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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

What owners actually said

240 reports
90 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Air BagsSeats

SEAT BELTS MADE POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND FROZE UP. NOT ABLE TO PULL DOWN. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. BOTH HAPPENED WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER

NHTSA ODI #10821815

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2016
Structure

ON THIS 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORTS PACKAGE , THE ROCKER PANELS, INNER AND OUTER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT . THESE DEFECTS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE THE LOCAL LINCOLN / FORD DEALERSHIP HAS VERIFIED THESE DEFECTS AND THE WVSP AND DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAS INSPECTED AND EXAMINED THIS VEHICLE AND AS AN DIREC…

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ON THIS 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORTS PACKAGE , THE ROCKER PANELS, INNER AND OUTER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT . THESE DEFECTS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE THE LOCAL LINCOLN / FORD DEALERSHIP HAS VERIFIED THESE DEFECTS AND THE WVSP AND DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAS INSPECTED AND EXAMINED THIS VEHICLE AND AS AN DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR FINDINGS OF FACT, HAS DEEMED VEHICLE TO BE ROAD UNWORTHY AND POSED TOO SERIOUS RISK FOR ITS DRIVER (MYSELF) , FOR ITS OCCUPANTS (MINE) AND FOR OTHER DRIVERS ON HIGHWAYS AND FOR PEDESTRIANS AND THEREFORE REMOVED IT FROM BEING ABLE TO MOVE, FROM BEING ABLE TO OPERATE , AND REMOVED IT FROM BEING ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ON ANY AND ALL HIGHWAYS.. THE DEFECTS ON THIS VEHICLE IN THEIR FINDINGS OF FACTS ARE SIGNIFICANT AND SERIOUS IN NATURE AND WAS NOT CAUSED BY ME AS THE REGISTERED OWNER OF IT.

NHTSA ODI #10817387

113,000 miles · Jun 11, 2015
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED OUT OF DIRECTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE WHEEL BEARING, HUB ASSEMBLY, AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED OUT OF DIRECTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE WHEEL BEARING, HUB ASSEMBLY, AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V359001 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ODI #10724736

142,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Suspension

FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS AFTER INSPETION ARE CRACKED AND LOSE.

NHTSA ODI #10717612

142,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Air Bags

THERE IS A PREVENTITIVE AIR BAG RECALL FOR MY VEHICAL

NHTSA ODI #10717608

69,000 miles · May 14, 2015
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CRUNCHING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE BALL JOINTS WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CRUNCHING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE BALL JOINTS WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR HIS VEHICLE MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

NHTSA ODI #10716433

123,910 miles · Feb 18, 2015
Air BagsStructure

THIS 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORTS PACKAGE HAS SUBSTANTIAL DEFECTS THAT IMPAIRS ITS SAFETY , THE SAFETY OF ITS DRIVERS, THE SAFETY OF ITS OCCUPANTS, THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS ON HIGHWAYS AND ROADS , AND THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS. THE ROCKER PANELS , INNER AND OUTER ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. ANY IMPACT THIS VEHICLE INCURRED WILL LIKE…

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THIS 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORTS PACKAGE HAS SUBSTANTIAL DEFECTS THAT IMPAIRS ITS SAFETY , THE SAFETY OF ITS DRIVERS, THE SAFETY OF ITS OCCUPANTS, THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS ON HIGHWAYS AND ROADS , AND THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS. THE ROCKER PANELS , INNER AND OUTER ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. ANY IMPACT THIS VEHICLE INCURRED WILL LIKELY TO CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND OR OPERATED ON HIGHWAYS AND ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683959

138,000 miles · Feb 9, 2015
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE OR BUMPING NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V359001 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE OR BUMPING NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V359001 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10682310

191,821 miles · Feb 1, 2015
Suspension

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 11PM TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND, AND THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE R/R DS LOWER BALL JOINT IN FRONT OF THE CAR COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. I HAD TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND AND FROM A CROSS STREET IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO SIGNAL EVERYONE BY HORN, ARM WAVING AND DOUBLE BLINKERS BEFORE I WAS HIT BY …

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 11PM TO PICK UP MY HUSBAND, AND THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE R/R DS LOWER BALL JOINT IN FRONT OF THE CAR COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. I HAD TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND AND FROM A CROSS STREET IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO SIGNAL EVERYONE BY HORN, ARM WAVING AND DOUBLE BLINKERS BEFORE I WAS HIT BY ANYONE. I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680394

191,833 miles · Feb 1, 2015
Steering

NOTICE THE STEERING WAS LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND FELT INHIBITED WHEN I DROVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680393

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.