WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSISTED THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
2003 Lincoln Ls
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Lincoln Ls do not stand out strongly from 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
57 reports with mileage · 11 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.
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
68 reportsRADIO/INDASH CD PLAYER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. STILL VERY LIMITED RECEPTION ON RADIO, BOTH FM AND AM STATIONS. CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES, EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY RUN "DIAGNOSTICS". WHILE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE CABLE BETWEEN SYSTEM AND ANTENNA (LOCATED IN REAR WINDOW) HAS NOT BEEN REPLA…
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RADIO/INDASH CD PLAYER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. STILL VERY LIMITED RECEPTION ON RADIO, BOTH FM AND AM STATIONS. CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES, EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY RUN "DIAGNOSTICS". WHILE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE CABLE BETWEEN SYSTEM AND ANTENNA (LOCATED IN REAR WINDOW) HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. FORD AND DEALERSHIP READILY ADMIT THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM EXISTED PREVIOUSLY ON TOWN CARS, BUT NOTHING REPORTED IN LS. THEREFORE, THEY CANNOT REPLACE CABLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER KEPT HEARING A GRINDING/METAL ON METAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW RACK PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 2003 LS AFTER 11K MILES…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER KEPT HEARING A GRINDING/METAL ON METAL SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW RACK PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS NEEDED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE IN THE 2003 LS AFTER 11K MILES. *SC
LEFT SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED IN 2003 LINCOLN LS INJURING ROTATOR CUFF OF DRIVER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, SIDE OR OTHERWISE. TALC BLINDED THE DRIVER, THE EXPLOSION WAS LOUD AND BURNING ON ARM AND SHOULDER MADE DRIVER THINK THE CAR HAD EXPLODED AND CAUSED PANIC TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND GET THE CAR STOPPED. WAS ON…
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LEFT SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED IN 2003 LINCOLN LS INJURING ROTATOR CUFF OF DRIVER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, SIDE OR OTHERWISE. TALC BLINDED THE DRIVER, THE EXPLOSION WAS LOUD AND BURNING ON ARM AND SHOULDER MADE DRIVER THINK THE CAR HAD EXPLODED AND CAUSED PANIC TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND GET THE CAR STOPPED. WAS ON LIGHTLY TRAVELLED, SMOOTH ROAD, LITTLE TRAFFIC. *AK
SPARK KNOCK UNDER LOAD (PASSING OR FROM 0) OCCURS WITH LOW RPM AND HIGH RPM UNDER LOADS CURRENTLY TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL LINCOLN FINDS A FIX SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OR DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. TRANSMISSION HAS HAD REPAIRS DONE ALSO. SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN BETTER SINCE REPROGRAMMING OF COMPUTOR. SINCE THIS IS A UNIQUE PROBLEM…
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SPARK KNOCK UNDER LOAD (PASSING OR FROM 0) OCCURS WITH LOW RPM AND HIGH RPM UNDER LOADS CURRENTLY TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL LINCOLN FINDS A FIX SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OR DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. TRANSMISSION HAS HAD REPAIRS DONE ALSO. SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN BETTER SINCE REPROGRAMMING OF COMPUTOR. SINCE THIS IS A UNIQUE PROBLEM TO THIS VEHICLE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY BY LINCOLN OF CANADA.
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
JUST PURCHASED 03 LINCOLN LS V-8 SPORT THREE WEEKS AGO, ALREADY INTO SERVICE. THE TRANNY IS SLOW ON UP AND DOWN SHIFTS. THE SERVICE DEPT. ( NEIL LINCOLN MERCURY @ 1900 RT 112 MEDFORD NY) SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY INITIAL CALL, JUST BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANNY SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY SECOND COMPL…
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JUST PURCHASED 03 LINCOLN LS V-8 SPORT THREE WEEKS AGO, ALREADY INTO SERVICE. THE TRANNY IS SLOW ON UP AND DOWN SHIFTS. THE SERVICE DEPT. ( NEIL LINCOLN MERCURY @ 1900 RT 112 MEDFORD NY) SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY INITIAL CALL, JUST BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL REPROGRAM THE TRANNY SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY SECOND COMPLAINT IS I NOTICED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF UNCOMFORTALBE HEAT UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE DASH WHILE DRIVING, I SUSPECT THIS IS DUE TO THE LACK OF AN INSULATED COVER. THIS COVER I COME TO FIND OUT WAS IN THE 2000, 2001, 2002, MODEL YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY SOME GENUIS DECIDED TO FORGET IT. THAT'S A PROBLEM, AS IT IS NOT JUST A LITTLE WARM, BUT REALLY HOT, I CAN'T IMAGINE MY COMPLAINT WAS THE FIRST FOR THIS, AS NONE OF THE 03'S ARE EQUIPED WITH THIS PROTECTIVE COVER. THE LINCOLN SUPPORT CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS ADVISED ME I MUST TALK WITH SERVICE, AS THIS IS NOT A PART ON THE 03, AND SERVICE TELLS ME TO SPEAK TO LINCOLN, AS THIS IS A VALID COMPLAINT. WHAT THE HECK AM I SUPPOSE TO DO? OH AND BACK TO THE TRANNY WHAT IF IT DECIDES TO JUST GO TO MUSH WHILE I'M CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. TO LATE TO SAY SORRY THEN! I'VE HEARD THAT THE 30,000 MILE TRANNY TUNE UP WILL OFTEN SOLVE THIS TRANNY ISSUE, CAN I MAKE THEM SERVICE IT NOW I'VE GOT 1,500 LOGGED TO DATE. THANK YOU FOR THE ASSISTANCE, IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, SORRY FOR THE LONG MESSAGE. BRIAN
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AN ROCK CRACK FUEL TANK IN RESULT OF LEAKING GAS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT FUEL TANK IS MADE OUT OF FIBER GLASS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Official recalls
103V136000 · Wheels
Apr 7, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH CHROME WHEELS, THE CHROME WHEELS WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED. THESE WHEELS MAY CRACK AT THE LUG-NUT HOLES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE LUG-NUT TORQUE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE COULD RESULT IN THE WHEEL SEPARATING FROM THE HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEELS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN HEAT-TREATED. ANY WHEEL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATED WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LINCOLN AT 1-800-521-4140.
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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