2001 Lincoln LS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
240 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
88,503 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 166 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 67 of 240 complaints (27.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 11.7% |
| Steering behavior | 27 | 11.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 67 |
| Suspension | 23 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
| Suspension:Front | 21 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 67; Suspension: 23; Air Bags: 22; Suspension:Front: 21; Steering: 10; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 52 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 50 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 52; 100,000 to 149,999: 50; 150,000 and above: 7
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 74 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 26 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 17; 2002: 20; 2003: 17; 2004: 15; 2005: 20; 2006: 22; 2007: 21; 2008: 26; 2009: 20; 2010: 15; 2011: 7; 2012: 5; 2013: 8; 2014: 6; 2015: 8; 2016: 8; 2018: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004527 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS CAUSING FUMES TO COME UP THROUGH THE VENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009749 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN THE RAIN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009751 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM THE SEAT BELTS WOULD BIND AND DID NOT RETRACT, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED (ACROSS) DUE TO STRESS AND WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE LOCK SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TWICE, THE FRONT HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO CONDENSATION, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AS WELL. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015262 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018051 · 2003-05-02 (May 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 22,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018703 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION. SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK UP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019828 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)
ROAD WHEEL LUG NUT DESIGN USED ON CERTAIN MY2001 LINCOLN LS SEDANS IS DIMENSIONALLY UNSTABLE, GROWING IN SIZE OVER TIME AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE AND/OR SECURE WITH THE CORRECT WHEEL BRACE OR SOCKET TOOL. FOLLOWING A PUNCTURE AND SUBSEQUENT REPLACEMENT OF 4 TIRES ON MY VEHICLE DUE TO NORMAL WEAR, ALL 20 NUTS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AS THEY COULD ONLY BE REMOVED BY FORCE. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT TSB EXISTS FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT NO FORMAL RECALL. NOTE: 1 SAMPLE OF DEFECTIVE NUT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023076 · 2003-06-14 (June 14, 2003)
WHINE IN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION DURING IDLE WHEN THE ENGINE RPM IS INCREASED OR DECREASED. NOISE IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT CITY SPEEDS (1000 TO 1400 RPM).PITCH CHANGES WITH ENGINE RPM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023076 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V359001 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2000-11-03 (November 3, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS WHEN THEY WERE ATTACHED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS.
Consequence: IF THE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, THEY CAN LOOSEN AND, ULTIMATELY, RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE BALL JOINT STUD. IF THE BALL JOINT FRACTURES, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE TWO BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS. VEHICLES WITH LOOSE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS WILL EITHER HAVE THE FASTENERS TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION, OR IF NECESSARY, THE BALL JOINTS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