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
1350–75K
2475–100K
18100–150K
10150K+
89 reports with mileage · 32 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
121 reports
2 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WENT TO A STOP LIGHT STOPPED AND AS I PROCEEDED TO GO IT STARTED SOUNDING LIKE A BUS THE SOUND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF A CAR AND IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING I PULLED OVER TURN MY CAR OFF GOT BACK IN AND STARTED GOING AGAIN AND IT GOT LOUDER THE NOISE DID IT SOUNDED LIKE A BIG BUS AND IT FELT…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WENT TO A STOP LIGHT STOPPED AND AS I PROCEEDED TO GO IT STARTED SOUNDING LIKE A BUS THE SOUND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF A CAR AND IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING I PULLED OVER TURN MY CAR OFF GOT BACK IN AND STARTED GOING AGAIN AND IT GOT LOUDER THE NOISE DID IT SOUNDED LIKE A BIG BUS AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS PULLING ME DRAGGING ME BACK LIKE AS IF I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON OR SOMETHING BUT I DID NOT. THEN I STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING LIGHT OIL OR SOMETHING
NHTSA ODI #10779774
133,000 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE ROAD THAT CAUSED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS TO THE HEAD, FRACTURED RIBS, AND A BRUISED STERNUM THAT REQUIRED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS DEBRIS IN THE ROAD THAT CAUSED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS TO THE HEAD, FRACTURED RIBS, AND A BRUISED STERNUM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
NHTSA ODI #10762141
170,000 miles · Aug 18, 2015
EnginePower Train
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER IT GETS TO 40 MPH FROM 5TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR.
NHTSA ODI #10749534
125,000 miles · Jul 14, 2015
EnginePower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, BUT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA ODI #10734062
131,000 miles · Jan 23, 2015
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRAILING ARM BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAILING ARM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRAILING ARM BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAILING ARM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
NHTSA ODI #10678479
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2014
StructureSuspensionCrash
NEED TO KNOW IF ACCIDENT TO THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10652924
87,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Air Bags
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2004. NO ONE DRIVES IT BUT ME. THIS AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 YRS. OR MORE. IT STAYS ON AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG CHIMES JUST KEEPS RIGHT ON CHIMING FOREVER. DOES THIS MEAN THAT I AM NOT PROTECTED BY MY AIR BAGS. THIS CAR HAS NEVER EVER EVEN BEEN IN A FENDER BENDER. NO ACCIDEN…
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I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2004. NO ONE DRIVES IT BUT ME. THIS AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 2 YRS. OR MORE. IT STAYS ON AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG CHIMES JUST KEEPS RIGHT ON CHIMING FOREVER. DOES THIS MEAN THAT I AM NOT PROTECTED BY MY AIR BAGS. THIS CAR HAS NEVER EVER EVEN BEEN IN A FENDER BENDER. NO ACCIDENTS, THAT I THOUGHT IS SUPPOSE TO TRIGGER THIS AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I AM IN DANGER, SO THAT I CAN STOP DRIVING MY GREAT GRAND KIDS AROUND IN THIS CAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW REAL SOON. THIS CAR SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL FOR IT'S AIRBAG PROBLEM. DON'T LET ME OR MY GREATGRAND KIDS DIE BECAUSE OF THIS AIRBAG PROBLEM. I AM APPEALING TO YOU TO HELP BE GET THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10650816
128,749 miles · Oct 23, 2014
Air BagsSteering
LINCOLN LS 3.9L V8 2002 DASHBOARD AIR BAG LIGHT HAS TURNED ON, AFTER ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION. NOW THE WARNING LIGHT / DIAGNOSTIC CODE FLASHES AT START-UP AND SHOWS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY OR FAILED AND THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCKSPRING WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE MECHANIC, AS IT IS A COMMON PRO…
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LINCOLN LS 3.9L V8 2002 DASHBOARD AIR BAG LIGHT HAS TURNED ON, AFTER ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION. NOW THE WARNING LIGHT / DIAGNOSTIC CODE FLASHES AT START-UP AND SHOWS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY OR FAILED AND THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCKSPRING WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE MECHANIC, AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE/MODEL OF THE CAR. WHERE IS THE SAFETY RECALL FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS FOR THE LINCOLN LS 3.9L V8 2002? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10649513
100,018 miles · Oct 21, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteeringCrash
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON THE TRUMAN PARKWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS FAST AS IT WOULD GO. BRAKES FAILED AND CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER AVOIDING TO HIT 5 O6 CARS IT SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER CAR THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO A STOP ON A WET GRASSY AREA. IN 2 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS THE ENGINE REVVED UP AT A RED LIGHT AND …
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WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON THE TRUMAN PARKWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS FAST AS IT WOULD GO. BRAKES FAILED AND CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER AVOIDING TO HIT 5 O6 CARS IT SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER CAR THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO A STOP ON A WET GRASSY AREA. IN 2 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS THE ENGINE REVVED UP AT A RED LIGHT AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10649041
100,018 miles · Oct 20, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON THE PARKWAY THE CAR ACCELORATED AS FAR AS IT WOULD GO, BRAKES FAILED AND CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER CAR THEN WENT ON A GRASSY STRIP AND CAME TO A STOP.
NHTSA ODI #10654415
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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.
2002 Lincoln Ls Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year