2003 Lincoln LS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
68 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
59,788 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 68 complaints (19.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 26.5% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 22.1% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 11.8% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 8.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 13 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Wheels | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Power Train: 13; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 7; Air Bags:Side/Window: 6; Suspension: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Wheels: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 14; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 8; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 5; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10001835 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AN ROCK CRACK FUEL TANK IN RESULT OF LEAKING GAS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT FUEL TANK IS MADE OUT OF FIBER GLASS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028343 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)
JUST PURCHASED 03 LINCOLN LS V-8 SPORT THREE WEEKS AGO, ALREADY INTO SERVICE. THE TRANNY IS SLOW ON UP AND DOWN SHIFTS. THE SERVICE DEPT. ( NEIL LINCOLN MERCURY @ 1900 RT 112 MEDFORD NY) SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY INITIAL CALL, JUST BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANNY SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY SECOND COMPLAINT IS I NOTICED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF UNCOMFORTALBE HEAT UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE DASH WHILE DRIVING, I SUSPECT THIS IS DUE TO THE LACK OF AN INSULATED COVER. THIS COVER I COME TO FIND OUT WAS IN THE 2000, 2001, 200…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032256 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053664 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 14,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056949 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
LEFT SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED IN 2003 LINCOLN LS INJURING ROTATOR CUFF OF DRIVER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, SIDE OR OTHERWISE. TALC BLINDED THE DRIVER, THE EXPLOSION WAS LOUD AND BURNING ON ARM AND SHOULDER MADE DRIVER THINK THE CAR HAD EXPLODED AND CAUSED PANIC TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND GET THE CAR STOPPED. WAS ON LIGHTLY TRAVELLED, SMOOTH ROAD, LITTLE TRAFFIC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058570 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
RADIO/INDASH CD PLAYER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. STILL VERY LIMITED RECEPTION ON RADIO, BOTH FM AND AM STATIONS. CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES, EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY RUN "DIAGNOSTICS". WHILE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE CABLE BETWEEN SYSTEM AND ANTENNA (LOCATED IN REAR WINDOW) HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. FORD AND DEALERSHIP READILY ADMIT THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM EXISTED PREVIOUSLY ON TOWN CARS, BUT NOTHING REPORTED IN LS. THEREFORE, THEY CANNOT REPLACE CABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063309 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSISTED THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067899 · 2004-04-27 (April 27, 2004)
2003 LINCOLN LS HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. 1. VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - DEALER STATES THIS IS THE LUXURY THAT IS THE LINCOLN. 2. CD PLAYER HAS BROKEN TWICE - RADIO SYSTEM REPLACED ONCE, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. 3. ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT - DEALER FIXED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067899 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.
03V136000 · Wheels
Reported: 2003-04-07 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