RoadVitals

2003 Lincoln LS Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Oct 23, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 68 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Lincoln LS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 23, 2013

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 TRIED REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY AFTER GETTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH TO CODES P0207 AND P02110 AND I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ALLOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10549022
Incident
Oct 10, 2013
Mileage
107,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 22, 2012

SHIFTS HARD, WHEN IN 20-30 MPH, IN GEAR 2 AND 3. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC, DEALER SAID IT MAY BE TRANSMISSION, BUT THEY HAVE TO TEAR IT APART. IF BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER, OR SOLENOID PACK THEY HAVE TO TEAR DOWN AND REBUILD. HE DID SAY THAT ONE OF THE SOLENOIDS WENT OUTER IF BANDS WERE BENT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION FOR A COST OF $2500 - $3500. I HAVE READ ALL OVER THE INTERNET WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HARD SHIFTING AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN. ONE PERSON SAID THAT THEY BOUGHT A KIT THAT FIXES THE DESIGN FLAW - 5RW MASTER SERVO BORE REPAIR KIT (FORD 5R55W/S/N). IT IS NOT MADE BY FORD, IT SEEMS THEY ARE TOO CHEAP TO FIX THE REAL PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO PEOPLES CONCERNS. I AM ALSO GOING TO CALL THE 800 NUMBER FOR FORD LINCOLN AND SEND THEM A LETTER. WOULD USE WITH ANY TRANNY REBUILD. THE FINAL COST OF THE REPAIR IS NOW AT $4000.00. YIKES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10452723
Incident
Feb 29, 2012
Mileage
3 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 25, 2010

CAR STARTS AND RUNS ROUGH, THEN SURGES FORWARD. HAVE TO HOLD THE BRAKE HARD. CAR THEN STALLS AND GIVES "ETC ENGINE FAILURE". UPON RESTART CAR WILL RUN FINE FOR A WHILE. *TR DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, AS IT DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY THROW A CODE, REPLACED THE COILS

NHTSA ID
10345128
Incident
Apr 9, 2009
Mileage
78,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jul 15, 2010

TL* 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 INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A FULL THROTTLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10343516
Incident
Nov 16, 2009
Mileage
52,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 4, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ELEVATED FOLLOWED BY WHITE STEAM ERUPTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE AUTOMATIC STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRACTION ASSIST CLUSTER SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

NHTSA ID
10164473
Incident
Aug 4, 2006
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 28, 2006
Crash reported

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
10156382
Incident
Apr 21, 2006
Mileage
39,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 9, 2004
Crash reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10086504
Incident
Jun 29, 2004
Mileage
22,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 4, 2004

TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY ON AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE.CONTACTED DEALER AND ARRANGED FOR TOW TRUCK . ON 6/3/04 CONTACTED DEALER FOR STATUS REPORT AND TO ARRANGE FOR ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION. SERVICE REP. STATES THAT VEHICLE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY FAILED THEREFORE NOT ALLOWING OXYGEN INTO THE ENGINE. APPROXIMATE PART ARRIVAL IS 3 DAYS. I DO BELIVE THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON. NEVER PURCHASING ANOTHER LINCOLN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10074773
Incident
Jun 2, 2004
Mileage
8,100 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .