WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. IT WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONTAL LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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
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.
Suspension complaints
110 reports1) NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001, I PURCHASED A 2001 LINCOLN LS IN JUNE OF THIS YR 2004. A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WHERE THE MILEAGE WAS OVER WARANTY, I SUFFERED STEERING ISSUES THAT WAS UNSAFE FOR DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLING ERRATICALLY ECT. I TOOK THE CAR TO HOLMAN LINCOLN MERCURY OF POMPANO FL, WHERE THEY D…
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1) NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V359001, I PURCHASED A 2001 LINCOLN LS IN JUNE OF THIS YR 2004. A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WHERE THE MILEAGE WAS OVER WARANTY, I SUFFERED STEERING ISSUES THAT WAS UNSAFE FOR DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLING ERRATICALLY ECT. I TOOK THE CAR TO HOLMAN LINCOLN MERCURY OF POMPANO FL, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED MY PROBLEM BEING THE SUSPENSION FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PAYED FOR THE REPAIR NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN THE PAST. NOW JUST 3 DAYS AGO I NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WAS GETTING LOOSE ONCE AGAIN AND HAD A MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. TURNS OUT TO BE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT INSTEAD OF IT BEING ON THE LEFT SIDE IT HAS NOW OCCURED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I WENT HOME TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE WITH THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR WITH THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN BY PRIOR OWNER AND WAS RELASED FIXED SUPPOSIDLY. IT WAS SAID THAT THE VEHICLES NUTS WHERE RE TIGHTNED. NOW THAT I OWN THE VEHICLE THIS DEFECT HAS COST BE OVER 1000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGES, AND I WOULD LIKE A REFUND DUE TO IT BEING A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HOLMAN LINCOLN MERCURY OF POMPANO WILL NOT DO SO, SO NOW I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
LOWER BALL JOINT WORE OUT PREMATURELY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT UPPER BALL JOINT IS WEARING PREMATURELY.*AK
: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. I TOOK MY CAR INTO VELDE LINCOLN MERCURY IN PEORIA, ILL. 7/11/03 AND TOLD THEM THAT MY CAR WAS FISH TAILING IN THE FRONT. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW TIRES, THEY DID NOT TELL ME THAT ANYTHING ELSE WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR.I WAS GETTING NEW TIRES AND THE PLACE WHERE I PUT THE TIRES O…
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: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT. I TOOK MY CAR INTO VELDE LINCOLN MERCURY IN PEORIA, ILL. 7/11/03 AND TOLD THEM THAT MY CAR WAS FISH TAILING IN THE FRONT. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW TIRES, THEY DID NOT TELL ME THAT ANYTHING ELSE WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR.I WAS GETTING NEW TIRES AND THE PLACE WHERE I PUT THE TIRES ON TOLD ME THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE. THEY TIGHTENED IT UP, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT IN TWO DAYS WITH LINCOLN IN SPRINGFIELD, ILL. TO GET IT LOOKED AT. THE NEXT NIGHT THE BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE I WAS GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR. I REINJURED MY BACK.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED STEERING WHEEL SHAKING AND VIBRATING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SLC
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE DRIFTED ACROSS CENTER LANE SIDESWIPING A TRUCK AND ANOTHER VEHICLE, RECALL 00V359001 STATES LOWER BALL JOINTS MAY LOOSEN AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VIN. WAS NOT INCLUDED BUT ON INVOICE IT STATES THAT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS MISSING, CONSUMER WAS ISSUED A TICKET FOR ACCIDENT, HOWEVER POSSIBLE CA…
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WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE DRIFTED ACROSS CENTER LANE SIDESWIPING A TRUCK AND ANOTHER VEHICLE, RECALL 00V359001 STATES LOWER BALL JOINTS MAY LOOSEN AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VIN. WAS NOT INCLUDED BUT ON INVOICE IT STATES THAT LOWER BALL JOINT WAS MISSING, CONSUMER WAS ISSUED A TICKET FOR ACCIDENT, HOWEVER POSSIBLE CAUSE COULD BE RECALL RELATED, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT CONSUMER FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING, AFTER THE ACCIDENT MANY PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED: LOOSE CONNECTION AT BULB FOR GEAR SHIFT, AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT, MIRROR, AND STEERING WHEEL SETTINGS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHILE USING THE REMOTE, AUTOMATIC SENSOR FAILURE, MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER DID NOT WORK, AND REVERSE LIGHT BULB FAILED. *SLC
VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, GEARSHIFT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT/ BACK UP LIGHT WERE NOT WORKING. *AK CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DRIFTED ACROSS THE CENTER LANE AND SIDESWIPED 2 VEHICLES, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, HOWEVER THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS RELATED TO RECALL 00V35…
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VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, GEARSHIFT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT/ BACK UP LIGHT WERE NOT WORKING. *AK CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DRIFTED ACROSS THE CENTER LANE AND SIDESWIPED 2 VEHICLES, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, HOWEVER THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS RELATED TO RECALL 00V359001, PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND HAD THE LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED. CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED AND DEALER HAD TO REPOSITION A DROPPED AIR BAG. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED ACROSS CENTER LANE, AND SIDE SWIPED ONCOMING TRUCK. DAMAGE WAS $ 7200. AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER, ABOUT 45 DEGREES. DEALER THEN ALIGNED FRONT END. 2 WEEKS LATER, WHEEL WENT OFF CENTER OI OTHER DIRECTION BY 45 DEGREES. DEALER THEN FOUND ONE LOWER BA…
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH VEHICLE SWERVED ACROSS CENTER LANE, AND SIDE SWIPED ONCOMING TRUCK. DAMAGE WAS $ 7200. AFTER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER, ABOUT 45 DEGREES. DEALER THEN ALIGNED FRONT END. 2 WEEKS LATER, WHEEL WENT OFF CENTER OI OTHER DIRECTION BY 45 DEGREES. DEALER THEN FOUND ONE LOWER BALL JOINT MISSING. AND SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT COMPONENT. CONSUMER DID NOT GET RECALL LETTER , DALER CHECKED VIN, AND THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. AFTER REPAIR WAS DONE, REPAIR BILL STATED LOWER BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE, NOT MISSING. THEN WHEEL WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. DEALER THEN REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY AND RESET AIRBAG. CONSUMER FELT INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY MISSING BALL JOINT. *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.
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