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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
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80,000 miles · Jul 7, 2010
Parking BrakeService Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control System

ABS LIGHT, PARKING BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON AND THEN GOING OFF; ONLY TO REAPPEAR AGAIN. AT TIMES, BRAKES ARE NOT PROPERLY WORKING. ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO SOMETIMES APPEAR TO BLINK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE CALLED THE LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL WARRANTIES RAN OUT AT 50,000 MILES SO THIS PR…

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ABS LIGHT, PARKING BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMING ON AND THEN GOING OFF; ONLY TO REAPPEAR AGAIN. AT TIMES, BRAKES ARE NOT PROPERLY WORKING. ENGINE LIGHT WILL ALSO SOMETIMES APPEAR TO BLINK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE CALLED THE LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL WARRANTIES RAN OUT AT 50,000 MILES SO THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT BE COVERED. ALSO AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 90K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING UNDER 50K MILES BUT THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS NOT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THEY RESET SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER. IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. I DID NOT INSIST THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BE FIXED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I WAS TRUSTING THAT THE DEALERSHIP FOLKS KNEW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WHICH IS A LESSON FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341840

77,378 miles · Nov 25, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON A 2003 LINCOLN LS, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. EACH TIME, THE PAVEMENT IS DRY AND FREE OF DEBRIS OR GRAVEL. WITH EACH INCIDENT, THERE HAS BEEN A 25%-75% LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WITH A GRATING, OR METAL-ON-METAL, SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR …

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ON A 2003 LINCOLN LS, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. EACH TIME, THE PAVEMENT IS DRY AND FREE OF DEBRIS OR GRAVEL. WITH EACH INCIDENT, THERE HAS BEEN A 25%-75% LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WITH A GRATING, OR METAL-ON-METAL, SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THREE DEALERSHIPS AND ONE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO TRY TO RESOLVE THIS, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. WITH EACH INCIDENT, THE CAR HAS NOT ILLUMINATED ANY WARNING LIGHTS, NOR HAVE THE LIGHTS INDICATING ENGAGEMENT OF ABS/TRACTION CONTROL ILLUMINATED. THE OBDII MODULE HAS NO CODES RELATED TO THESE FAILURES. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HAD NO INJURIES DUE TO THIS, TWICE NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN UNABLE TO STOP AT STOP SIGNS AND GONE COMPLETELY THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CONDITIONS TRIGGER THE BRAKE FAILURE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET (SEARCHING "LINCOLN LS NOISE BRAKES" OR "LINCOLN LS BRAKE FAILURE") INDICATE A NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS, AND IN EACH CASE, IT APPEARS NO MECHANICAL CAUSE HAS BEEN FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293486

29,150 miles · Mar 4, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE WHEELS FELL OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE LUG NUTS FELL OUT OF THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE FLAT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE. THE CONTACT WENT TO A LINCOLN DEALER AT THAT T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE WHEELS FELL OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE LUG NUTS FELL OUT OF THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE FLAT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE. THE CONTACT WENT TO A LINCOLN DEALER AT THAT TIME AND INFORMED THEM OF THE NOISE SHE HEARD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD NEAR THE STEERING COMPONENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IN ADDITION TO THE TIRES, THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START. SHE WAS CHARGED TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT (ASY) IN THE VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,510. UPDATED 04/29/08 *BF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED

NHTSA ODI #10220018

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2004
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

2003 LINCOLN LS HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. 1. VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - DEALER STATES THIS IS THE LUXURY THAT IS THE LINCOLN. 2. CD PLAYER HAS BROKEN TWICE - RADIO SYSTEM REPLACED ONCE, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. 3. ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT - DEALER FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10067899

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.