KnownCarProblems2003 Lincoln LS Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Lincoln LS, most often about the transmission (29% of complaints, typically around 78,000 miles). It is 6th of 7 LS model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2003 Lincoln LS problems
Transmission
20 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, axle assembly.
I bought a 2003 Lincoln LS and it has been in the shop most of the time I have owned it. 11,000 dollars worth of repairs. Now the transmission shift erratically and the dealer says it can be fixed and has to ha a new one. 3800 dollars more cmon the is now only a 3000 dollar car.
The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln LS. While driving unknown speeds, the vehicle failed to engage into overdrive and the check transmission indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The contact called a local dealer (casey jackson ford, 1435 e main st, royston, ga 30662) and was informed…
Engine
15 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 77,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln LS. While driving 35 MPH she noticed the parking brake/ service engine warning lights illuminated on the instrument control panel. Several days later while starting the ignition she noticed smoke under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility. A…
Hello, I bought a 2003 Lincoln LS and I'm getting a message on the dash that is saying etc fail safety mode and the car is not able to go over 30 MPH, and has very slow pick up and is running very hard. I have found that sometimes if I turn the car off/on the message does not come up the car drives normally. I have…
Electrical
11 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument cluster/panel, ignition.
Car has consistently just shut off while driving (roughly 30 times in the last year). Been into the dealer no less than 10 times. Had thousands of dollars of valve covers, coils, plugs gaskets, windshield wiper components replaced. No change. Car will still die whenever it feels like it. Lincoln/ford could care less…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Lincoln LS. While driving 35 MPH, the wheels fell off the vehicle and the lug nuts fell out of the wheel. The vehicle was towed. All four tires were flat and had to be replaced at the contact's expense. Prior to the failure, she heard a strange noise. The contact went to a Lincoln dealer at that…
Wheels and tires
8 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles.
When ever the car is driven any little bump or patch in the road has the car making a loud slam sound even worse going over any bump and even worse into turns. Also the wheel seems to pull at those times as well, this is on any street or highway while driving, feels very scary and unsafe. We don't have funds to fix…
While driving this car on a highway or street any time it encounters small bumps the wheel turns and there's a loud slamming sound from the front passenger and driver side of the car. It's worse going into turns speed does not matter you can go slow or fast and the loud slamming sound is there. It feels very unsafe…
Brakes
8 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 74,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
On a 2003 Lincoln LS, the brakes have failed to engage properly about a dozen times over the past 2 years. Each time, the pavement is dry and free of debris or gravel. With each incident, there has been a 25%-75% loss of braking power with a grating, or metal-on-metal, sound coming from the front end. We have brought…
Coming to a stop applied the brakes peddle went to the floor made a strange noise would not stop.almost ran into the back of the car in front of me.checked out could not find anything wrong except small amount of brake fluid around the master cylinder at the cap. [] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of…
Suspension
7 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
While driving this car on a highway or street any time it encounters small bumps the wheel turns and there's a loud slamming sound from the front passenger and driver side of the car. It's worse going into turns speed does not matter you can go slow or fast and the loud slamming sound is there. It feels very unsafe…
When ever the car is driven any little bump or patch in the road has the car making a loud slam sound even worse going over any bump and even worse into turns. Also the wheel seems to pull at those times as well, this is on any street or highway while driving, feels very scary and unsafe. We don't have funds to fix…
Speed control
7 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
: 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…
The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln LS. While driving at 20 MPH, the ect engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle began shaking excessively. The contact moved the vehicle from the roadway and shut off the engine. When restarting, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The contact stated the failure would occur…
Steering
6 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: rack and pinion.
- the contact owns a 2003 Lincoln LS. The contact took the vehicle to dealer for an oil pan gasket leak. The contact stated that the steering was off centered when the vehicle was returned. The dealer performed a wheel alignment. The failure mileage was 62000.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Lincoln LS. While driving 35 MPH, the wheels fell off the vehicle and the lug nuts fell out of the wheel. The vehicle was towed. All four tires were flat and had to be replaced at the contact's expense. Prior to the failure, she heard a strange noise. The contact went to a Lincoln dealer at that…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Lincoln LS recalls
Wheels and tires: wheels
Risk: If this condition occurs, the driver may experience noise and/or vibration while driving the vehicle. Continued operation of the vehicle could result in the wheel separating from the hub, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the wheels to make sure that all the wheels have been heat-treated. Any wheel that has not been heat-treated will be replaced. Owner notification began april 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact lincoln at 1-800-521-4140.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 17 inch chrome wheels, the chrome wheels were not heat-treated. These wheels may crack at the lug-nut holes, which could result in the loss of the lug-nut torque.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2003 Lincoln LS
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Lincoln LS?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (20 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); engine (15 complaints, typically around 77,500 miles); electrical (11 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Lincoln LS have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 7, 2003 (wheels and tires). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Lincoln LS?
- It is 6th of 7 LS model years by number of complaints, with 68 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.