RoadVitals

2004 Lincoln LS Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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 Jul 19, 2011
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.
14%
of 91 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 automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 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 transmission

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

Driver assistanceOther / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jul 19, 2011

I HAVE A 2004 LINCOLN LS WITH A LITTLE OVER 96,000. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. WHEN I PUSH THE GAS, THE CAR HESITATE AS IT SWITCH GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID, IT'S THE TRANSMISSION SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID, NO PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SO I TOOK IT TO AUTO ELECTRIC SHOP AND THEY SAID, "THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR" BUT I HAVE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM SO FRUSTRATED AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. IS CAR IS A LEMON. *KB

NHTSA ID
10413629
Incident
Jun 27, 2011
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 11, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN JERK ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD PROCEED WITH LIMITED POWER AND WOULD EXHIBIT SIGNS OF STALLING ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE NUMEROUS UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10381599
Incident
Feb 3, 2005
Mileage
20,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 11, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ENGAGING AND WOULD THEN JERK ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSIS AND DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BOX AND TRANSMISSION WERE DEFECTIVE. THE THROTTLE BOX WAS REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED ALTHOUGH THE DEALER ADVISED HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10381594
Incident
Feb 23, 2005
Mileage
23,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Jul 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPROGRAMMED THE PCM CONTROL MODULE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WOULD ALSO RECUR WHILE DECREASING SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE PCM CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE SEALANT ON THE HOOD CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COILS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,975.

NHTSA ID
10340936
Incident
Jul 1, 2007
Mileage
30,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 25, 2010

I OWN A LINCOLN LS V8 WITH 55,000 MILES. WHEN I SHIFT INTO REVERSE IT CREATES A HARSH SOUND, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT. MY "CHECK TRANSMISSION" LIGHT CAME ON WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON LS AND SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!

NHTSA ID
10322118
Incident
Mar 18, 2010
Mileage
55,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed May 19, 2009

I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPEDITION & 2004 LINCOLN LS I JUST REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE EXPEDITION @ 53,000 MILES IT QUIT ON ME ON THE FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING AND ACCIDENT AND NOW A MONTH LATER SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE LINCOLN LS I THINK SOME ONE HAS TO GET HARD ON FORD LINCOLN SAME THING IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT TWO CARS BOUGHT @ OVER $43,000 DOLLARS EACH ARE PIECE OF '!@#$% CARS I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF I HAD BOUGHT AN IKEA OR HYUNDAI I KNEW WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO, SOME ONE HAS TO MAKE FORD AND LINCOLN FIX THESE PROBLEMS WITH THERE PRODUCT MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY ONLY OFFER A 27,000 MILE WARRANTY AND STILL HAD MY DIFFERENTIAL CHANGED ON THE EXPEDITION 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE WITH ONLY 3500 MILES ON THE EXPEDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10269382
Incident
May 10, 2009
Mileage
53,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 18, 2009

PURCHASED A USED 2004 LINCOLN LS WITH 43,000 MILES,WITH PREMIUM WARRANTY MY TRANSMISSION NOW BEGINS TO HAVE HARD SHIFT IN 3-4 AND IN REVERSE. SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES THE TRANSMISSION HIT HARD. JERKS THE CAR,TO THE BRAKES STOP IS DELAYED 10 SEC. I HAD A CAR COME IN TO MY LANE WITH OUT WARNING, AND DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN BRAKING MY CAR WAS STRUCK, MINOR BUT IF I WAS GOING FASTER I COULD OF LOST CONTROL. I SEE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS,WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN ANY ACTIONS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED AT $19,000 AND I STILL OWE. KNOW I HAVE A LEMON. I EVEN HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. PLEASE NOTE THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE SEALED NOT DIP STICKS,THIS FLUID CHANGED COST ME $250.00 AND I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. THE E WARNING IS SHOWING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262207
Incident
Jun 13, 2008
Mileage
68,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 23, 2009

IN NOV 2008,WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY STREET, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE SHIFTING VERY HARD AND AT TIMES CAUSING A HARSH JERK. AS I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION TO RETURN THE VEHICLE HOME, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE ERROR MESSAGE "ETC ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE" DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN. THANKFULLY THE CAR SLOWLY COASTED ACROSS THE 3-LANE INTERSECTION WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED ($761.00) ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN 2 MONTHS LATER IN JAN 2009. WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION ON TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE GAVE OFF A VEHICLE LOUD NOISE, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER, AND THE "ETC ENGINE FAILSAFE MODE" ERROR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AGAIN. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY STATED THAT THE SOLENOID BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $1150.00. UPON ASKING WHY WOULD I GET THE SOME ERROR MESSAGE AND THE PROBLEM IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT, THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED WAS A "FALSE CODE". *TR

NHTSA ID
10256099
Incident
Jan 21, 2009
Mileage
71,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 12, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY DRIVING UPHILL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AND REMAINED IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RESPONDING. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE DEALER INFORMED HER OF A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND STATED THAT SHE MUST FILE A COMPLAINT FIRST BEFORE THEY COULD ASSIST WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 2004 LINCOLN VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF UPDATED 02/06/09. *JB

NHTSA ID
10254771
Incident
Jan 8, 2009
Mileage
32,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Sep 22, 2008

FIRST IT STARTED OUT IN JULY 2007,AC WASN'T BLOWING LIKE IT SHOULD BE REPLACED CONTROL HEADS. THEN MY TRAC CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND PARK BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON CHECKED AND ADVISED REPLACED SPEED SENSOR. THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOUND UPSTREAM BANK 2 02 SENSOR READING OUT OF SPEC. REPLACED 02 SENSOR AND CLEAR CODES. THAT COST ME$1285.51. WHICH I REPLACED SENSOR,SPARK PLUGS,COIL THEN IN JAN 2008 MY TRANSMISSION SHIFT HARD INTO REVERSE CHECKED AND ADVISED FOUND FAULTS IN SOLENOID,VALVE BODY,TRANS FILTER,REPAIRED CLEAR CODES,OK. REPLACED DRIVE BELT AND PULLEY. THAT BILL WAS 1318.72. WELL THEN IN 08/2008 SAME THING TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGH CONCERN CYLINDER MISFIRE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON. THANK GOD HAD A RECALL FROM FORD ON THAT. FOUND CONTAMINATION IN BOTH SIDES REPLACED AFFECTED COILS,PLUGS,AND COVER WHICH THEY ONLY REPLACED 4 OF THE 8 COILS. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 593.18. THEN ON 08/2008 COOLANT LEAK JUST 3 DAYS AFTER GETTING IT OUT OF THE SHOP HAD TO REPLACE LEAKING THERMOSTAT CONNECTOR. HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS RUNNING HOT UNTIL THEY WORKED ON IT 08/11/2008. *TR THE POWER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR/MOTOR. UPDATED 10/22/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10243077
Incident
Jul 23, 2007
Mileage
70,836 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 27, 2006

TL* - WHILE DRIVING THE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND REVERTED TO AN IDLE MODE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN SHIFTING GEARS BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH GEARS AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD BE DRIVING SPEEDS FROM 25MPH TO 60 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT WHAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING WAS NORMAL, AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10177043
Incident
Dec 24, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsSteering+1 more
Filed Jan 23, 2006

2004 LINCOLN LS V8 SPORT BUCKED WHEN COMING TO A STOP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED CODE 92106 TP SENSOR. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, SUCH AS ERRATIC SHIFTING, HARSH ENGAGEMENT WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE. IN JAN 2005 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL WHICH STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT WITH A TRANSMISSION FLUID FORMULATION THAT, OVER TIME MAY CAUSE DELAYED AND HARSH REVERSE TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, UNTIL THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE NEARLY STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION AND IT WOULD HARDLY ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 MPH. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS A FAILING HEADLINER, THE STEERING WAS SQUEAKING AND THE CABIN FILTER LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED. THE CD PLAYER WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN ACCELERATING, AND WHEN REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO COAST. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE NOW HAS SCRATCHES AND INDENTATIONS IN THE REAR BUMPER FROM WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED ABRUPTLY AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149753
Incident
Oct 5, 2004
Mileage
4,945 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Feb 16, 2005

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. *AK BLEMISH IN REAR LEATER SEATS. ENGINE STALLS OUT AND OCCASIONS SURGES/HESITATES. VERY HARD 1-2 SHIFT AND TRANSMISSION HUNTS 4-5 SHIFT. NO PROBLEM FOUND. TRANSMISSION WAS UPGRADED FOR 2004 LS TO SYNCRO TYPE, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR A CRISP 1-2 SHIFT. UNDER LOAD GOING UP HILLS VEHICLE WILL BUCK/LOSES POWER ON ACCELERATION. POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) UPGRADED. RIGHT SIDE VISOR INOPERATIVE AND REPLACED. LEFT FRONT SILL PANEL POPPED OFF. SILL PANEL REATTACHED. CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE AND REPLACED. WHEN STEPING ON GAS VEHICLE HESITATES THEN TAKES OFF. NO PROBLEM FOUND. TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LAMPS WERE ON. LEFT FRONT ABS SENSOR REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
10107222
Incident
Jun 5, 2004

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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