY AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. NOTICED IT AGAIN TODAY, (3/15/08) WILL BE RETURNING TO DEALER ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221307

39,000 miles · Dec 20, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CAR HAS CONSISTENTLY JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING (ROUGHLY 30 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR). BEEN INTO THE DEALER NO LESS THAN 10 TIMES. HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF VALVE COVERS, COILS, PLUGS GASKETS, WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPONENTS REPLACED. NO CHANGE. CAR WILL STILL DIE WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. LINCOLN/FORD COULD CARE LESS, AND THE DEA…

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CAR HAS CONSISTENTLY JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING (ROUGHLY 30 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR). BEEN INTO THE DEALER NO LESS THAN 10 TIMES. HAD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF VALVE COVERS, COILS, PLUGS GASKETS, WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPONENTS REPLACED. NO CHANGE. CAR WILL STILL DIE WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. LINCOLN/FORD COULD CARE LESS, AND THE DEALER AND FIELD ENGINEERS SEEM TIRED OF SEEING MY CAR. CONSTANT MOVEMENT OF BRAKE PEDAL IN RHYTHM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS WORSE NOW THEN WHEN THEY STARTED. FRONT BRAKE PADS RATTLE. DEALER SAYS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND I SHOULD JUST DEAL WITH IT. FRONT SEAT BACKS FALL DOWN. DEALER AND FORD BLAME MY KIDS BEING IN CAR SEATS. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE THEY TOOK SEATS APART TO REPLACE FAULTY SEAT HEATER. THE TRANSMISSION IS AWFUL. BEEN REPROGRAMMED 3 TIMES AND NEW SERVOS INSTALLED. STILL DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY, AND VERY ERRATIC. SHIFTS WHEN IT SHOULDN'T AND DOES NOT SHIFT WHEN IT SHOULD. CAR STALLED AND ACTIVATED THE ALARM HORN HONKING, LIGHTS BLINKING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. CAR RESTARTED. NEXT DAY CAR HAD DEAD BATTERY AND WOULD NOT START. COULD NOT EVEN JUMP IT AS THERE WAS NO POWER TO OPEN TRUNK AND LOCK CYLINDER WAS FROZEN DUE TO LACK OF USE. BATERY IN TRUNK!! WHEELS HAD TO BE BALANCED 3 TIMES THEN FORCE BALANCED TO REMOVE EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. ALL AT MY EXPENSE HAD LEAKY REVERSE LIGHT REPLACED BY DEALER NOW HAVE SOME PIECE OF A FASTENER FLOATING AROUND INSIDE THE DECK LID RATTLING. CLIPS FOR E BRAKE ARE ALWAYS BROKEN AND APPARENTLY 180 BUCKS TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI #10212443

44,000 miles · Dec 13, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE GOES INTO THE FAIL SAFE MODE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE PAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS YET TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,00…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE GOES INTO THE FAIL SAFE MODE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE PAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS YET TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT ERRATICALLY. THE SHIFTER COVER WAS CRACKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. UPDATED 01/10/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10211785

2,300 miles · Jul 12, 2005
Power Train

WITH APPROX. 2300 MILES, TRANSMISSION WENT. TOOK 31 DAYS TO REPAIR. LESS THAN 50 MILES UPON IT'S RETURN, IT WENT AGAIN. AFTER 11 DAYS, VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, SO FAR (800 MILES), IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10128400

20,360 miles · May 10, 2004
Power Train

THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10073339

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
EquipmentFuel System, GasolinePower Train

SPARK KNOCK UNDER LOAD (PASSING OR FROM 0) OCCURS WITH LOW RPM AND HIGH RPM UNDER LOADS CURRENTLY TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL LINCOLN FINDS A FIX SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OR DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. TRANSMISSION HAS HAD REPAIRS DONE ALSO. SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN BETTER SINCE REPROGRAMMING OF COMPUTOR. SINCE THIS IS A UNIQUE PROBLEM…

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SPARK KNOCK UNDER LOAD (PASSING OR FROM 0) OCCURS WITH LOW RPM AND HIGH RPM UNDER LOADS CURRENTLY TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL LINCOLN FINDS A FIX SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OR DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. TRANSMISSION HAS HAD REPAIRS DONE ALSO. SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN BETTER SINCE REPROGRAMMING OF COMPUTOR. SINCE THIS IS A UNIQUE PROBLEM TO THIS VEHICLE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY BY LINCOLN OF CANADA.

NHTSA ODI #10071386

100 miles · Jul 15, 2003
Electrical SystemPower Train

JUST PURCHASED 03 LINCOLN LS V-8 SPORT THREE WEEKS AGO, ALREADY INTO SERVICE. THE TRANNY IS SLOW ON UP AND DOWN SHIFTS. THE SERVICE DEPT. ( NEIL LINCOLN MERCURY @ 1900 RT 112 MEDFORD NY) SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY INITIAL CALL, JUST BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANNY SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY SECOND COMPL…

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JUST PURCHASED 03 LINCOLN LS V-8 SPORT THREE WEEKS AGO, ALREADY INTO SERVICE. THE TRANNY IS SLOW ON UP AND DOWN SHIFTS. THE SERVICE DEPT. ( NEIL LINCOLN MERCURY @ 1900 RT 112 MEDFORD NY) SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY INITIAL CALL, JUST BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANNY SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY SECOND COMPLAINT IS I NOTICED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF UNCOMFORTALBE HEAT UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE DASH WHILE DRIVING, I SUSPECT THIS IS DUE TO THE LACK OF AN INSULATED COVER. THIS COVER I COME TO FIND OUT WAS IN THE 2000, 2001, 2002, MODEL YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY SOME GENUIS DECIDED TO FORGET IT. THAT'S A PROBLEM, AS IT IS NOT JUST A LITTLE WARM, BUT REALLY HOT, I CAN'T IMAGINE MY COMPLAINT WAS THE FIRST FOR THIS, AS NONE OF THE 03'S ARE EQUIPED WITH THIS PROTECTIVE COVER. THE LINCOLN SUPPORT CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS ADVISED ME I MUST TALK WITH SERVICE, AS THIS IS NOT A PART ON THE 03, AND SERVICE TELLS ME TO SPEAK TO LINCOLN, AS THIS IS A VALID COMPLAINT. WHAT THE HECK AM I SUPPOSE TO DO? OH AND BACK TO THE TRANNY WHAT IF IT DECIDES TO JUST GO TO MUSH WHILE I'M CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. TO LATE TO SAY SORRY THEN! I'VE HEARD THAT THE 30,000 MILE TRANNY TUNE UP WILL OFTEN SOLVE THIS TRANNY ISSUE, CAN I MAKE THEM SERVICE IT NOW I'VE GOT 1,500 LOGGED TO DATE. THANK YOU FOR THE ASSISTANCE, IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, SORRY FOR THE LONG MESSAGE. BRIAN

NHTSA ODI #10028343

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.