RoadVitals

2003 Lincoln LS Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
13
Latest Nov 3, 2017
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.
19%
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.
0
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 the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 13 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 electrical

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

ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 3, 2017

CAR GOES INTO FAIL SAFE EACH AND EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. IT DID SO 19 TIMES TODAY. I CONNECTED A CODE READER WHICH IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEMS AS BEING RELATED TO THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND THE THROTTLE BODY. I PURCHASED THE CAR 1 1/2 MONTHS AGO. PRIOR OWNER HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED WITH A NEW MOPAR UNIT 4 MONTHS AGO/ 2000.MILES AGO. DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN SINCE THIS IS LIKELY NOT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11043120
Incident
Nov 3, 2017
Mileage
75,100 mi
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 20, 2016

TOOK TRANSMISSION FOR REPAIR. TRANSMISSION SHOP COULD NOT LOAD NEW LINCOLN SOFTWARE ON NEW COMPUTER MODULE. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS AT ROWLETT TRANSMISSION SHOP AND NOW THE "ENGINE SIDE" OF THE NEW COMPUTER INSTALLED WILL NOT CLEAR. SAYS THERE IN AN ENGINE ISSUE NOW. THERE WAS NO ENGINE ISSUE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED.

NHTSA ID
10875443
Incident
May 31, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 3, 2014

CAR HESITATES ON ACCELERATION SINCE IT WAS NEW. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONDITION GOT WORSE. WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTS BUCKING AND MISFIRING. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SELLING LINCOLN DEALERSHIP (SESI LINCOLN MERCURY). THEY DEALERSHIP SAID THE DRIVERS DOOR NEEDED ADJUSTMENT. THIS MADE NO SENSE TO ME AND DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY SHORTLY AFTER THAT. NOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND CAR HESITATES, BUCKS, STALLS AND RUNS ROUGH, MISFIRES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND MIL STARTS FLASHING. THE COWL PLASTIC PIECE HAS A POOR SEAL ON IT THAT LETS WATER ONTO THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. FORD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND FORD ADMITS THAT SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CARS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, NOTHING A CUSTOMER CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS. FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE CARS AND FIXED THEM AT NO COST. THE FACT THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS WERE HIDING THE REAL REASON FOR THIS MISFIRE AND NOT REPAIRING THE VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY IS BREECH OF CONTRACT. FORD SHOULD BE FINED AND PUNISHED AND FORCED TO RECALL AND REPAIR ALL OF THESE CARS. I AM AN ASE MASTER MECHANIC. I TEACH AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TECHNOLOGY AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THE CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED, IT LOOKS NEW. I FOUND THAT # 6 CYLINDER HAD A P0306 COIL MISFIRE DTC. I HAD TO REMOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD JUST TO SEE THE COIL ON PLUG SET UP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BANK OF ENGINE. TURNS OUT THERE IS POOR SEALING OF THE WINDSHIELD COWL AREA AND WATER RUNS DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE AND ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE WATER SHORTS OUT THE COILS, SPARK PLUGS, COMPUTER AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN WET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10595849
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Mileage
1 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
Electrical
Filed Jun 2, 2010

2003 LINCOLN LS V8 ETC ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10334194
Incident
May 15, 2010
Mileage
100 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering+2 more
Filed Dec 14, 2009

TL* 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 TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SHE HAD AN OIL LEAK FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINE THAT WAS DRIPPING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ALSO THE ENGINE WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING; WHICH DRASTICALLY REDUCED THE VEHICLES SPEED. SHE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $489.00. THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,303. THE STEERING WAS NOISY WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE TURNS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING. ALL OF THE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS ALSO LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/26/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10295606
Incident
Dec 9, 2009
Mileage
77,303 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 6, 2008

MYSELF, AND JUST ABOUT ALL LINCOLN LS OWNERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR COMPUTER SYSTEM. ETC - MESSAGE CAUSE THE CAR TO GO INTO A FAIL-SAFE MODE. BEEN TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE SAME PROBLEM STILL EXIST. ON THE WEB IT APPEARS ALL LINCOLN LS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I OWN A 2003 LINCOLN LS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241171
Incident
Jul 19, 2008
Mileage
53,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Mar 4, 2008

TL*THE 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 TIME AND INFORMED THEM OF THE NOISE SHE HEARD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. A NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD NEAR THE STEERING COMPONENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IN ADDITION TO THE TIRES, THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START. SHE WAS CHARGED TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT (ASY) IN THE VEHICLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,510. UPDATED 04/29/08 *BF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED

NHTSA ID
10220018
Incident
Apr 19, 2005
Mileage
29,150 mi
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Dec 20, 2007

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, AND THE DEALER AND FIELD ENGINEERS SEEM TIRED OF SEEING MY CAR. CONSTANT MOVEMENT OF BRAKE PEDAL IN RHYTHM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS WORSE NOW THEN WHEN THEY STARTED. FRONT BRAKE PADS RATTLE. DEALER SAYS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND I SHOULD JUST DEAL WITH IT. FRONT SEAT BACKS FALL DOWN. DEALER AND FORD BLAME MY KIDS BEING IN CAR SEATS. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE THEY TOOK SEATS APART TO REPLACE FAULTY SEAT HEATER. THE TRANSMISSION IS AWFUL. BEEN REPROGRAMMED 3 TIMES AND NEW SERVOS INSTALLED. STILL DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY, AND VERY ERRATIC. SHIFTS WHEN IT SHOULDN'T AND DOES NOT SHIFT WHEN IT SHOULD. CAR STALLED AND ACTIVATED THE ALARM HORN HONKING, LIGHTS BLINKING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. CAR RESTARTED. NEXT DAY CAR HAD DEAD BATTERY AND WOULD NOT START. COULD NOT EVEN JUMP IT AS THERE WAS NO POWER TO OPEN TRUNK AND LOCK CYLINDER WAS FROZEN DUE TO LACK OF USE. BATERY IN TRUNK!! WHEELS HAD TO BE BALANCED 3 TIMES THEN FORCE BALANCED TO REMOVE EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. ALL AT MY EXPENSE HAD LEAKY REVERSE LIGHT REPLACED BY DEALER NOW HAVE SOME PIECE OF A FASTENER FLOATING AROUND INSIDE THE DECK LID RATTLING. CLIPS FOR E BRAKE ARE ALWAYS BROKEN AND APPARENTLY 180 BUCKS TO FIX.

NHTSA ID
10212443
Incident
Dec 19, 2007
Mileage
39,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 14, 2004

DRIVING VEHICLE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH ALIGNMENT STOPPED WORKING, THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL LIGHTS WENT OUT, ENGINE, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES STOPPED WORKING FOR 5 OR MORE SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AT 4:00 AM LEAVING THE VEHICLE ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN THE DARK.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081061
Incident
Jun 20, 2004
Mileage
11,500 mi
BrakesElectricalSuspension
Filed Apr 27, 2004

2003 LINCOLN LS HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. 1. VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - DEALER STATES THIS IS THE LUXURY THAT IS THE LINCOLN. 2. CD PLAYER HAS BROKEN TWICE - RADIO SYSTEM REPLACED ONCE, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. 3. ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT - DEALER FIXED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10067899
Incident
Mar 26, 2004
Electrical
Filed Feb 20, 2004

RADIO/INDASH CD PLAYER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. STILL VERY LIMITED RECEPTION ON RADIO, BOTH FM AND AM STATIONS. CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES, EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY RUN "DIAGNOSTICS". WHILE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE CABLE BETWEEN SYSTEM AND ANTENNA (LOCATED IN REAR WINDOW) HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. FORD AND DEALERSHIP READILY ADMIT THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM EXISTED PREVIOUSLY ON TOWN CARS, BUT NOTHING REPORTED IN LS. THEREFORE, THEY CANNOT REPLACE CABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10058570
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Mileage
300 mi
ElectricalFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

SPARK KNOCK UNDER LOAD (PASSING OR FROM 0) OCCURS WITH LOW RPM AND HIGH RPM UNDER LOADS CURRENTLY TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL LINCOLN FINDS A FIX SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OR DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. TRANSMISSION HAS HAD REPAIRS DONE ALSO. SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN BETTER SINCE REPROGRAMMING OF COMPUTOR. SINCE THIS IS A UNIQUE PROBLEM TO THIS VEHICLE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY BY LINCOLN OF CANADA.

NHTSA ID
10071386
Incident
Sep 15, 2003

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.

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Data sources

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