Lincoln · LS · 2003
1
Recall
68
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Lincoln LS has 1 recall and 68 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (11 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
We have owned this car for about 3 years and it has been one problem after another and see same problems on line 1) Will start over heating sometimes at idle sometimes while driving (try being in DFW rush hour traffic and deal with that 2) Wife was driving one day and a bolt on right lower control arm broke sending her across 4 lanes of traffic including on coming. 3) All of a sudden when brake pedal was depressed started hearing vacuum leak under dash, brake pedal real hard , and couldn't hardly get car to stop, traction control light started flashing. Found bad brake booster and sensor located on it (both unavailable from manufacturer), also found on line that to get light to stop flashing you have to take to dealer and have reprogrammed (nobody else has the ability) 4) Have constantly had problem with check engine light staying on and running rough, no power, and having to replace ignition coils 5) While wife was driving with no advance notice of any kind heading home on farm market road with no shoulder to pull off on transmission went out completely and stopped pulling 6) Rear control arm bushings go from ok to extremely bad causing back end to drift from side to side going down the highway in a blink of an eye 7) Right front sway bar link keeps wearing control arm and snapping stud off 8) Sunroof drain hoses constantly failing and allowing water to get to electrical components The list goes on but all you have to do is a online search of the LS sport with the 3.9 v-8 and see all the problems. I was in automotive for over 16 years and every vehicle generally has its know couple problems but this is way beyond that. There hasn't been any accidents or injuries but real close to it.
The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln LS. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that the chrome wheels were leaking air which caused the tires to become flat. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA campaign number: 03V136000 (Wheels). The failure mileage was 120,000.
CAR GETS TO HOT MY FILL BUCKET FOR THE RADIATOR KEEPS GETTING A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF IT OR SOME WHERE I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE AND AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. AND IT HAS OVER HEATED AND GOES ALL THE WAY TO H NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IT MITE NOW NEED HEAD GASKETS Y CAN'T YOU MAKE THIS CAR BETTER THEN IT IS AND MAKE IT WITH NO PROBLEMS THERE JUNK I WON'T EVEN TELL ANYONE TO BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK.AND IT SAYING SAFE FAIL MODE OVER AND OVER LIKE THIS CAR IS PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM CAN SOMEONE FIX MY CAR FOR ME AT NO COST PLEASE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTOFARM FORD LINCOLN (221 MALL RD, LOGANSPORT, IN 46947, 574-753-6294) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CYCLOID PATCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HARDSHIFTED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. JACKSON FORD IN DECATUR, ILLINOIS WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
CAR GOES INTO FAIL SAFE EACH AND EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. IT DID SO 19 TIMES TODAY. I CONNECTED A CODE READER WHICH IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEMS AS BEING RELATED TO THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND THE THROTTLE BODY. I PURCHASED THE CAR 1 1/2 MONTHS AGO. PRIOR OWNER HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WITH A NEW MOPAR UNIT 4 MONTHS AGO/ 2000.MILES AGO. DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN SINCE THIS IS LIKELY NOT THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO CONFIRMED THE FUEL ODOR ALONG THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A LOT OF PARTS WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V113000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ENGAGE INTO OVERDRIVE AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (CASEY JACKSON FORD, 1435 E MAIN ST, ROYSTON, GA 30662) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *TT *TR
THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING AND MAKES IT DANGEROUS TO OTHER CARS AROUND ME
TOOK TRANSMISSION FOR REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP COULD NOT LOAD NEW LINCOLN SOFTWARE ON NEW COMPUTER MODULE. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS AT ROWLETT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND NOW THE "ENGINE SIDE" OF THE NEW COMPUTER INSTALLED WILL NOT CLEAR. SAYS THERE IN AN ENGINE ISSUE NOW. THERE WAS NO ENGINE ISSUE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED.
WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR ON A HIGHWAY OR STREET ANY TIME IT ENCOUNTERS SMALL BUMPS THE WHEEL TURNS AND THERE'S A LOUD SLAMMING SOUND FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR. IT'S WORSE GOING INTO TURNS SPEED DOES NOT MATTER YOU CAN GO SLOW OR FAST AND THE LOUD SLAMMING SOUND IS THERE. IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. BUT ME BEING A SENIOR CITIZEN WITH A SON WHO AS A DISABILITY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THIS FIXED OUR SELVES. IT STARTED A WHILE AGO BUT WAS NOT THAT BAD BUT IT JUST PROGRESSED AND GOT WORSE. WE NEED THIS CAR FOR DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND FOOD SHOPPING. WE CANT TRAVEL FAR FOR FEAR OF BEING IN A CRASH OR BEING STRANDED.
WHEN EVER THE CAR IS DRIVEN ANY LITTLE BUMP OR PATCH IN THE ROAD HAS THE CAR MAKING A LOUD SLAM SOUND EVEN WORSE GOING OVER ANY BUMP AND EVEN WORSE INTO TURNS. ALSO THE WHEEL SEEMS TO PULL AT THOSE TIMES AS WELL, THIS IS ON ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING, FEELS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. WE DON'T HAVE FUNDS TO FIX THIS AND IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM ONLY GETTING WORSE.
I PURCHASED MY 2003 LINCOLN LS JUNE/2015. EXCELLENT CONDITION, 35,000 MILES. INTERIOR IMMACULATE CONDITION LEATHER SEATS AND CARPET VIRUTALLY UNTOUCHED. UNDERNEATH HOOD THE SAME, HADN'T LOOK AS IF BEEN DRIVEN. EXTERIOR BODY AND PAINT AGAIN EXCELLENT. THE CAR APPEARED AS IF IT HAD STOOD STILL IN TIME. UPON INVESTIGATION, ONLY ONE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WHO'D MAINTAINED A FIRST CLASS MAINTENANCE RECORD. OVER THE LAST WEEK THE VEHICLE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING SHE SAID WHILE DRIVING THE VECHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHILE SHE WAS ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC. SHE STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT THE STREET BUT IN DOING SO THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND SHUT OFF. OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REPLICATED THE EXACT SAME TENDENCY WITH ME. STALLING, HESITATING DURING ACCELERATION TO THE POINT OF SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IN MOTION ON A VERY BUSY CITY STREET. ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON
COMING TO A STOP APPLIED THE BRAKES PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR MADE A STRANGE NOISE WOULD NOT STOP.ALMOST RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.CHECKED OUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG EXCEPT SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AT THE CAP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT MISFIRES IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO ON ACCELERATION..IT IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUG WELLS AND AFFECTING COILS..THERE WAS A EXTENSION WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS.BUT IT WAS 10 YEARS OR 100000 MILE . I DIDN'T PURCHASE THIS CAR TILL AFTER IT ALREADY HAD MORE THAN 100000 MILES SO I WAS UNAWARE OF THESE EXTENSIONS AND TIME FRAMES..I SPOKE WITH FORD/LINCOLN AND BASICALLY TOLD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER.I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL NOT EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
CEL CAME ON, CODE INDICATED TRANSMISSION ISSUE. "E" APPEARED IN THE GEAR INDICATOR, RATHER THAN THE GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN. TRANS WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 5TH OF GEARS. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD TRANSMISSION CASE THAT HAD BEEN DESTROYED AS THE RESULT OF SERVO IMPACT OVER TIME. A BUSHING COULD HAVE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, HAD LINCOLN INSTALLED ONE AT MANUFACTURE. TECH TOLD ME THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE LINCOLN 5R55 TRANSMISSION. SHOP INSTALLED NEW TRANSMISSION, WITH BUSHING, FOR $3700. NO WAY A MODERN TRANS SHOULD FAIL AT 113K MILES, ESP. FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SO EASILY PREVENTABLE. LINCOLN PURCHASERS, WHO PAY A PREMIUM FOR THE ADVERTISED QUALITY OF A LINCOLN, EXPECT AND DESERVE BETTER, ESPECIALLY SINCE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF LINCOLN PURCHASERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, AND HAVE HAD TO BEAR THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT NECESSITATED BY LINCOLN'S MANUFACTURE AND PLACEMENT IN THE STREAM OF COMMERCE OF A PROVEN DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. LINCOLN SHOULD BEAR SOME OF THE COST, BUT HAS REFUSED TO DO SO. *TR
HELLO, I BOUGHT A 2003 LINCOLN LS AND I'M GETTING A MESSAGE ON THE DASH THAT IS SAYING ETC FAIL SAFETY MODE AND THE CAR IS NOT ABLE TO GO OVER 30 MPH, AND HAS VERY SLOW PICK UP AND IS RUNNING VERY HARD. I HAVE FOUND THAT SOMETIMES IF I TURN THE CAR OFF/ON THE MESSAGE DOES NOT COME UP THE CAR DRIVES NORMALLY. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY AFTER GETTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH TO CODES P0207 AND P02110 AND I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ALLOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FIX. *TR
SHIFTS HARD, WHEN IN 20-30 MPH, IN GEAR 2 AND 3. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC, DEALER SAID IT MAY BE TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY HAVE TO TEAR IT APART. IF BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER, OR SOLENOID PACK THEY HAVE TO TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD. HE DID SAY THAT ONE OF THE SOLENOIDS WENT OUTER IF BANDS WERE BENT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION FOR A COST OF $2500 - $3500. I HAVE READ ALL OVER THE INTERNET WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HARD SHIFTING AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN. ONE PERSON SAID THAT THEY BOUGHT A KIT THAT FIXES THE DESIGN FLAW - 5RW MASTER SERVO BORE REPAIR KIT (FORD 5R55W/S/N). IT IS NOT MADE BY FORD, IT SEEMS THEY ARE TOO CHEAP TO FIX THE REAL PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO PEOPLES CONCERNS. I AM ALSO GOING TO CALL THE 800 NUMBER FOR FORD LINCOLN AND SEND THEM A LETTER. WOULD USE WITH ANY TRANNY REBUILD. THE FINAL COST OF THE REPAIR IS NOW AT $4000.00. YIKES. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED PER GRAPEVINE FORD IN TEXAS. THESE FORDS HAVE HAD TRANSMISSIONS FAILING FOR YEARS AND YOU LAZY PEOPLE WON'T MAKE THEM RECALL THEM. EXACTLY HAS DOES ONE GET TO OWN A GOVERNMENT AGENCY?? *TR
I BOUGHT A 2003 LINCOLN LS AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT. 11,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIRS. NOW THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT ERRATICALLY AND THE DEALER SAYS IT CAN BE FIXED AND HAS TO HA A NEW ONE. 3800 DOLLARS MORE CMON THE IS NOW ONLY A 3000 DOLLAR CAR. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2003 Lincoln LS has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 68 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Lincoln LS.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Lincoln LS.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Lincoln LS are power train (11 reports), air bags (6 reports), seats (5 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2003 Lincoln LS. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.