2001 Lincoln LS Engine Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11065015

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

99,999 mi

THE PLASTIC TENSIONERS THAT THE MANUFACTURER PUT IN BROKE CAUSING A HUGE ENGINE MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD THESE PLASTIC TENSIONERS BUT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS IT APPEARS SOMEONE KNEW ABOUT THIS SINCE MANUFACTURER CAME UP WITH GENERATION II AND GENERATION III AND THESE ADDED GENERATIONS, ARE MADE OF METAL WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN PLACED WHEN THEY FIRST BUILT THE ENGINE. AWESOME ENGINE, LOUSY TENSIONERS THAT AT HIGH SPEEDS, COULD HAVE CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND PERHAPS GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT OR KILLED MYSELF OR KILL SOME ONE ELSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THESE TENSIONERS. I AM ABOUT TO SPEND 1,500 TOP REPLACE THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577489

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

151,000 mi

THE PLASTIC TENSIONER FOR TIMING CHAIN BROKE DUE TO BEING MADE OF PLASTIC. INTERNAL PARTS SHOULD NOT BE PLASTIC. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT, CAR IS DISABLED. WHOEVER BUILT THOSE CARS, HAVE NO REGARD FOR SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546013

Incident

Sep 2, 2013

Mileage

173,233 mi

MY 01 LINCOLN LS 3.9 V8 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 11:30 PM. BY THE TIME IT WAS NOTICED, THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF WAS ENGULFED. IT EXPLODED ABOUT 3 TIMES (POSSIBLY THE AIRBAGS EXPLODING). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT REACHED THE FUEL TANK. I HAD DRIVEN IT AROUND AN HOUR BEFORE. THE MOST DAMAGE WAS NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF CAR NEAR WHERE THE HEADLIGHT AND AIR FILTER WERE LOCATED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAD NOT BURNED AS INTENSE AS THE DRIVER SIDE. (THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT OF THE HOOD HAD COMPLETELY BURNED AWAY..) THE FIRE DEPT SAID IT POSSIBLY STARTED IN THE ENGINE BUT THE FIRE HAD BURNED SO MUCH THAT THEY COULD NOT BE SURE. NO INVESTIGATION SINCE I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 2008 AND HAVE NOTICED DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS SUCH AS RADIO VOLUME INCREASING, INDICATOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COMING ON/OFF (ATC, ABS, AIR BAG, ECT). ABOUT ONE MONTH BEFORE FIRE THE CAR WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH NOT STARTING AND RANDOMLY DYING AS I WAS DRIVING. THE BATTERY WAS TESTED AND WAS NOT THE ISSUE. I LOVED MY CAR BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER FREE OF ISSUES. (WINDOW REGULATORS/CLIPS REPLACED EACH WINDOW TWICE, OIL IN CYLINDERS-REPLACED ALL CYLINDERS/COILS/ECT TWICE, CAR WOULD LOSE POWER/HESITATE OVER 40MPH, GAS PEDAL WOULD GET STUCK IF PRESSED TO QUICKLY CAUSING RPMS TO SURGE BUT CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 25-30 MPH AND WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD TO STOP (IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUT ALL MY WEIGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING WHATEVER WAS IN FRONT OF IT) I WOULD TEMP FIX THIS ISSUE BY FLICKING THE IDLE CONTROL LEVER (WHICH I NOTICED ONE OF THE "E CLIPS" HAD COME OFF OF ONE OF THE ARMS) NEAR THE THROTTLE BODY (WHICH WOULD ALSO GET STUCK OPEN/CLOSED AND HAVE TO BE CLEANED ON REG BASIS.) MANY MORE ISSUES NOT LISTED HERE... BEAUTIFUL CAR BUT DEFINITELY A LEMON... *JS

NHTSA ID

10545536

Incident

Sep 6, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

I OWN A 2001 LINCOLN MERCURY LS V-8 WITH 72,678 MILES ON THE ODOMETER .. FREQUENTLY (WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS) I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AROUND TOWN IN THE 25-45 MPH SPEED RANGE. HITTING THE BRAKES FAILS TO OVERRIDE THE ACCELERATION. THE ONLY SOLUTION TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT OR TO SLOW THE VEHICLE IS TO THROW THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND CLEAR THE ACCELERATION WITH A HARD PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE THE CAR IS NEUTRAL. THE OTHER REMEDY IS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION WHILE IN TRAFFIC. NEITHER ONE OF THESE SOLUTIONS IS ACCEPTABLE AND FORD/LM DENIES THAT THIS ISSUE EXISTS ON ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES DATING BACK 10-15 YEARS. MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS A 2000 CROWN VICTORIA AND I EXPERIENCED THE VERY SAME ISSUE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED 60,000 MILES. FORD/LM IS WELL ARE OF THESE ISSUES AND HAS FAILED TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR FEAR OF LIABILITY AND THE COST TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT AN OWNER SHOULD DO IN THIS SITUATION. I BELIEVE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS RECENTLY BEEN FILED AGAINST FORD/LM ON BEHALF OF OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. IN THE MEAN TIME THE COMPANY FAILS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER A GOVERNMENT ORDERED RECALL OR WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504949

