Lincoln LS Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Lincoln LS model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2006 drew the fewest (18) and the 2000 the most (354).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Among the fewest complaints |
18 | 0 | Air bags | — | 18 |
| 2003 Among the fewest complaints |
68 | 1 | Power train | — | 18–21 |
| 2005 Among the fewest complaints |
90 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 18–20 |
| 2004 | 91 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 18–21 |
| 2002 Among the most complaints |
121 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 17–19 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
240 | 1 | Suspension | — | 17–19 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
354 | 1 | Suspension | — | 17–18 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Lincoln LS years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2000 Lincoln LS: 354 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 123 (35%); Air bags 47 (13%); Engine and engine cooling 42 (12%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 1 fire, 11 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 76,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2001 Lincoln LS: 240 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 110 (46%); Air bags 33 (14%); Engine and engine cooling 26 (11%).
Reports mention 20 crashes, 1 fire, 13 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 89,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2002 Lincoln LS: 121 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 25 (21%); Air bags 24 (20%); Suspension 24 (20%).
Reports mention 21 crashes, 9 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 80,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Lincoln LS years with the fewest complaints
2006 Lincoln LS: 18 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 4 (22%); Electrical system 4 (22%); Engine 4 (22%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 65,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2003 Lincoln LS: 68 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 20 (29%); Electrical system 11 (16%); Engine and engine cooling 8 (12%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 59,788 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2005 Lincoln LS: 90 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 21 (23%); Power train 17 (19%); Engine and engine cooling 13 (14%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Lincoln LS owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 65,000 |
| 2005 | 90 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2004 | 91 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2003 | 68 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 59,788 |
| 2002 | 121 | 21 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 80,000 |
| 2001 | 240 | 20 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 89,000 |
| 2000 | 354 | 18 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 76,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Lincoln LS recalls
- FORD/FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS (2000–2001 model years; 82,300 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2000; 00V359001)
- FORD/WHEELS (2003 model year; 1,736 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2003; 03V136000)
- FUEL TANK (2005 model year; 56 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2005; 05V113000)
All 3 Lincoln LS recall campaigns · Lincoln LS problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Lincoln LS years FAQ
Which Lincoln LS year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2006 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (18). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Lincoln LS years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2000, 2001 and 2002 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the suspension. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Lincoln LS problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the suspension (268 of 982 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Lincoln LS have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the Lincoln LS. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Lincoln LS recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.