Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Lincoln LS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
We own a 2001 Lincoln l.s.. While making a right hand turn in a curve last night I heard a loud cracking sound come from the drivers side front suspension. Instantly the drivers side front end dropped causing me to lose control of the steering. Snatched the steering wheel hard to the left out of my hands causing me to cross opposing traffic into a ditch sliding into the front of a concrete pipe leading under the street. While applying the brakes in the grass car smashed into the edge of the concrete pipe. Had car brought to our home. Jacked up drivers side front this morning and found the lower ball joint had came out of the lower control arm it is busted as well as the tire, rim, front steel cross member that mounts the lower control arm is bent. Wiped out the oil pan causing all the oil to leak out also damaging the rear lower control arm mount which is aluminum. …
Last summer I started having problems with ball joints continuously coming loose on my used 2001 Lincoln LS. I went on the internet and discovered that there were over 82300 recalss for this exact problem. I tried to get it fixed but was told the recalls were VIN specific. Obviously this exact problem coninues to reoccur on my car and I have to continuously retighten the ball joints myself. On 12-29-07 I was traveling down the interstate at 70 MPH when the ball joints completely split in half causing me to loose control of the car, spun me and 3 riders around in the road and landed us in the median. But for the grace of god no one was injured or worse yet killed. I contacted Ford human relations and explained the problem an mentioned the recalls but was very rudely told that it was up to the customer to make the repairs. …
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LS. While driving 45 MPH, there was a loud, abnormal noise coming from the front end. Within seconds, the entire front end dropped to the ground and the contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle. The contact crashed into a row of bushes. He was not injured. The contact discovered that the front ball lower joints were fractured. The vehicle was towed to a local repair facility. The mechanic confirmed that the ball lower joints were fractured and had also damaged the radiator. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 112,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LS. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal popping sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehcile began to shake back and forth violently which caused the contact to pull the vehicle over to side of the road. The contact had the vehicle towed back to his residence. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact who is a certified mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a fractured ball joint. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 148,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LS. While driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal crunching noise coming from the front driver and passenger side of the vehicle. The contact discovered the ball joints were not attached to the control arm. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not included in the recall for his vehicle model. The failure mileage was 69,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LS. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the steering wheel veered out of direction. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The wheel bearing, hub assembly, and lower ball joints were replaced. The failure recurred. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 00V359001 (suspension); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LS. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal popping noise or bumping noise. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The contact believed that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 00V359001 (suspension). The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the ball joint failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls
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…
Suspension complaints in other LS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2001 Lincoln LS?
NHTSA has 110 complaints about the suspension of the 2001 Lincoln LS, 46% of the model year's 240 complaints. The component named most often is front › control arm › lower ball joint (67 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Lincoln LS suspension problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V359001 (lower ball joint, Nov 3, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Lincoln LS suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 95,000 miles, and 1% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries and 1 death to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.