Incident

Mar 20, 2013

Mileage

72,678 mi

MY AIR BAGS LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON FOR NO REASON, I DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT BECAUAE IM SCARE ITS GOIN TO BRAKE DOWN ON MY ONE DAY AND I HAVE MY NEW BORN BABY WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454149

Incident

Feb 3, 2012

Mileage

130,000 mi

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. I BOUGHT THIS LINCOLN LS BECAUSE I NEW IT WAS A GOOD CAR BUYING IT FROM THE FORD & MERCURY DEALER . I M SAD TO SAY THEY HAVE LET ME DOWN AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE PAYING DOUBLE FOR IT. I AM A PERSON WHO BELIEVE IN TAKING CARE OF WHAT I LIVE TO PAY FOR. I ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH OIL CHANGING AND KEEPING A CLEAN CAR . I HAVE OVER PAID MORE THAN WHAT THIS 2001 LS LINCOLN IS WORTH. I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT NOT BUYING ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AGAIN.THE COST OF AN NEW ENGINE AND OTHER REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS COST ME OVER $7000.00 IN CASH ADDED ON TO MY CAR BEING PAID OFF. I PAID $ 23000.00 AND MAID MY PAYMENTS ON TIME . THANK YOU FOR YOUR SINCERE CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397077

Incident

Sep 7, 2010

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE REMEDIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN 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 INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET AND COIL SPRINGS WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ID

10386745

Incident

Feb 25, 2011

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BEING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 12/19/2011 *LN

NHTSA ID

10373907

Incident

Dec 12, 2010

Mileage

126,000 mi

2001 LINCOLN LS WITH V8. VEHICLE HAD 70,000 MILES WHEN PURCHASED ONE YEAR AGO, NOW HAS 102,000. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ENGINE MISFIRES (WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL OR SPUTTER DURING ACCELERATION,) WHICH RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO REPLACE THE COIL ON PLUG ASSEMBLIES AND SPARK PLUGS. THE REASON THESE COIL PACKS GO BAD IS BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE VALVE COVER GASKET, WHICH LEADS TO OIL GETTING IN THE SPARK PLUG WELLS. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THE VALVE COVER GASKETS FROM THE FACTORY ARE FAULTY, BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT GASKETS THEY MANUFACTURE ARE MADE OF A BETTER MATERIAL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON BOTH VALVE COVER GASKETS AND THE COIL ON PLUG ASSEMBLIES. I NOTICED THAT THE FORD THUNDERBIRDS USE THE SAME 3.9L V8 ENGINE, HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, AND FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE VALVE COVER GASKETS ON THESE ENGINES, JUST NOT FOR THE LINCOLN LS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237223

Incident

Jul 28, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY 2001 LINCOLN LS V8 HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES, WAY MORE THAN I CAN REMEMBER. THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION COILS, HYDRAULIC FANS, STARTER, COIL PADS. THIS HAS ALL BEEN REPAIRED WITH NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF DOLLARS. I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO KEEP UP WITH THIS CAR. THERE IS CONSTANT MISS FIRES AND BAD SHIFTING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229592

Incident

Jun 10, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

2000 TO 2006 LINCOLN LS ALL HAVE MISFIRE PROBLEMS , COMING FROM FAULTY VALVE COVER GASKETS, 2000 TO 2006 FORD T-BIRDS HAVE SAME PROBLEM, ONLY THING IS THE LINCOLN DIDN'T MADE THE RECALL LIST . SAME ENGINE THOUGH, SEEMS THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS OIL INTO SPARK PLUG WELLS CAUSING SHORT AND MISFIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211300

Incident

Nov 30, 2007

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, WHICH LEADS FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO THE MOTOR, COMPLETELY FELL APART. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE COMPONENT, THE ENTIRE UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION THE CONTACT HEARD THE SOUND OF GLASS CRACKING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ROLL UP THE WINDOW. SHE STATED THAT THE WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AS A RESULT, THE REPLACER UNIT OF THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE COIL THAT LEADS TO THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10196862

