← New search

2001 Lincoln Ls

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Ls years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Lincoln Ls are substantially higher than the model-year median of 91.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

166 reports with mileage · 74 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports1 fire reports11 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
30,000 miles · Sep 19, 2005
EquipmentExterior LightingVisibility

WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. ALL REGULATORS ON VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, AND NOW ONE OF THOSE REPLACED PREVIOUSLY IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN. FAILURE RENDERS WINDOW COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT HEADLAMPS CONTINUE TO BUILD UP MOISTURE/CONDENSATION IN THEM. THESE ITE…

Read full complaint

WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. ALL REGULATORS ON VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, AND NOW ONE OF THOSE REPLACED PREVIOUSLY IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AGAIN. FAILURE RENDERS WINDOW COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT HEADLAMPS CONTINUE TO BUILD UP MOISTURE/CONDENSATION IN THEM. THESE ITEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE IN THE LAST 3 YEARS AND ARE IN NEED OF REPLACE YET AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136945

27,208 miles · Oct 21, 2003
Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BOTH FEET WERE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. *AK THE TIRES WERE SPINNING WHILE THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. MECHANIC CHECKED FOR PEDAL BINDING AND RAN ALL SELF TEST. THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES STORED IN THE COMPUTER SYST…

Read full complaint

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BOTH FEET WERE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. *AK THE TIRES WERE SPINNING WHILE THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. MECHANIC CHECKED FOR PEDAL BINDING AND RAN ALL SELF TEST. THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES STORED IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED IN WARM AND COLD CONDITIONS. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT EVERYTHING WAS WORKING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP HAD WATER INSIDE IT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10031893

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003
Exterior LightingLatches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

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 REPL…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10009751

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2003
Exterior Lighting

MY HEADLIGHTS FILL UP WITH WATER WHENEVER ANY WATER IS PRESENT. IF IT RAINS OR I WASH THE CAR BOTH HEADLIGHTS LEAK WATER IN THE ASSEMBLY. I HAVE HAD AS MUCH AS 1/2" OF WATER IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. I HAVE TO REMOVE THE ASSEMBLIES AND DRAIN THE WATER THROUGH THE BULB SOCKET HOLES THEN REINSTALL THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PRO…

Read full complaint

MY HEADLIGHTS FILL UP WITH WATER WHENEVER ANY WATER IS PRESENT. IF IT RAINS OR I WASH THE CAR BOTH HEADLIGHTS LEAK WATER IN THE ASSEMBLY. I HAVE HAD AS MUCH AS 1/2" OF WATER IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. I HAVE TO REMOVE THE ASSEMBLIES AND DRAIN THE WATER THROUGH THE BULB SOCKET HOLES THEN REINSTALL THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE IS A POSSIBLITY OF SOMEONE HAVING WATER IN THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THEY COULD HIT A BUMP AND CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL BECAUSE OF THE WATER SPLASHING ON THE BULBS AND BURNING OUT, I HAD THIS EXPERIENCE, WITH ONE BULB. SOMEONE IS GOING TO A FATAL CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO PAY TO HAVE THEIR POOR DESIGN REPLACED WITH NEW LENSES AS RECOMMENDED BY MY DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10028974

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2002
Exterior Lighting

HOLDS WATER FORD REFUSES TO FIX DESPITE WARRENTY. DT

NHTSA ODI #770026

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2002
Exterior Lighting

THE CONSUMERS WASHED THE VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THAT WATER WAS BEHIND THE RIGHT HEADLAMP INDICATING THAT IT WAS LEAKING. THEY THEN NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND UNDER WARRANTY, THE CONSUMERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON FOR 15 MINUTES, AND THIS SHOULD TAKE CAR…

Read full complaint

THE CONSUMERS WASHED THE VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THAT WATER WAS BEHIND THE RIGHT HEADLAMP INDICATING THAT IT WAS LEAKING. THEY THEN NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND UNDER WARRANTY, THE CONSUMERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ON FOR 15 MINUTES, AND THIS SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT DID NOT. THE CONSUMER THEN CALLED FORD TO INFORM THEM THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AND WANTED FORD TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP., FORD IN RETURN STATED THAT THEIR POLICY ON THIS PROBLEM WAS TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS NOT REPLACE THE LEAKING HEADLAMP. THE CONSUMER TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 45 MINUTES,BUT THERE WAS STILL WATER BEHIND THE HEADLAMP COVER. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE WATER CONDENSATION ON THE HEADLIGHT LAMP COVER WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT IS TRANSMITTED BY THE HEADLIGHT TO THE ROADWAY, LIMITING VISION FOR NIGHT DRIVING. *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ODI #568307

Official recalls

1

00V359001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Nov 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 & remedy

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.

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.