There are 4 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2003 Lincoln LSin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN PARKED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB, HIT A TREE, AND STOPPED AFTER HITTING TWO OTHER VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD ACCELERATING PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. UPDATED 05/30/06. *AK
DRIVER WAS SLOWLY APPROACHING A LOW CURB WHILE PARKING IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT CAR WAS MOVING AT NO MORE THAN 1 OR 2 MILES PER HOUR AS THE CURB WAS APPROACHED AND THE BRAKE WAS LIGHTLY APPLIED PENDING A FULL STOP. VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD WITH THE SOUND OF HIGH ENGINE REVOLUTIONS. CAR CROSSED OVER A THREE FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK AND COLLIDED WITH TWO TREES JUST BEYOND THE SIDEWALK. SKID MARKS ON THE SIDEWALK INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE WAS FIRMLY APPLIED AS THE CAR CROSSED IT UNDER UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALER BODY SHOP FOR ALMOST 10 DAYS FOR REPAIRS. DEALER PROMISES TO "DIAGNOSE" ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MECHANISM BEFORE RETURNING CAR TO OWNER. TELEPHONE CALL TO LINCOLN ELICITED NO INTEREST AND FIRM DENIAL THAT SUCH PROBLEM HAD EVER BEEN REPORTED TO THE COMPANY. WE WERE UNSURE THAT THIS CAR WAS SAFE TO OPERATE.
TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY ON AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE.CONTACTED DEALER AND ARRANGED FOR TOW TRUCK . ON 6/3/04 CONTACTED DEALER FOR STATUS REPORT AND TO ARRANGE FOR ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION. SERVICE REP. STATES THAT VEHICLE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY FAILED THEREFORE NOT ALLOWING OXYGEN INTO THE ENGINE. APPROXIMATE PART ARRIVAL IS 3 DAYS. I DO BELIVE THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON. NEVER PURCHASING ANOTHER LINCOLN.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026