Incident

Jul 16, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

SEVERAL ENGINE MISFIRES CAUSED BY LEAKING OIL. COIL PACKS, BOOTS, SPARK PLUGS, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WE HAVE FIXED THE REAR AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS WHICH FELL IN THE WINDOW TRACKS, THE TRUNK RELEASE WAS REPAIRED, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SHOOK WHEN DRIVING AND THE BRAKES ARE STILL SQUEAKING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10196003

Incident

Jun 30, 2007

Mileage

86,820 mi

THE CAR WAS RUNNING OUT OF COOLANT VERY FAST. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. YOU CAN SMELL FUMES COMING THROUGH THE HEATING VENTS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & OIL IS MIXING WITH THE SPARK PLUGS & WITH A WATER MIDST. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 09/2005 WITH 39,000 MILES. ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED AT 67,000 MILES. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN 5 MONTHS. ESTIMATE COST TO REPLACE WITH A USED ENGINE IS $3,794.60. THE DEALER SOLD THIS CAR IN THIS CONDITION. THEY NEED TO RECALL ALL THE LINCOLN LS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177723

Incident

May 25, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

MIS-FIRING COILS DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN OF VALVE COVER GASKETS. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 8 COILS AND VALVE COVER GASKET SEALS. PARTS $$ OVER 800, LABOR FOR WORK WAS ANOTHER $1000. *NM

NHTSA ID

10176993

Incident

Dec 18, 2006

STALLING AT IDLE, ENGINE CODES 171,174 BOTH BANKS LEAN FUEL MIXTURE. REPAIRED AT DEALER $450 FOR PVC HOSE FAILURE. OTHERS HAVE THE SAME FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134587

Incident

Jul 25, 2005

Mileage

57,000 mi

DT: THIS VEHICLE HAS 8 COILS IN IT. ITS HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERS 8 TIMES. THEY REPLACED THE COILS IN THE ENGINE #'S 4,6,7, AND 2. THIS FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2003. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SAY NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS WAS NOT A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF ONE COIL FAILED, THEY ALL WILL FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131696

Incident

Sep 3, 2003

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. OWNER WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD, AND A PUFF OF SMOKE THAT SMELLED LIKE FIRE WORKS CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DISCOVERED A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND 4 FUEL INJECTOR WAS NOT WORKING. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10116990

Incident

Feb 24, 2005

Mileage

73,000 mi

2001 LINCOLN LS HAD AN AIR VENT FACING THE WRONG WAY CAUSING WATER TO ENTER INTO THE TRUNK.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CD PLAYER MALFUNCTIONED, FRONT ROTORS WERE BELOW SPECIFICATIONS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED ON, FRESH GASOLINE WAS SMELLED, THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE 5 SECONDS TO CRANK BEFORE IT TURNED OVER, SLIPPING WAS FELT IN THE FRONT END, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND HAD GONE OFF WHEN THE SPEED WAS DECREASED BELOW 60 MPH, THE #4 COIL HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD ALONG WITH WHITE SMOKE DUE TO A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE BRAKE PADS HAD ABOUT 2K MILES LEFT ON THEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10124748

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

DT: THE CAR HAD A NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE THAT STARTED 2 WEEKS AFTER THE CAR WAS BOUGHT. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. STILL MAKES NOISE AND SOUNDS AS IF THE WHOLE FRONT IS FALLING APART. CURRENTLY, USING OIL MORE THAN NORMAL, HAS BEEN CHECKED OIL LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. THE ENGINE HAS AN IDLE MISS, AND EVERY TIME STARTING IT HAS WHITE SMOKE, THIS IS BEEN GOING ON SINCE JANUARY 2003. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE CAR WITH LOTS OF PARTS, BUT IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. AND STILL USING OIL, WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD TO BE CHANGED 8-9 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10122133

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

1,500 mi

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC OR WAITING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY PICKS UP ACCELERATION TO 4-5 THOUSAND RPM - THIS OVERPOWERS THE BREAK POWER AND THE VEHICLE FORCES ITSELF AHEAD OR INTO TRAFFIC - ONLY FLIPPING THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AVERTED A DISASTER.. THE ACCELERATION CYCLE LASTED 15-20 SECONDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088242

Incident

Aug 19, 2004

WHINE IN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION DURING IDLE WHEN THE ENGINE RPM IS INCREASED OR DECREASED. NOISE IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT CITY SPEEDS (1000 TO 1400 RPM).PITCH CHANGES WITH ENGINE RPM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023076

Incident

Aug 26, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS CAUSING FUMES TO COME UP THROUGH THE VENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10004527

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER AND DIED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY WATER GETTING INTO THE ENGINE MOTOR AND BLOWING IT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID

8023157

Incident

Nov 17, 2002