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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.

About this comparison →

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

Steering complaints

6 reports
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77,303 miles · Dec 14, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SHE NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE/ SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION SHE NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. A TECHNICIAN STA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH SHE NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE/ SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION SHE NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SHE HAD AN OIL LEAK FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINE THAT WAS DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ALSO THE ENGINE WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING; WHICH DRASTICALLY REDUCED THE VEHICLES SPEED. SHE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $489.00. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,303. THE STEERING WAS NOISY WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE TURNS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING. ALL OF THE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS ALSO LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/26/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10295606

110,000 miles · Mar 5, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE EVEN THOUGH THE STABILITY ENHANCING SYSTEM LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE PURC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND POWER STEERING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE EVEN THOUGH THE STABILITY ENHANCING SYSTEM LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10220106

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

62,000 miles · Mar 26, 2007
Steering

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR AN OIL PAN GASKET LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS OFF CENTERED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10186191

27,000 miles · Jul 13, 2005
SteeringCrash

NUMEROUS RANDOM FAILURES INVOLVING DIFFERENT COMPUTERS WITHIN VEHICLE OVER 1-1/2 YEARS, INCLUDING FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ON 6/03/05 - ABS COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT THEY DID NOT CORRECT WHAT CAUSED CORRUPTION. WARNED THEM OF CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY. JULY 10, 2005 WENT TO TURN ST…

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NUMEROUS RANDOM FAILURES INVOLVING DIFFERENT COMPUTERS WITHIN VEHICLE OVER 1-1/2 YEARS, INCLUDING FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE ON 6/03/05 - ABS COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT THEY DID NOT CORRECT WHAT CAUSED CORRUPTION. WARNED THEM OF CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY. JULY 10, 2005 WENT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, BUT WHEELS DIDN'T TURN. HIT TREE AND TOTALLED CAR. FORD REF #1451272954

NHTSA ODI #10128656

14,600 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Steering

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER KEPT HEARING A GRINDING/METAL ON METAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW RACK PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 2003 LS AFTER 11K MILES…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER KEPT HEARING A GRINDING/METAL ON METAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW RACK PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 2003 LS AFTER 11K MILES. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10053664

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.