2003 Lincoln LS

Typical pattern

9.1% of complaints about the 2003 Lincoln LS came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.5 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (21 complaints), typically at 7.8 yr or about 78,000 miles.

Complaints: 110
Median age at failure: 5.5 yr
Median mileage: 59,788 n=93
Crash / fire / tow: 5.5% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

03V136000 2003-04-07

Wheels

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 1.0 yr in service

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.

Power train 2,300 mi 2.6 yr in service

WITH APPROX. 2300 MILES, TRANSMISSION WENT. TOOK 31 DAYS TO REPAIR. LESS THAN 50 MILES UPON IT'S RETURN, IT WENT AGAIN. AFTER 11 DAYS, VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, SO FAR (800 MILES), IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING WELL.

Power train 44,000 mi 5.1 yr in service

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE GOES INTO THE FAIL SAFE MODE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE PAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS YET TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT ERRATICALLY. THE SHIFTER COVER WAS CRACKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. UPDATED 01/10/08. *JB

Other LS model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2003 Lincoln LS

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other LS model years

How to read this