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Engine & cooling

Lincoln LS Engine problems by year

179 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Lincoln LS's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20066000
200522000
200428100
200315000
200229210
200134100
200045000

Latest LS engine complaints

2003 Lincoln LSSuspensionBrakesEngine & cooling

We have owned this car for about 3 years and it has been one problem after another and see same problems on line 1) Will start over heating sometimes at idle sometimes while driving (try being in DFW rush hour traffic and deal with that 2) Wife was driving one day and a bolt on right lower control arm broke sending her across 4 lanes of traffic including on coming. 3) All of a sudden when brake pedal was depressed started hearing vacuum leak under dash, brake pedal real hard , and couldn't hardly get car to stop,...

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traction control light started flashing. Found bad brake booster and sensor located on it (both unavailable from manufacturer), also found on line that to get light to stop flashing you have to take to dealer and have reprogrammed (nobody else has the ability) 4) Have constantly had problem with check engine light staying on and running rough, no power, and having to replace ignition coils 5) While wife was driving with no advance notice of any kind heading home on farm market road with no shoulder to pull off on transmission went out completely and stopped pulling 6) Rear control arm bushings go from ok to extremely bad causing back end to drift from side to side going down the highway in a blink of an eye 7) Right front sway bar link keeps wearing control arm and snapping stud off 8) Sunroof drain hoses constantly failing and allowing water to get to electrical components The list goes on but all you have to do is a online search of the LS sport with the 3.9 v-8 and see all the problems. I was in automotive for over 16 years and every vehicle generally has its know couple problems but this is way beyond that. There hasn't been any accidents or injuries but real close to it.

Filed Incident Suspension · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11477698
2003 Lincoln LSEngine & cooling

Car gets to hot my fill bucket for the radiator keeps getting a hole in the bottom of it or some where I have replaced it twice and again the same problem with this car. And it has over heated and goes all the way to h now because of this problem it mite now need head gaskets y can't you make this car better then it is and make it with no problems there junk I won't even tell anyone to buy this piece of junk.And it saying safe fail mode over and over like this car is problem after problem can someone fix my car for me at no cost please.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11256011
2006 Lincoln LSSuspensionEngine & cooling

The fan does not run. Caused the intake manifold to warp and the motor oil and antifreeze to bleed into eachother. Eventually the engine will crack if issue remains unaddressed. I did an online search and found a safety recall (#13508) for my 2006 lincoln towncar that involves the coolant aluminum bypass sticking shut and thus causing the fan not to kick on. However, when I searched safety recalls on lincoln and ford's official websites no information came up regarding that particular recall. Please advise. Thank you, [[redacted]] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr

Filed Incident Suspension · EngineNHTSA 11122104
2002 Lincoln LSAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

When I drive approximately 35 miles, my 2002 lincoln ls wants to overheat and shut down on me. I have to wait till it cools down and then start it up and proceed on my way.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11102934
2001 Lincoln LSBody, doors & structureEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 lincoln ls. While driving 55 mph, the engine overheated and stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's door handle fractured. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The contact was informed that the antifreeze reservoir needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 99,999.

Filed Incident Structure · EngineNHTSA 11065015
2005 Lincoln LSEngine & cooling

Over heats constantly this is a known issue with this car deffinatley manufacturer problem

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11063570
2005 Lincoln LSElectrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

Coils keep failing on low mileage car. Electrical issues with various components and security alarm goes off many times each day.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10990682
2005 Lincoln LSElectrical systemEngine & coolingFuel system

The car turns on and runs but loses power randomly. It either sputters dead or stalls and backfires. When I turn it off and turn it back on it repeats the cycle. I have replaced fuel pumps, throttle body and maf sensors. And still no luck I see on the lincoln forums that this is a problem not yet recognized by the nhsta or lincoln.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10948483
2005 Lincoln LSElectrical systemEngine & cooling

Etc engine fail safe - electronic throttle control replaced with oe... Continues to produce an etc engine fail safe and no code(s) specifics for faulty coils (or which coils) (3 bad coils & passenger side valve/spark plug cover gaskets) or possible faulty alternator. Also, climate control device failed 3 times and was replaced 3 times. Cheap thin walled anti-freeze and windshield washer fluid reservoir cracked during extreme cold weather conditions.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 10881943
2002 Lincoln LSSteeringEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 lincoln ls. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 mph, the ball joint was loosen causing the contact to loose control of the steering. In addition, the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lower control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, three months later the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 212,000.

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 10870567
2004 Lincoln LSAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistanceEngine & cooling

Normal clear weather driving down busy street when care suddenly slowed down almost resulting in a collision with vehicles behind me. The engine stopped , I restarted with very limited drivability the etc failsafe mode kicked in for no apparent reason this issue must be addressed before someone is seriously injured.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · Electronic stability control (ESC) · EngineNHTSA 10820770
2003 Lincoln LSEngine & coolingFuel 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 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...

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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

Filed Incident Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10816186
2003 Lincoln LSEngine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10781622
2002 Lincoln LSTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 lincoln ls. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping out of gear. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the transmission. In addition, the vehicle was overheating without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the thermostat, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 10734062

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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