IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V359001, REGARDING THE FRONT CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ls years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
1225–50K
3350–75K
5275–100K
50100–150K
7150K+
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
Suspension complaints
110 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HARD TO CONTROL. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V359001, REGARDING THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
THE LINCOLN LS WAS PURCHASED JULY 1, 2001. FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN SEPT. 2005. WE WERE TRAVELING BACK FROM COLORADO WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS FLOATING. WE MADE IT BACK TO ARIZONA AND TOOK THE CAR TO OUR SERVICE COMPANY. THEY FOUND THAT THE UNDER-TORQUE CONDITION LOOSENED THE LOWER BALL JOINT LOCK NUT. THEY TIGHTE…
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THE LINCOLN LS WAS PURCHASED JULY 1, 2001. FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN SEPT. 2005. WE WERE TRAVELING BACK FROM COLORADO WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS FLOATING. WE MADE IT BACK TO ARIZONA AND TOOK THE CAR TO OUR SERVICE COMPANY. THEY FOUND THAT THE UNDER-TORQUE CONDITION LOOSENED THE LOWER BALL JOINT LOCK NUT. THEY TIGHTENED AND REPAIRED. AT THAT TIME WE EXTENSIVE WEAR ON OUR NEW FRONT TIRES THAT HAD LESS THAN 12000 MILES ON THEM. ON NOV. 11, 2005 I WAS DRIVING, THE LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT COMPLETELY SEVERED FROM THE CAR MAKING THE WHEEL TURNED TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION (SIDEWAYS) DENTING THE LEFT FENDER AND THE CAR DRAGGED TO A STOP. WE THEN FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE THIS PARTICULAR MODEL PRODUCED AT THE WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS I LISTED. WE HAVE A TOTAL BILL OF $1,421.69 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, ALSO THE PURCHASE OF TWO TIRES WITH LESS THAN 12000 MILES. THE DAMAGE TO THE TIRES WAS CAUSED BY THE FLOATING AND THE LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. WE, HOWEVER, DID NOT GET A RECALL LETTER BECAUSE THE WINDOW FOR RECALLS HAD CLOSED, BUT THE PROBLEMS WE EXPERIENCED ARE IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL LETTER. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE LINCOLN AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AT THEIR LEVEL AND THEY SUGGESTED WE CONTACT YOU AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPNY WHICH I DID. ALL TO NO AVAIL. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V359001 CONCERNING THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT NIT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THERE HAS BEEN A TEMPORARY REPAIR MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V359001 CONCERNING THE FRONT SUSPENSION:CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB
LINCOLN ISSUED A RECALL ON SOME (80,000) 2001 LINCOLN LS VEHICLES, FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY THAT IF NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A CRASH. MY VEHICLE A 2001 LINCOLN LS WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL ISSUED. TWO MECHANIC'S FROM NEIL LINCOLN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. & ANOTHER MECHANIC BOTH TOLD M…
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LINCOLN ISSUED A RECALL ON SOME (80,000) 2001 LINCOLN LS VEHICLES, FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY THAT IF NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A CRASH. MY VEHICLE A 2001 LINCOLN LS WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL ISSUED. TWO MECHANIC'S FROM NEIL LINCOLN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. & ANOTHER MECHANIC BOTH TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS ISSUED UNDER A RECALL FROM LINCOLN FOR THE 2001 LS. AFTER CONTACTING FORD/LINCOLN & REPORTING THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD THEY COULD NOT LOOK INTO POSSIBLY ISSUING ANOTHER RECALL OR CHANGING TO INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL VEHICLES. I AM HOPING THAT POSSIBLY YOU CAN HELP ME! THANK YOU! *JB
DRIVING TO DRANGO COLORADO WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO WEAVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. TOOK THE CAR TO ASPEN AUTO DOCTOR AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD THAT MY THE BALL JOINT HAD CAME LOOSE FROM THE CONTROL ARM. *NM
2001 LINCOLN LS HAS BAD BALL JOINTS AND FOUND OUT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON CERTAIN VIN #S BUT THEY SAY NOT MINE. *NM
ASKED THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE ROTORS BECAUSE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED THERE IS A PULLING BACK ON THE CAR. THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE A DEFECT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS. I SAW THAT THE SAME MODEL/YEAR HAD A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS AND FEEL THAT THERE MUST BE THE SAME PROBLEM …
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ASKED THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE ROTORS BECAUSE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED THERE IS A PULLING BACK ON THE CAR. THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE A DEFECT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS. I SAW THAT THE SAME MODEL/YEAR HAD A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS AND FEEL THAT THERE MUST BE THE SAME PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE (WEBSITE FOUND RECALL ON - HTTP://AUTO-RECALLS.JUSTIA.COM) THEY ALSO FOUND THAT THE AIRBAG MODULES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FOR A CAR SO YOUNG IN MILEAGE AND NOT USED SO OFTEN THERE SHOULD NOT BE SUCH BIG PROBLEMS WITH IT.*JB
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V359000; FORD ISSUED A FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, BUT HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINTS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE, AND WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE WHEELS COULD FALL OFF. *AK
Official recalls
100V359001 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.