2004 Lincoln LS

Routine

Owners filed 91 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
60,000 milesMedian miles at failure

80 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission10
000
Electrical System9
000
Engine and Engine Cooling8
000
Air Bags7
104
Vehicle Speed Control6
101
Power Train6
010
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine5
100
Air Bags › Side/Window5
104
Fuel System, Other4
000
Fuel System, Gasoline3
100

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Jan 2, 2020200,000 milesSC

THE TRANSMISSION IN THESE CARS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THEY WILL STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. YOU WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER AND ONCE YOU PULLOVER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT WILL NOT LET THE CAR ENGAGE INTO GEAR AND MOVE.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Sep 30, 2019150,000 milesAZ

HI. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND I KEPT SMELLING GAS VERY BAD. TO THE POINT THE WHOLE HOUSE SMELT AND WHEN I PARK THE CAR I CAN SMELL IT. I FIGURED THERE HAD TO BE A PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. I DECIDED TO LOOK ONLINE AND FOUND LINCOLN HAD A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE GAS TANKS WHICH HAS THE SYMPTOMS I'M ENCOUNTERING. ITS A HIGH SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CAN START A FIRE AND OR HAVE HEALTH ISSUES WITH ME AND THE KIDS. WELL TURNS OUT MY CAR WITH THAT VIN DID NOT HAVE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SAME YEAR AND MAKE BUT NOT MINE FOR SOME REASON. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE RECALLED TO FIX IT. IM IN DESPERATE NEED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I DONT HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX THERE MISTAKE. PLEASE HELP IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Dec 10, 2017121,000 milesNC

WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING, ON A SLIGHTLY WINDING, SMOOTH, GRAVEL ROAD AT ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH, TEMPERATURE ABOUT 34 DEGREES F, THE AIRBAG IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NOT ANY FORM OR TYPE OF COLLISION. DURING THE TIME I HAVE HAD THE CAR, ABOUT 2 YEARS, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY FORM OF COLLISION DAMAGE, AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE WAS NOT ANY PRIOR HISTORY OF ANY TYPE OF COLLISION DAMAGE. THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT, HIS SHOULDER FELT SORE AND HIS HEARING WAS AFFECTED AT THE TIME.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jan 18, 2016105,000 milesFL

NORMAL CLEAR WEATHER DRIVING DOWN BUSY STREET WHEN CARE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ALMOST RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH VEHICLES BEHIND ME. THE ENGINE STOPPED , I RESTARTED WITH VERY LIMITED DRIVABILITY THE ETC FAILSAFE MODE KICKED IN FOR NO APPARENT REASON THIS ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 21, 2015109,132 milesCA

WAS COMING HOME FROM THE STORE I WAS GOING 55MPH AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF....PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE CAR THEN BACK ON AND WORK FOR LIKE A MIN THEN AGAIN I ALMOST CRASH BECAUSE NO LIGHT..A 15MIN DRIVE HOME BECAME 50MIN HAD TO BE PULLING OVER ALL THE WAY HOME....DUE TO THE LIGHTS TURNING OFF ON THERE OWN... *TR

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Oct 13, 2014112,622 milesMI

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON A DRIVEWAY, THE PASSENGER CEILING AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM THE FRONT SEAT TO THE BACK SEAT. THE CAR DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. PASSENGER WAS INJURED. *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 3, 201457,900 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE WRENCH WARNING SYMBOL DISPLAYED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,900.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 22, 201444,000 milesPA

BRAND NEW BATTERY IN CAR. COME OUT TO START CAR. BATTERY IS DEAD. MY MECHANIC HAS CAR FOR THREE DAYS. HE TRIED TO FIND A SHORT. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE SURE ALL DOORS ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED AND LIGHTS ARE ALL OUT. THIS WAS AFTER MULTIPLE DEAD BATTERIES. I MADE SURE OF ALL THE ABOVE AND STILL CAME OUT TO DEAD BATTERIES. I MANUALLY TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AS I CAME OUT TO THEM BEING ON AFTER I HAD WATCHED THEM DIM AND GO OUT. I REPLACED THE NEW BATTERY WITH ANOTHER NEW BATTERY AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *TR

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Apr 30, 2014168,000 milesOH

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH ON FLAT, SMOOTH TWO LANE ROADWAY THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED STRIKING DRIVER ON LEFT SHOULDER AND FACIAL AREA. THERE WAS NO SIDE IMPACT OR ROUGH ROAD PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND MOVE TO BERM. DRIVER SUFFERED SOFT TISSUE TRAUMA TO LEFT SHOULDER, UPPER ARM AND FACE. SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DAMAGED INTERIOR ROOF HEADER UPON DEPLOYMENT. DRIVER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG APPEARS TO HAVE NOT FULLY DEPLOYED AND EXPANDED INSIDE THE SEAT RIPPING OUT A 3 FOOT AREA OF STITCHING AND TEARING THE LEATHER SEATING MATERIAL IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY. *JS

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 14, 2014125,000 milesMA

NO BRAKES TILL ENGINE WARMS UP. PEDAL GOOD BUT NO BRAKES. NEW PADS AND ROTORS. NO IDIOT LITE. MECHANIC CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT DOES THIS. *JS

Unspecified
Filed Jul 29, 2013122,448 milesMD

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE ECT ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE TCM WOULD NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, TWO WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A COIL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,448. KMJ

Power Train
Filed Jul 25, 201374,389 milesCO

CARS STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAY OR SIDE STREET. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 10, 201388,600 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE RPM READING INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON WAS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,600. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 28, 201386,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MANUAL FORCE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 86,000. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 21, 2013220,000 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE OFF THE ROAD, CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEG, CHEST, BACK AND NECK. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

Parking Brake
Filed Dec 3, 201266,520 milesGA

FILLED CAR WITH GAS. PULLED UP TO ENTER ROADWAY AND HAD TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC. WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKE CAME ON. PUT CAR IN PARK SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO DAYS. LEAVING GAS STATION. PULLED UP TO ENTER ROAD. HAD TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC. TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT EMERGENCY BRAKE CAME ON. PUT CAR IN PARK, SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE CAME OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Filed Oct 3, 201292 milesIL

DRIVING DOWN THE SIDE STREET AND MY CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE. READS ETC .START UP WILL MOVE ABOUT 1/4 OF THE BLOCK AND DOES IT AGAIN. HAD TO KEEP TURNING IT OFF AND ON TO GET HOME.ONCE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR LS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. HAVE NOT GOT MY CAR FIX BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 30, 201280,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND COIL PACKS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 27, 20126,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP AND DEPRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL, THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER STATED THE THROTTLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY SIX YEARS AFTER THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Suspension
Filed Feb 16, 201243,000 milesMD

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AIR SUSPENSION - FRONT AND REAR. IT HAS THE TENDENCY TO GO UP AND DOWN AT WILL. WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER WHERE WE HAD THE SECOND ONE REPLACED AND IT IS GIVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS. THE FIRST ONE LASTED QUITE A FEW YEARS.(AT APPROX 43000 MILES) THE SECOND ONE ONLY MONTHS, AT ABOUT 86000. *TR

20 of 91 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200618000Routine
200590100Routine
2004 — this page91010Routine
200368100Routine
2002121000Routine
2001240111Fatalities reported
2000354111Fatalities reported

Compare every LS year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.