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 2005 Lincoln LS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Etc engine fail safe - electronic throttle control replaced with oe... Continues to produce an etc engine fail safe and no code(s) specifics for faulty coils (or which coils) (3 bad coils & passenger side valve/spark plug cover gaskets) or possible faulty alternator. Also, climate control device failed 3 times and was replaced 3 times. Cheap thin walled anti-freeze and windshield washer fluid reservoir cracked during extreme cold weather conditions.
The car turns on and runs but loses power randomly. It either sputters dead or stalls and backfires. When I turn it off and turn it back on it repeats the cycle. I have replaced fuel pumps, throttle body and maf sensors. And still no luck I see on the Lincoln forums that this is a problem not yet recognized by the nhsta or Lincoln.
Driving my 2005 Lincoln LS down the street tonight all four windows were down. I pressed the button to let up the windows just before entering the freeway. Driver window came off of the track and back of the window continued to go up while the front of the window dropped down and looked as if it were going to fall out onto the freeway I got off at the next exit. Call the 1-800 number for Lincoln 24- roadside assistance. Phone rep put tony wang on the line this problem was above her expertise he said it was the weekend and he could not help me until Monday. Unless I just wanted the car towed to the nearest dealer to sit until Monday. No rental car assistance is available on the weekend. I asked for his supervisor, donald bryant was not working tonight I asked tony to have donald call me in the next ten minutes so I can figure out what to do next. …
While traveling on a divided highway at approximately 35 MPH my car abruptly slowed to about 20 MPH causing vehicles behind me to brake and/or swerve around me. A "wrench" warning light came on and I found after getting to a safe spot and stopping, that the owner's manual stated that the car was in the "limp mode" where it would not go any faster and needed to be taken to my nearest Ford dealership. After stopping the car I shut if off and upon restarting, the warning "wrench" light was off and the car acted normally. I contacted a number of dealerships and mechanics and found that it's a somewhat common problem, but the fix could be anything from a bad transmission solenoid to a complete fuel/computer/ignition redo for $4500 to $6500. Having this happen on a rural road is one thing, but if it happened on an expressway with traffic at 75 MPH plus, could quite possibly be lethal.
On at least 5 different occasions at highway speeds and trying to pass, car has lost all power and the wrench indicator has appeared on the dash, at that time car looses all power and the only choice is to pull over and shut car down , which does not always work while you are in traffic on a three lane highway with out you getting killed or injured by other drivers. I have contacted our local Ford garage..... I explained to jack in service and he explained to me that he has seen more and more of these problems and the cure was to replace the throttle body.... I am wondering if this is a safety issue and should be taken care of by Ford/ Lincoln. I hoping to get this situation resolved before someone gets hurt or killed in a accident.
I own a 2005 Lincoln LS, and I have had to replace three coils and plugs just recently, I have an understanding that some of these cars were recalled because of manufacturers defect if they were manufactured at certain plants. I called a dealer and they said my VIN number was not one of them, yet I have had the exact problem that they described. My question is why wouldn't they all be all be covered under the recall if I have had to replace three already. It seems to me that these cars should all be manufactured with same parts and have the warranty, here I had to pay to replace the coils and plugs in my car. The dealer did say there was a recall on this problem.
I have three major problems with my 2005 Lincoln LS. The first problem is I have a hard reverse and the gears stick between 30-35 MPH as I accelerate. Sometimes it has a hard bump once it starts accelerating! The second problem is that I have replaced two ignition coils within a year apart and now I have two more ignition coils that need to be replaced per p0354, p0301and p0304.I have replaced the throttle bottle, but the limp home sign has occured twice since then causing the car to decelerate!! The third problem is the catalytic converter per p0420. I purchased this car in 2009 with less than 50,000 miles, less than a year the transmission started slipping!
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Lincoln LS. The contact was driving 30 MPH when the check engine and wrench warning lights illuminated. Whenever the lights were illuminated, the vehicle would decelerate and then stall for approximately three seconds. The engine would have to be turned off and then restarted in order for the vehicle to reset itself. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the emission coil needed to be replaced. The emission coil was replaced however three weeks after the repairs, the vehicle begin exhibiting signs of the same failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 90,958.
Sudden loss of throttle response on 2005 Lincoln LS with 3.9l engine. This happened many times recently with my daughters vehicle. Close calls when in other traffic when there is sudden loss of throttle. When this occurs, there is no MIL ( malfunction indicator light ) nor is there a DTC ( diagnostic trouble code. Vehicle will only idle enough to get off road. Turn off ignition and restart vehicle with no problem. This is recurring more frequently with her car and also have read alot of forums about this problem. Vast similarities on all forums with no apparent resolution from Ford Lincoln.
Ford Lincoln Mercury~manufacture warranty extended on ignition coil - but each time ignition coil goes out it causes numerous "other repairs" costing $900+ each time.~ vehicles begins to run rough, the temperature gauge goes to top, the car looses power (while in traffic even though foot on accelerator) will not accelerate~ 5 times in less than 11 months~ these "other repairs done each time ignition coil is replaced should be covered under extended manufacture warranty. (incidents June 2009/ October '09/ January 2010/ March 2010/ April 2010).
Engine complaints in other LS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2005 Lincoln LS?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2005 Lincoln LS, 24% of the model year's 90 complaints. The component named most often is engine (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Lincoln LS engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2005 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 2005 Lincoln LS engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 17% 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.