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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

What owners actually said

68 reports
122,000 miles · Aug 28, 2016
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING AND MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO OTHER CARS AROUND ME

NHTSA ODI #10902024

80,000 miles · Jun 20, 2016
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

TOOK TRANSMISSION FOR REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP COULD NOT LOAD NEW LINCOLN SOFTWARE ON NEW COMPUTER MODULE. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS AT ROWLETT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND NOW THE "ENGINE SIDE" OF THE NEW COMPUTER INSTALLED WILL NOT CLEAR. SAYS THERE IN AN ENGINE ISSUE NOW. THERE WAS NO ENGINE ISSUE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO GET THE TRANSMISS…

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TOOK TRANSMISSION FOR REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP COULD NOT LOAD NEW LINCOLN SOFTWARE ON NEW COMPUTER MODULE. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS AT ROWLETT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND NOW THE "ENGINE SIDE" OF THE NEW COMPUTER INSTALLED WILL NOT CLEAR. SAYS THERE IN AN ENGINE ISSUE NOW. THERE WAS NO ENGINE ISSUE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10875443

Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System

I PURCHASED MY 2003 LINCOLN LS JUNE/2015. EXCELLENT CONDITION, 35,000 MILES. INTERIOR IMMACULATE CONDITION LEATHER SEATS AND CARPET VIRUTALLY UNTOUCHED. UNDERNEATH HOOD THE SAME, HADN'T LOOK AS IF BEEN DRIVEN. EXTERIOR BODY AND PAINT AGAIN EXCELLENT. THE CAR APPEARED AS IF IT HAD STOOD STILL IN TIME. UPON INVESTIGATION, ONLY O…

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I PURCHASED MY 2003 LINCOLN LS JUNE/2015. EXCELLENT CONDITION, 35,000 MILES. INTERIOR IMMACULATE CONDITION LEATHER SEATS AND CARPET VIRUTALLY UNTOUCHED. UNDERNEATH HOOD THE SAME, HADN'T LOOK AS IF BEEN DRIVEN. EXTERIOR BODY AND PAINT AGAIN EXCELLENT. THE CAR APPEARED AS IF IT HAD STOOD STILL IN TIME. UPON INVESTIGATION, ONLY ONE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WHO'D MAINTAINED A FIRST CLASS MAINTENANCE RECORD. OVER THE LAST WEEK THE VEHICLE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING SHE SAID WHILE DRIVING THE VECHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHILE SHE WAS ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC. SHE STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT THE STREET BUT IN DOING SO THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND SHUT OFF. OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REPLICATED THE EXACT SAME TENDENCY WITH ME. STALLING, HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION TO THE POINT OF SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IN MOTION ON A VERY BUSY CITY STREET. ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON

NHTSA ODI #10816186

200,066 miles · Oct 13, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,066. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI #10781622

113,000 miles · Feb 9, 2015
Power Train

CEL CAME ON, CODE INDICATED TRANSMISSION ISSUE. "E" APPEARED IN THE GEAR INDICATOR, RATHER THAN THE GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN. TRANS WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 5TH OF GEARS. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD TRANSMISSION CASE THAT HAD BEEN DESTROYED AS THE RESULT OF SERVO IMPACT OV…

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CEL CAME ON, CODE INDICATED TRANSMISSION ISSUE. "E" APPEARED IN THE GEAR INDICATOR, RATHER THAN THE GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN. TRANS WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 5TH OF GEARS. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD TRANSMISSION CASE THAT HAD BEEN DESTROYED AS THE RESULT OF SERVO IMPACT OVER TIME. A BUSHING COULD HAVE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, HAD LINCOLN INSTALLED ONE AT MANUFACTURE. TECH TOLD ME THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE LINCOLN 5R55 TRANSMISSION. SHOP INSTALLED NEW TRANSMISSION, WITH BUSHING, FOR $3700. NO WAY A MODERN TRANS SHOULD FAIL AT 113K MILES, ESP. FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SO EASILY PREVENTABLE. LINCOLN PURCHASERS, WHO PAY A PREMIUM FOR THE ADVERTISED QUALITY OF A LINCOLN, EXPECT AND DESERVE BETTER, ESPECIALLY SINCE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF LINCOLN PURCHASERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, AND HAVE HAD TO BEAR THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NECESSITATED BY LINCOLN'S MANUFACTURE AND PLACEMENT IN THE STREAM OF COMMERCE OF A PROVEN DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. LINCOLN SHOULD BEAR SOME OF THE COST, BUT HAS REFUSED TO DO SO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10682272

72,000 miles · Nov 5, 2014
Service Brakes

COMING TO A STOP APPLIED THE BRAKES PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR MADE A STRANGE NOISE WOULD NOT STOP.ALMOST RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.CHECKED OUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG EXCEPT SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AT THE CAP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMA…

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COMING TO A STOP APPLIED THE BRAKES PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR MADE A STRANGE NOISE WOULD NOT STOP.ALMOST RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.CHECKED OUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG EXCEPT SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AT THE CAP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652888

162,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Engine

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT MISFIRES IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO ON ACCELERATION..IT IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUG WELLS AND AFFECTING COILS..THERE WAS A EXTENSION WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS.BUT IT WAS 10 YEARS OR 100000 MILE . I DIDN'T PURCHASE THIS CAR TILL AFTER IT ALREADY HAD MORE THAN 100000 MILES SO I WAS UNAWARE OF THESE EXTENSI…

