Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Lincoln LS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Hi I'm making this complaint on behalf of my mom she just purchased her car that doesn't have an airbag without signing a disclosure form and the transmission is totally running down and not being informed of this she went ahead and bought the car unaware of any of this.
While driving the air bag warning light continuously illuminated on the dashboard. As a result, air bags were inoperative and wouldn't deploy when needed, per dealership. The dealership replaced every air bag component, but the problem still existed. The right front headlight held moisture and the fog light held water. The dealer replaced the headlights and fog lights. The bulb for the left side fog light burned out. The left seat was loose. The dealer replaced the clips on the back of the seat. The driver's side front door wouldn't open front he inside. The dealer replaced the handle. The check engine light illuminated and the engine stalled while the vehicle was stopped. The dealer replaced the intake hose. The engine made noise. The dealer replaced the mass air flow sensor. The passenger's side front power window was inoperative. The dealer replaced the window regulator. …
In January 2004 the valve cover gasket started leaking on my 2000 Lincoln LS [redacted]. Part back ordered until March 2004. Was informed by dealership that over 8,000 were back ordered in January. Dealership told me I could drive vehicle until part arrived. Oil leak caused the coil boots to soak shorting coils (seven out of eight coils). Coil boot back ordered (no known estimate of time for getting part) [redacted]. Am concerned about the multiple calls I have made to the local dealer and to Ford motor company to no avail. I have been without a vehicle for over a month. No loaner was offered. Repair costs are escalating. Waited two months for gasket. Have no idea how long boot item will be before arrival. Seems this is a recall issue. Seems Ford motor company is refusing to deal with their customer. Updated 07/29/2012
Re: 2000 Lincoln LS problem: 2 induction coils need replacement. Re: rancho santa margarita Ford history: engine stopped on highway and on road home took to dealer and after inspection put auto in garage. Can not drive safely. One coil was replaced under warranty. Called Ford cust.svs on this issue. They offered 12 month warranty on work. Thought "offer" was unusual; wouldn't dealer offer at least that? Request: please review reported frequency of this problem for potential recall.. I submit this is a design flaw and safety issue and not a maintenance or wear & tear issue, unless owners' manual describes how I could have prevented or recommended time interval for inspection.. Research indicates this is the most common problem on model and caused by the gasket. This issue is on record with Ford in at least one bulletin (TSB 00t03 /9/2000 PCM-drivability complains).
I am concerned with the safety of my Lincoln. When the coils go bad the car starts missing. I was stopped being a school bus when my RPM's surged to 6500 and my car jolted forward. After the bus started up, I gave the car little gas to go, and it stalled. It stalled on the interstate the evening before. The mechanic told me that 3 coils were out. I have had the same situation 3 or 4 other times. My 2000 Lincoln LS has had several coils replaced. Mechanic finally determined that the valve cover gasket was bad. After replacing the gaskets, 3 coils went out within several days. I think that from my research, the valve cover gaskets are defective and should be recalled and coils replaced or reimbursement made for coils already replaced. I feel that this is a safety issue when the car surges and stalls on the highway.
Car slowed on highway in high speed traffic causing cars to have to just miss me from behind. I was totally freaked, had to have 3 engine ignition coils replaced. I've had 2 more since then.just replaced a fuel tank also, this car has less than 46,000 miles on it and has cost me over $4500 in 2 years. I am on ss and 76 years old, I'm afraid to even drive this car, what have you done about this? I've owned fords all my life before purchasing this awful machine calling itself a car. It's sas that all my friends are seeing what Ford has become .on March 11th I paid $1444 for another repair. Can I get some help with this bill? [redacted]
~both lower ball joints have failed ~driver side interior door handle doesn't work ~driver side door control strap broke ~vehicle transmission misses gear going up inclines ~vehicle misfires and engine idles rough at times, dealer found nothing wrong ~replace back right side and front driver side window regulators after failures ~moonroof switch went bad ~lug nuts on vehicle strip easily, have to replace most of them ~shifts extremely rough from reverse to park ~engine idle sound terrible for a luxury car, ever after dealer tune up ~had to replace engine gaskets, coolant leaked into engine block contaminating the oil ~headlights fog over after any precipitation, very dangerous ~lower front bumper is separating from the upper bumper
The 2000 model year Lincoln LS. After a cold start, sometimes the weather is dry, sometimes not, I will drive 2-4 miles down a fairly level road, and there is a high pich whine noise from the engine, the thermostat starts to rise, the check engine light comes on and if I do not stop it continues until the engine power is reduced and I have to stop., this occurs at speeds of 0-35mph. I stop for 5 minutes and restart the engine and most of the time it works like nothing ever happened. There is no odor associated with this. The dealer has replaced the thermostat, and some coils. These fixes have not removed the problem. It will not happen for 3-4 months then will reoccur.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Lincoln LS. The contact stated that since July 2007, the check engine light would illuminate intermittently and the vehicle would stall and began to idle. The contact was able to restart the vehicle immediately. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but the dealer could not give a proper diagnosis. The hoses, EGR valve, thermostat, cooling system fan and o2 sensor were replaced at a local repair facility. The failure continued to occur. The contact called the manufacturer and was referred to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was approximately 85,813. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Several times during the past 6 months while coming to a stop and lightly applying the brakes the engine starts to race to the point it can't be held back with the brakes. Quickly putting the transmission in neutral corrects the problem immediately and the engine returns to idle speed. Most recently I had this problem 3 time in one evening. The last time I was slowly turning onto my driveway and the car took off. Before I could react I was on the front lawn and narrowly missed my son who happened to be on the driveway. This is a serious problem and someone is going to get killed or seriously injured.
Engine complaints in other LS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2000 Lincoln LS?
NHTSA has 45 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2000 Lincoln LS, 13% of the model year's 354 complaints. The component named most often is engine (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Lincoln LS engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2000 Lincoln LS, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Lincoln LS engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.