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
What owners actually said
240 reports
122,650 miles · Dec 22, 2014
Structure
ON JULY 7, 2014 , THIS 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORTS PACKAGE WAS TAKEN INTO AN AUTHORIZED AND OFFICIAL INSPECTION STATION / ENTITY FOR AN WEST VIRGINIA VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION . THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT LEGALLY AND / OR PROPERLY INSPECTED AND OR EXAMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSPECTION REGULATIONS SET FORTH BY THE WEST VIRGINIA STATE …
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ON JULY 7, 2014 , THIS 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORTS PACKAGE WAS TAKEN INTO AN AUTHORIZED AND OFFICIAL INSPECTION STATION / ENTITY FOR AN WEST VIRGINIA VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION . THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT LEGALLY AND / OR PROPERLY INSPECTED AND OR EXAMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSPECTION REGULATIONS SET FORTH BY THE WEST VIRGINIA STATE POLICE. THIS STATION / ENTITY JUST PLACED AN CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION ON WINDSHIELD OF VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN AN SAFE AND MECHANICAL CONDITION TO OPERATE ON THE HIGHWAYS OF WEST VIRGINIA . IT HAD SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL AND FRAME DAMAGE ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT ROCKER PANELS , INNER AND OUTER WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT . THIS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE , THE SAFETY OF ITS DRIVER , THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS , AND THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS. ON OCTOBER 2, 2014 , THIS VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM OPERATION ON THE ROADWAYS / HIGHWAYS IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND DEEMED ROAD UNWORTHY BY THE WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE WEST VIRGINIA STATE POLICE. THE CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION [ JULY 2015 STICKER] WAS REMOVED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10667675
144,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Air Bags
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10659172
123,700 miles · Nov 8, 2014
Structure
THIS 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORTS PACKAGE HAD AN FAULTY SAFETY INSPECTION PERFORMED ON IT IN THE MONTH OF JULY 2014 BY AN INSPECTION STATION LOCATED IN WEST VIRGINIA.. IT WAS NOT OFFICIALLY INSPECTED AND EXAMINED. IT DID NOT MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS OF WEST VIRGINIA INSPECTION LAWS. HOWEVER, THIS INSPECTION STATION ATTACHED AN CERTIFICAT…
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THIS 2001 LINCOLN LS SPORTS PACKAGE HAD AN FAULTY SAFETY INSPECTION PERFORMED ON IT IN THE MONTH OF JULY 2014 BY AN INSPECTION STATION LOCATED IN WEST VIRGINIA.. IT WAS NOT OFFICIALLY INSPECTED AND EXAMINED. IT DID NOT MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS OF WEST VIRGINIA INSPECTION LAWS. HOWEVER, THIS INSPECTION STATION ATTACHED AN CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION ON IT NEVERTHELESS. [ AN JULY 2015 INSPECTION STICKER ]. DURING THIS PERIOD , THIS VEHICLE HAD STRUCTURAL AND FRAME DAMAGE , INVOLVING BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT ROCKER PANELS, INNER AND OUTER, BEING COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THIS DAMAGE AFFECTS THE 1] SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, 2] UTILITY OF THE VEHICLE, 3] PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE, 4] INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE , 5] STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE , AND, 6] USE OF VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE , THIS DAMAGE ON THIS VEHICLE AFFECTS 1] THE SAFETY OF ITS DRIVER[S] , 2] THE SAFETY OF ITS OCCUPANT[S] , 3] THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVER[S] ON THE HIGHWAYS , AND 4] THE SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS. HOWEVER , THIS INSPECTION STATION DEEMED IT ROAD WORTHY DURING THEIR INSPECTION OF VEHICLE DURING MONTH OF JULY 2014.AND APPROVED IT AS BEING SAFE AND MEETING ALL INSPECTION LAWS, INSPECTION PROCEDURES, AND ALL INSPECTION CODES. HOWEVER, ON OCTOBER 2, 2014, DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY [WEST VIRGINIA] AFTER THEIR INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION OF VEHICLE CONFIRMED THAT THIS INSPECTION STATION INDEED PERFORMED AN FAULTY AND IMPROPER AND ILLEGAL INSPECTION ON VEHICLE DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2014 . THIS VEHICLE DID NOT MEET SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AS REQUIRED AS AN PROXIMATE RESULT OF THIS STRUCTURAL AND FRAME DAMAGE EXISTENT ON VEHICLE. THEREFORE, THE DIVISION OF SAFETY DIVISION [ WEST VIRGINIA] DEEMED THIS VEHICLE AS ROAD UNWORTHY AND REMOVED THE CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION FROM VEHICLE [ JULY 2015 STICKER]. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10653589
210,800 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Suspension
I GOT THIS CAR IN JULY & SHORTLY THEREAFTER I STARTED HEARING A POP HERE & THERE IN THE FRONT END. AND ITS GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE MAY BE A RECALL FOR THE BALL OR U JOINTS. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS INCLUDED IN A RECALL OR NOT. AND IF SO HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10648916
143,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Suspension
I WAS TOLD TODAY WHILE I WAS GETTING THE OIL CHANGED ON MY VEHICLE THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE VERY LOOSE, AND THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT MY FRONT TIRED HADN'T FALLEN OFF YET. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE MANAGER HE REFERRED ME TO FORD BECAUSE OF THE RECALL ON THE SUSPENSION THAT HE KNEW ABOUT. HE THOUGH THAT MY CAR SHOULD QUALI…
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I WAS TOLD TODAY WHILE I WAS GETTING THE OIL CHANGED ON MY VEHICLE THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE VERY LOOSE, AND THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT MY FRONT TIRED HADN'T FALLEN OFF YET. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE MANAGER HE REFERRED ME TO FORD BECAUSE OF THE RECALL ON THE SUSPENSION THAT HE KNEW ABOUT. HE THOUGH THAT MY CAR SHOULD QUALIFY CONSIDERING THE SEVERITY OF THE CONDITION THAT THEY WERE IN. AFTER SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE AT FORD I WAS INFORMED THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL THAT MY CAR 'S VIN NUMBER DID NOT QUALIFY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL. MY CAR IS THE SAME YEAR, MAKE , AND MODEL, WITH THE SAME DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592860
151,000 miles · Apr 4, 2014
Engine
THE PLASTIC TENSIONERS THAT THE MANUFACTURER PUT IN BROKE CAUSING A HUGE ENGINE MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD THESE PLASTIC TENSIONERS BUT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS IT APPEARS SOMEONE KNEW ABOUT THIS SINCE MANUFACTURER CAME UP WITH GENERATION II AND GENERATION III AND THESE ADDED GENERATIONS, ARE MADE OF METAL WHICH SHOULD HA…
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THE PLASTIC TENSIONERS THAT THE MANUFACTURER PUT IN BROKE CAUSING A HUGE ENGINE MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD THESE PLASTIC TENSIONERS BUT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS IT APPEARS SOMEONE KNEW ABOUT THIS SINCE MANUFACTURER CAME UP WITH GENERATION II AND GENERATION III AND THESE ADDED GENERATIONS, ARE MADE OF METAL WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PLACED WHEN THEY FIRST BUILT THE ENGINE. AWESOME ENGINE, LOUSY TENSIONERS THAT AT HIGH SPEEDS, COULD HAVE CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND PERHAPS GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT OR KILLED MYSELF OR KILL SOME ONE ELSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THESE TENSIONERS. I AM ABOUT TO SPEND 1,500 TOP REPLACE THEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10577489
173,233 miles · Sep 28, 2013
Engine
THE PLASTIC TENSIONER FOR TIMING CHAIN BROKE DUE TO BEING MADE OF PLASTIC. INTERNAL PARTS SHOULD NOT BE PLASTIC. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT, CAR IS DISABLED. WHOEVER BUILT THOSE CARS, HAVE NO REGARD FOR SAFETY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10546013
120,000 miles · Sep 26, 2013
Electrical SystemEnginePower TrainFire
MY 01 LINCOLN LS 3.9 V8 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 11:30 PM. BY THE TIME IT WAS NOTICED, THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF WAS ENGULFED. IT EXPLODED ABOUT 3 TIMES (POSSIBLY THE AIRBAGS EXPLODING). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT REACHED THE FUEL TANK. I HAD DRIVEN IT AROUND AN HOUR BEFORE. THE MOST DAM…
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MY 01 LINCOLN LS 3.9 V8 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 11:30 PM. BY THE TIME IT WAS NOTICED, THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF WAS ENGULFED. IT EXPLODED ABOUT 3 TIMES (POSSIBLY THE AIRBAGS EXPLODING). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT REACHED THE FUEL TANK. I HAD DRIVEN IT AROUND AN HOUR BEFORE. THE MOST DAMAGE WAS NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF CAR NEAR WHERE THE HEADLIGHT AND AIR FILTER WERE LOCATED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD NOT BURNED AS INTENSE AS THE DRIVER SIDE. (THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF THE HOOD HAD COMPLETELY BURNED AWAY..) THE FIRE DEPT SAID IT POSSIBLY STARTED IN THE ENGINE BUT THE FIRE HAD BURNED SO MUCH THAT THEY COULD NOT BE SURE. NO INVESTIGATION SINCE I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 2008 AND HAVE NOTICED DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS SUCH AS RADIO VOLUME INCREASING, INDICATOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COMING ON/OFF (ATC, ABS, AIR BAG, ECT). ABOUT ONE MONTH BEFORE FIRE THE CAR WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH NOT STARTING AND RANDOMLY DYING AS I WAS DRIVING. THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND WAS NOT THE ISSUE. I LOVED MY CAR BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER FREE OF ISSUES. (WINDOW REGULATORS/CLIPS REPLACED EACH WINDOW TWICE, OIL IN CYLINDERS-REPLACED ALL CYLINDERS/COILS/ECT TWICE, CAR WOULD LOSE POWER/HESITATE OVER 40MPH, GAS PEDAL WOULD GET STUCK IF PRESSED TO QUICKLY CAUSING RPMS TO SURGE BUT CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 25-30 MPH AND WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD TO STOP (IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUT ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING WHATEVER WAS IN FRONT OF IT) I WOULD TEMP FIX THIS ISSUE BY FLICKING THE IDLE CONTROL LEVER (WHICH I NOTICED ONE OF THE "E CLIPS" HAD COME OFF OF ONE OF THE ARMS) NEAR THE THROTTLE BODY (WHICH WOULD ALSO GET STUCK OPEN/CLOSED AND HAVE TO BE CLEANED ON REG BASIS.) MANY MORE ISSUES NOT LISTED HERE... BEAUTIFUL CAR BUT DEFINITELY A LEMON... *JS
NHTSA ODI #10545536
142,000 miles · Sep 8, 2013
SteeringSuspensionCrash
WE OWN A 2001 LINCOLN L.S.. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN IN A CURVE LAST NIGHT I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING SOUND COME FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION. INSTANTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END DROPPED CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. SNATCHED THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT OUT OF MY HANDS CAUSING ME TO CROSS OPPO…
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WE OWN A 2001 LINCOLN L.S.. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN IN A CURVE LAST NIGHT I HEARD A LOUD CRACKING SOUND COME FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION. INSTANTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END DROPPED CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. SNATCHED THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE LEFT OUT OF MY HANDS CAUSING ME TO CROSS OPPOSING TRAFFIC INTO A DITCH SLIDING INTO THE FRONT OF A CONCRETE PIPE LEADING UNDER THE STREET. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES IN THE GRASS CAR SMASHED INTO THE EDGE OF THE CONCRETE PIPE. HAD CAR BROUGHT TO OUR HOME. JACKED UP DRIVERS SIDE FRONT THIS MORNING AND FOUND THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD CAME OUT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IT IS BUSTED AS WELL AS THE TIRE, RIM, FRONT STEEL CROSS MEMBER THAT MOUNTS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IS BENT. WIPED OUT THE OIL PAN CAUSING ALL THE OIL TO LEAK OUT ALSO DAMAGING THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT WHICH IS ALUMINUM. PLUS BUSTING THE FRONT BUMPER COVER/ LOWER AIR DAM. DRIVING LIGHTS. CANNOT FIND IF OUR CAR WAS RECALLED AND FIXED PER YOUR RECALL CONCERNING IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED LOWER BALL JOINTS. UNABLE TO FIND ANY INFORMATION FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY NORTH AMERICA. NOW WE ARE WITHOUT A CAR TO GET TO WORK. NOW WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO PROCEED. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO ON COMING CARS AVOIDING A HEAD ON CRASH. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR WHICH MY CHILDREN RIDE IN. LOOKED AT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT AND IT LOOKS TO BE COMING OUT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS WELL. CAR IS IN DRIVE WAY WITH BOTH FRONT TIRES REMOVED SITTING ON JACK STANDS. *LN
NHTSA ODI #10542490
120,000 miles · Sep 1, 2013
Air BagsInjury
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT AND WHITE SOMKE EVERYWHERE. I TURN TO THE RIGHT WHERE MY COUSIN WAS SITTING AND THINK ITS ONE OF MY TIRES THAT BLEW OUT. SO I PULL OVER TO FIND OUT THAT MY PASSANGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. MY COUSIN WAS VERY HURT HIS SHOULDER WAS SWOLLEN AND IS IN…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT AND WHITE SOMKE EVERYWHERE. I TURN TO THE RIGHT WHERE MY COUSIN WAS SITTING AND THINK ITS ONE OF MY TIRES THAT BLEW OUT. SO I PULL OVER TO FIND OUT THAT MY PASSANGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. MY COUSIN WAS VERY HURT HIS SHOULDER WAS SWOLLEN AND IS IN PAIN DUE TO THE AIRBAG. I ALMOST CRASHED AS WELL. *JS
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.
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