2005 Lincoln LS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
90 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
59,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 90 complaints (18.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 18.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 12.2% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Wheels | 6 |
Electrical System: 17; Power Train: 11; Engine: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Wheels: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 27 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 20; 2011: 5; 2012: 15; 2013: 10; 2014: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2020: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10203166 · 2007-09-17 (September 17, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE COMPUTER WITHIN THE VEHICLE ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE BY WIRE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE SECURITY ALARM SOUNDED. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD, SHUT OFF, AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A RELAY IN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. HE RETURNED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME. THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203797 · 2007-09-17 (September 17, 2007)
2005 LINCOLN LS WITH BRAKE FAILURE . CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN THE SHE HIT THE ACCELERATOR. COMPUTER DISPLAY SHOWED SERVICE ETC SOON, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. *KB THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAVEL USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO RELEASE THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE EXCEPT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH AN EXTREME BUCKING MOTION. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ERROR MESSAGES WERE GONE, AND THE VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10264271 · 2009-04-06 (April 6, 2009)
I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY LINCOLN LS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP OFFICIALLY FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EXPENSIVE BILL IN TOUGH TIMES. I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LINCOLN LS OWNERS. THIS SHOULD QUALIFY FOR SOME TYPE OF RECALL. I DO NOT DRIVE AT ERRATIC SPEEDS THAT WOULD WEAR THE TRANSMISSION. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW. PLEASE DO SOMETHING, LINCOLN OWNERS SUPPORT AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY'S AND THIS IS THE RESULT. MAKE GOOD ON AMERICAN PRODUCTS!!! *…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276892 · 2009-07-15 (July 15, 2009)
PROBLEMS WITH CAR STALLING AFTER STOP (I.E. NOT RESPONDING EASILY TO GAS PEDAL) AND JERKING INTO GEAR SINCE PURCHASE. PROBLEM REPORTED TO DEALER ONE YEAR POST-PURCHASE WITH NO RESOLUTION. CAR CONTINUED TO GET WORSE - GOING FROM PERIODIC TO CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH STALLING AND JERKING INTO GEAR (FROM A STOP AND ALSO FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE.) AT 39,000 MILES NOW WE ARE TOLD A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED. DESPITE REPORTING THE PROBLEM WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY (IT IS NOW TWO WEEKS OUT OF WARRANTY) NEITHER DEALER NOR LINCOLN ARE RESPONDIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226914 · 2008-05-07 (May 7, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, ALTERNATOR, POWER MODULE, AND BATTERY. THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE AFTER THE REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,450 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,964.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138677 · 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)
MY COMPANY LEASED THIS 2005 LINCOLN LS IN AUGUST 2005 FROM BOB MAXEY LINCOLN-MERCURY IN DETROIT. ON TUESDAY 10/4/2005 I WENT OUT TO THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS BY THE CAR. I DROPPED THE CHILDREN OFF AT SCHOOL, THEN PROCEEDED TO MY OFFICE. THE CAR SAT IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL NOON WHEN I WENT OUT TO MAKE CUSTOMER CALLS. AGAIN, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I FOUND GAS DRIPPING DOWN FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GAS TANK. AS I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, I DROVE THE CAR TO BOB MAXEY LINCOLN…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,590 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404583 · 2011-06-06 (June 6, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE ABS BRAKE SENSOR WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,837.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,837 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452491 · 2012-03-21 (March 21, 2012)
POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING. I CALLED FORD COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. TOOK IT TO TWO FORD DEALERS TO GET CHEAPEST PRICES. HAD TO HAVE POWER STEERING ROD AND PUMP REPLACED. WHICH COST ANOTHER 1200. GOING BROKE FROM THIS CAR. AIR CONDITIONER ALSO STOPPED WORKING BUT COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED YET. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE WHOLE DASHBOARD TO FIX. THEY TRIED TO PUT ADD SOMETHING TO THE AIR TO COOL IT BUT IT DID NOT WORK. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10553224 · 2013-11-21 (November 21, 2013)
IT WAS DRIVING FINE ONE DAY UNTIL I WENT TO START IT. IT SAID ETC ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE, CHECK PARKING BRAKE AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE GEARS. IT STARTS SOMETIMES, I'VE HAD IT SHUT DOWN WHILE DOING 50 MPH AND LOSE STEERING AND BAD BRAKING. THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR MY NEWBORN IN THE CAR. NOW IT WONT START AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HOW CAN THEY SELL A CAR THAT THEY CANT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM ON THEMSELVES AND SELL IT? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10990682 · 2017-05-19 (May 19, 2017)
COILS KEEP FAILING ON LOW MILEAGE CAR. ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH VARIOUS COMPONENTS AND SECURITY ALARM GOES OFF MANY TIMES EACH DAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10990682 at NHTSA ↗