RoadVitals

2005 Lincoln LS Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
90
Latest Apr 11, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
15
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Lincoln LS, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

22
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

OVER HEATS CONSTANTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR DEFFINATLEY MANUFACTURER PROBLEM

NHTSA ID 11063570 · filed Jan 18, 2018

COILS KEEP FAILING ON LOW MILEAGE CAR. ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH VARIOUS COMPONENTS AND SECURITY ALARM GOES OFF MANY TIMES EACH DAY.

NHTSA ID 10990682 · filed May 19, 2017
All 22 reports naming engine

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

21
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Car accident with full left side impaction door will not open doors will not open and I was not able to move out of my seat and yet I was stuck behind the steering wheel behind smashed impacted buckled, steering wheel did not deploy the airbags

NHTSA ID 11516435 · filed Apr 11, 2023

COILS KEEP FAILING ON LOW MILEAGE CAR. ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH VARIOUS COMPONENTS AND SECURITY ALARM GOES OFF MANY TIMES EACH DAY.

NHTSA ID 10990682 · filed May 19, 2017
All 21 reports naming electrical

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

14
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The fuel tank needs replacement due to a crack in the fuel tank is causing fumes in the vehicle. Exactly like the recall of 2005 Lincoln LS, that the dealership cannot find because it is more than 15 years.

NHTSA ID 11455608 · filed Mar 7, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR COMING FORM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,810.

NHTSA ID 11329591 · filed Jun 18, 2020
All 14 reports naming fuel system

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

12
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES SLOW DOWN TO A RED LIGHT WHEN ENGINE WENT INTO FAILSAFE MODE BUT DID NOT THROW ANY CODES. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT ALL. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TRIES TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING EXTENSIVELY ON HIGHWAYS WITHOUT ANY CLUE AS TO HOW TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID 10969075 · filed Mar 28, 2017

EMERGENCY BRAKE STICK . CAN'T GONNA WHERE STUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID 10535675 · filed Aug 15, 2013
All 12 reports naming driver assistance

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES SLOW DOWN TO A RED LIGHT WHEN ENGINE WENT INTO FAILSAFE MODE BUT DID NOT THROW ANY CODES. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT ALL. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TRIES TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING EXTENSIVELY ON HIGHWAYS WITHOUT ANY CLUE AS TO HOW TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID 10969075 · filed Mar 28, 2017

CAR LOST POWER ON TURN INTO TRAFFIC, WRENCH LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WENT ON CAR, CAR WENT ON "LIMP HOME" MODE AS I ENTERED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT VERY LOW SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10583856 · filed Apr 21, 2014
All 11 reports naming powertrain (other)

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Car accident with full left side impaction door will not open doors will not open and I was not able to move out of my seat and yet I was stuck behind the steering wheel behind smashed impacted buckled, steering wheel did not deploy the airbags

NHTSA ID 11516435 · filed Apr 11, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 15-20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A RELATIVES HOME. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO NOTIFY THE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID 11328159 · filed Jun 10, 2020
All 10 reports naming airbags

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

9
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

HAD JUST COME OFF FREEWAY AND PARKED. NOTICED THAT CLIMATE CONTROL WAS BLOWING HOT AIR (EXCESSIVELY). TURNING THE CONTROL TO COOLER SETTINGS JUST INCREASED THE BLAST OF HEAT. THE DUAL SETTING WAS NOT WORKING EITHER AS MOST AIR WAS BEING FORCED TO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE STRANGE THING WAS THAT SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE PARKING BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON! .AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE A COUPLE OF TIMES ALSO, THE PARKING BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT HAS TURNED OFF. IT CAME BACK ON ONCE OR TWICE, REPEATED THE STEPS, AND 'SO FAR' HAS NOT COME BACK ON. BUT THE HEATING/COOLING, OR LACK OF COOLING IS STILL A PROBLEM EVEN THROUGH ALL CONTROLS SEEM TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY, INCLUDING THE PASSENGER SIDE TEMP CONTROL IS OPERATIONAL BUT DOES NOTHING AS FAR AS HEATING AND COOLING. AT FIRST IT SEEMED COINCIDENTAL FOR BOTH THE CLIMATE ISSUES AND THE PARKING BRAKE ISSUES TO OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME. BUT AFTER A SEARCH OF THE WEB TURNED UP OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING SIMILAR 'COINCIDENCES' OF THE SAME COMBINATION OF PROBLEMS AND THEN FINDING TWO COMPLAINS ON THIS SITE THAT ALSO REPORT THE SAME BASIC INFORMATION, I NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE COINCIDENTAL BUT MAY IN FACT RELATED. IN BOTH COMPLAINTS, 10305448 AND 14499467, THEY TALK OF THE BRAKING BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT AND OR ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE ACTUALLY ENGAGING WITH ONE ALSO MENTIONING THE BLASTING OF ONLY HEAT OUT OF THE DUCTS. I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING AND POSSIBLY WORTHY OF NOTICE AS THE DEALERS IN BOTH COMPLAINTS RELATE THE CAUSE TO INTERFERENCES BETWEEN THE COMPONENTS, THE PARKING BRAKE ELECTRONICS AND THE DUAL COOLANT CONTROL VALVE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10658605 · filed Nov 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE, ABS, AND TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE IT WAS TURN OFF AND RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID 10622598 · filed Aug 15, 2014
All 9 reports naming brakes

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BALL JOINTS, OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND STEERING SECTION GOES BAD, DOING A LOT OF POPPING AND CREAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID 11323457 · filed May 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF A TIRE BLEW OUT. AFTERWARDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 11098800 · filed May 30, 2018
All 8 reports naming other / unspecified

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE ABS BRAKE SENSOR WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,837.

