Acceleration complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I just bought this car from a used dealer last month haven't driven 6 times yet and now this month it is stalling out we thought it was the fuel filter so we replaced that but now I tried driving it again and I got an error message saying "etc engine failure safe mode" the ca then began slowing down and I was unable to accelerate my speed. The car was also jerking as if it would cut off so.
Vehicle had experience approximately 6 times the trac control turning off while driving. Soon while accelerating onto freeway the light came on and then a load noise. The engine blew with no prior warning from any of the vehicle controls except for the trac control light. The car continues to sit in my garage because I do not have $5000.00 to fix it.
I was completely stopped at a red light with my foot on the brake. The car suddenly lurched on it's own. My reaction was to apply both feet to the brake with force. In spite of that, the vehicle continued to crawl and it rolled into the intersection. I was hit by an oncoming car. My car was totaled.
On July 4, 2009 while traveling on a major highway driving at the speed of 60 MPH the acceleration stopped functioning without warning. This was the first time this issue ever occurred. To correct the problem the car was taken to a Ford dealership to repair the problem. I was told that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The throttle body was replaced and while leaving the dealership on another major highway the issue happened 3 times after the repair was said to be completed. Both times the issue occurred my family and I was in a near fatal accident. The car was returned to the dealership on that same day. After a day of diagnostic the dealership could not explain to me what was causing the problem. Finally, the dealership called and stated that a radio frequency was causing the problem. I was also told that the there was a problem with the coils. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Lincoln LS. The contact stated when traveling at 35 MPH, the vehicle would sporadically surge forward then correct itself without warning. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the ignition coil was replaced. There were no prior warnings of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000 and the current mileage was 55,000. Updated 09/16-10 the consumer stated on one occasions, the vehicle accelerated and hit the medium at a gas station. The vehicle was damaged. Updated 09/20/10
Normal clear weather driving down busy street when care suddenly slowed down almost resulting in a collision with vehicles behind me. The engine stopped , I restarted with very limited drivability the etc failsafe mode kicked in for no apparent reason this issue must be addressed before someone is seriously injured.
Driver was slowly approaching a low curb while parking in a church parking lot car was moving at no more than 1 or 2 miles per hour as the curb was approached and the brake was lightly applied pending a full stop. Vehicle suddenly lurched forward with the sound of high engine revolutions. Car crossed over a three foot wide sidewalk and collided with two trees just beyond the sidewalk. Skid marks on the sidewalk indicated that the brake was firmly applied as the car crossed it under unintended acceleration. Car has been at dealer body shop for almost 10 days for repairs. Dealer promises to "diagnose" electronic throttle mechanism before returning car to owner. Telephone call to Lincoln elicited no interest and firm denial that such problem had ever been reported to the company. We were unsure that this car was safe to operate.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle had just been parked with the brake pedal depressed and the vehicle accelerated forward. The vehicle went over a curb, hit a tree, and stopped after hitting two other vehicles. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, but they were unable to determine the cause of the problem. The vehicle had accelerating problems while driving at various speeds prior to this incident. Updated 05/30/06.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lincoln LS years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (22), 2004 (15), 2001 (11), 2002 (11) and 2005 (9) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Lincoln LS acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for any Lincoln LS model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Lincoln LS acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (9 mentions), followed by the linkages (5).
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.