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT MISFIRES IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO ON ACCELERATION..IT IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUG WELLS AND AFFECTING COILS..THERE WAS A EXTENSION WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS.BUT IT WAS 10 YEARS OR 100000 MILE . I DIDN'T PURCHASE THIS CAR TILL AFTER IT ALREADY HAD MORE THAN 100000 MILES SO I WAS UNAWARE OF THESE EXTENSIONS AND TIME FRAMES..I SPOKE WITH FORD/LINCOLN AND BASICALLY TOLD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER.I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NOT EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649745

1 miles · Jun 3, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineStructure

CAR HESITATES ON ACCELERATION SINCE IT WAS NEW. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONDITION GOT WORSE. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTS BUCKING AND MISFIRING. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SELLING LINCOLN DEALERSHIP (SESI LINCOLN MERCURY). THEY DEALERSHIP SAID THE DRIVERS DOOR NEE…

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CAR HESITATES ON ACCELERATION SINCE IT WAS NEW. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONDITION GOT WORSE. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTS BUCKING AND MISFIRING. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SELLING LINCOLN DEALERSHIP (SESI LINCOLN MERCURY). THEY DEALERSHIP SAID THE DRIVERS DOOR NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. THIS MADE NO SENSE TO ME AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY SHORTLY AFTER THAT. NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND CAR HESITATES, BUCKS, STALLS AND RUNS ROUGH, MISFIRES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND MIL STARTS FLASHING. THE COWL PLASTIC PIECE HAS A POOR SEAL ON IT THAT LETS WATER ONTO THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND FORD ADMITS THAT SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, NOTHING A CUSTOMER CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS. FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE CARS AND FIXED THEM AT NO COST. THE FACT THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS WERE HIDING THE REAL REASON FOR THIS MISFIRE AND NOT REPAIRING THE VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY IS BREECH OF CONTRACT. FORD SHOULD BE FINED AND PUNISHED AND FORCED TO RECALL AND REPAIR ALL OF THESE CARS. I AM AN ASE MASTER MECHANIC. I TEACH AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THE CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED, IT LOOKS NEW. I FOUND THAT # 6 CYLINDER HAD A P0306 COIL MISFIRE DTC. I HAD TO REMOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD JUST TO SEE THE COIL ON PLUG SET UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BANK OF ENGINE. TURNS OUT THERE IS POOR SEALING OF THE WINDSHIELD COWL AREA AND WATER RUNS DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE AND ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE WATER SHORTS OUT THE COILS, SPARK PLUGS, COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN WET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595849

107,000 miles · Oct 23, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

HELLO, I BOUGHT A 2003 LINCOLN LS AND I'M GETTING A MESSAGE ON THE DASH THAT IS SAYING ETC FAIL SAFETY MODE AND THE CAR IS NOT ABLE TO GO OVER 30 MPH, AND HAS VERY SLOW PICK UP AND IS RUNNING VERY HARD. I HAVE FOUND THAT SOMETIMES IF I TURN THE CAR OFF/ON THE MESSAGE DOES NOT COME UP THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY. I HAVE TRIED REP…

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HELLO, I BOUGHT A 2003 LINCOLN LS AND I'M GETTING A MESSAGE ON THE DASH THAT IS SAYING ETC FAIL SAFETY MODE AND THE CAR IS NOT ABLE TO GO OVER 30 MPH, AND HAS VERY SLOW PICK UP AND IS RUNNING VERY HARD. I HAVE FOUND THAT SOMETIMES IF I TURN THE CAR OFF/ON THE MESSAGE DOES NOT COME UP THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY AFTER GETTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH TO CODES P0207 AND P02110 AND I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ALLOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549022

3 miles · Mar 22, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

SHIFTS HARD, WHEN IN 20-30 MPH, IN GEAR 2 AND 3. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC, DEALER SAID IT MAY BE TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY HAVE TO TEAR IT APART. IF BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER, OR SOLENOID PACK THEY HAVE TO TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD. HE DID SAY THAT ONE OF THE SOLENOIDS WENT OUTER IF BANDS WERE BENT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSIO…

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SHIFTS HARD, WHEN IN 20-30 MPH, IN GEAR 2 AND 3. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC, DEALER SAID IT MAY BE TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY HAVE TO TEAR IT APART. IF BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER, OR SOLENOID PACK THEY HAVE TO TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD. HE DID SAY THAT ONE OF THE SOLENOIDS WENT OUTER IF BANDS WERE BENT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION FOR A COST OF $2500 - $3500. I HAVE READ ALL OVER THE INTERNET WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HARD SHIFTING AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN. ONE PERSON SAID THAT THEY BOUGHT A KIT THAT FIXES THE DESIGN FLAW - 5RW MASTER SERVO BORE REPAIR KIT (FORD 5R55W/S/N). IT IS NOT MADE BY FORD, IT SEEMS THEY ARE TOO CHEAP TO FIX THE REAL PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO PEOPLES CONCERNS. I AM ALSO GOING TO CALL THE 800 NUMBER FOR FORD LINCOLN AND SEND THEM A LETTER. WOULD USE WITH ANY TRANNY REBUILD. THE FINAL COST OF THE REPAIR IS NOW AT $4000.00. YIKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10452723

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.