NHTSA ID 10404583 · filed Jun 6, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT WAS PARKING ON AN INCLINE. AS HE SHIFTED INTO PARK AND REMOVED HIS FOOT FORM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY ROLL BACKWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. WITHIN 300 MILES, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

NHTSA ID 10347326 · filed Aug 4, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2005 Lincoln LS. The contact stated all four tires melted and rusted to the ground and the belly of the vehicle fell out. The contact also stated the vehicle was overheated. There were no warning lights. The contact put tape underneath the engine to keep it in place. The contact drove the vehicle to the local mechanic which diagnosed the failure with a tire stripped. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000

NHTSA ID 11466730 · filed May 31, 2022

LINCOLN LS '05 WITH EAGLE GT HR 225/55 16, NUMEROUS FLAT TIRES ON ALL 4, SOME TIRES AS MANY AS THREE NAILS OR SCREWS. STEEL BELTS UNABLE TO RESIST PUNCTURE. ALL FILLED WITH SLIME NOW. LOTS OF TREAD LEFT. -WON'T BALANCE, SHUDDERS AT 70MPH. -PULLS TO THE LEFT. TRIED ALIGNMENTS AND SWAPPING TIRES AND WHEELS ALL AROUND. NO CHANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10449384 · filed Feb 26, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

HAD JUST COME OFF FREEWAY AND PARKED. NOTICED THAT CLIMATE CONTROL WAS BLOWING HOT AIR (EXCESSIVELY). TURNING THE CONTROL TO COOLER SETTINGS JUST INCREASED THE BLAST OF HEAT. THE DUAL SETTING WAS NOT WORKING EITHER AS MOST AIR WAS BEING FORCED TO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE STRANGE THING WAS THAT SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE PARKING BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON! .AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND ON A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE A COUPLE OF TIMES ALSO, THE PARKING BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT HAS TURNED OFF. IT CAME BACK ON ONCE OR TWICE, REPEATED THE STEPS, AND 'SO FAR' HAS NOT COME BACK ON. BUT THE HEATING/COOLING, OR LACK OF COOLING IS STILL A PROBLEM EVEN THROUGH ALL CONTROLS SEEM TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY, INCLUDING THE PASSENGER SIDE TEMP CONTROL IS OPERATIONAL BUT DOES NOTHING AS FAR AS HEATING AND COOLING. AT FIRST IT SEEMED COINCIDENTAL FOR BOTH THE CLIMATE ISSUES AND THE PARKING BRAKE ISSUES TO OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME. BUT AFTER A SEARCH OF THE WEB TURNED UP OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING SIMILAR 'COINCIDENCES' OF THE SAME COMBINATION OF PROBLEMS AND THEN FINDING TWO COMPLAINS ON THIS SITE THAT ALSO REPORT THE SAME BASIC INFORMATION, I NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE COINCIDENTAL BUT MAY IN FACT RELATED. IN BOTH COMPLAINTS, 10305448 AND 14499467, THEY TALK OF THE BRAKING BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT AND OR ISSUES WITH THE BRAKE ACTUALLY ENGAGING WITH ONE ALSO MENTIONING THE BLASTING OF ONLY HEAT OUT OF THE DUCTS. I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING AND POSSIBLY WORTHY OF NOTICE AS THE DEALERS IN BOTH COMPLAINTS RELATE THE CAUSE TO INTERFERENCES BETWEEN THE COMPONENTS, THE PARKING BRAKE ELECTRONICS AND THE DUAL COOLANT CONTROL VALVE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10658605 · filed Nov 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE LACK OF VISIBILITY BETWEEN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW AND THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DESIGNS WIDTH WAS TOO LARGE AND CAUSED HIM NOT TO NOTICE THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUSTAINED MINOR LACERATIONS TO THE HEAD FROM THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID 10525176 · filed Jul 16, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BALL JOINTS, OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND STEERING SECTION GOES BAD, DOING A LOT OF POPPING AND CREAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID 11323457 · filed May 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF A TIRE BLEW OUT. AFTERWARDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 11098800 · filed May 30, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BALL JOINTS, OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND STEERING SECTION GOES BAD, DOING A LOT OF POPPING AND CREAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID 11323457 · filed May 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SIT LOWER THEN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING MUCH FASTER THAN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. ..UPDATED 11/28/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK IN THE OIL PAN. SHE HAD IT FIXED,. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED ANOTHER OIL LEAK HAS SURFACED SOME WHERE ELSE. UPDATED 11/29/12

NHTSA ID 10478330 · filed Oct 2, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Car accident with full left side impaction door will not open doors will not open and I was not able to move out of my seat and yet I was stuck behind the steering wheel behind smashed impacted buckled, steering wheel did not deploy the airbags

NHTSA ID 11516435 · filed Apr 11, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING. I CALLED FORD COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. TOOK IT TO TWO FORD DEALERS TO GET CHEAPEST PRICES. HAD TO HAVE POWER STEERING ROD AND PUMP REPLACED. WHICH COST ANOTHER 1200. GOING BROKE FROM THIS CAR. AIR CONDITIONER ALSO STOPPED WORKING BUT COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED YET. DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE WHOLE DASHBOARD TO FIX. THEY TRIED TO PUT ADD SOMETHING TO THE AIR TO COOL IT BUT IT DID NOT WORK. *JS

NHTSA ID 10452491 · filed Mar 21, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .