Most common 2001 Lincoln LS problems
Share of the 240 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lincoln LS complaints by model year
Best LS years: 2006, 2003. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001. Compare all years →
2001 Lincoln LS recalls (1)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front suspension lower ball joints were not tightened to specifications when they were attached to the lower control arms.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the torque on the two ball joint attaching nuts. Vehicles with loose ball joint attaching nuts will either have the fasteners tightened to specification, or if necessary, the ball joints will be…
What 2001 Lincoln LS owners say
Suspension all 110 →
The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LS. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH the contact heard an abnormal noise. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and the contact noticed the front passenger side tire had separated from the joint. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the mechanic stated that the vehicle was experiencing a similar failure as NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V359001 (Suspension). The dealer was contacted, and the dealer stated that the vehicle was not under any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not under NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V359001 (Suspension) and advised that contact NHTSA. The failure mileage was 114,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LS. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the front suspension ball joint detached. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V359001 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
Air bags all 33 →
I was traveling in my 2001 Lincoln LS when I was struck by another vehicle resulting in my vehicle rolling laterally and also end over end. My car sustained a frontal impact severe enough to result in the structural steel bumper being split in two and the transmission oil cooler, radiator and air-conditioning condenser and associated radiator wall being smashed against the front of the engine. The vehicle is completely destroyed suffering significant damage to all sides of the car excluding the trunk lid, but including the severance of several parts including the right front wheel. The roof of the vehicle has been altered stemming from landing on it, affecting the a and b pillars of the vehicle and buckling the roof itself. I have photos of the vehicle and the physical address of the remains of the car should someone choose to see it.
On two occasions my car suspension had failed. I am just lucky I was not on the highway or I could have been fatally wounded. I can not believe I never received any notices about the suspension recall. The first instance I was driving in my driveway and the car completely dropped down on the tires and could not move the vehicle. The second instance I was driving and the suspension fell on a regular road not a fast highway. It had cost me $250.00 to have it towed both times because it could not be moved by driving. In addition the second failure cost me $175.00 because the front tires were ruined. For the repair work on both instances cost me $125.00 each time totaling another $250.00 . So because of someone's failure to tighten nuts it cost me $675.00 , and not to mention the risk of losing my life. Terrifying to say the least.
Engine & cooling all 31 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LS. While driving 55 MPH, the engine overheated and stalled. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's door handle fractured. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code. The contact was informed that the antifreeze reservoir needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 99,999.
The car started making knocking noise while riding on hwy 85 and I pulled over off on an exit and the car stop would not crank. It only happen this one time. It had to be towed. I had to buy a new engine. My Lincoln LS only has 108,000 miles on it. My check engine warning light was illuminated and I took the car for inspection. The spark plugs were replaced and the failure seemed to be remedied however , the vehicle begin to backfire and drive abnormally rough ,,in addition , the engine would exhibit abnormal noises and an overpowering oil odor. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was in formed that the head gasket and coil would need to be replacing. The failure mileage was 105,000 and the currant mileage was108,000. The power windows have failed two times and the paint is peeling. …
2001 Lincoln LS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.9L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Lincoln LS a good car?
Based on 240 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 LS rates avoid: 2.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the LS at the same age. It is one of the LS years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Lincoln LS?
The suspension — 110 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › lower ball joint. Next are the air bags (33) and engine & cooling (31).
How many recalls does the 2001 Lincoln LS have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Lincoln LS, the most recent from November 3, 2000 (lower ball joint). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lincoln LS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000 and 2001. See the full Lincoln LS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Lincoln LS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 88,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.