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2004 Lincoln Ls

The Verdict

75 Solid Pick

The 2004 Lincoln Ls has 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (37 complaints) and electrical (25 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 75/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Lincoln Ls, consider the 2006 model year which has 80% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2006 has 80% fewer complaints

View the 2006 Lincoln Ls dashboard →

75

Klunk Score: Solid Pick

Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200019721635034
200114611493512
20024014243211
2003185101916
200496253713
2005218193111
200620763

By Category

Engine
37
Electrical
25
Transmission
13
Body
9
Brakes
6

By Severity

1
40
2
34
3
7
4
9

Worst Problems

Complaints

Transmission 2

THE TRANSMISSION IN THESE CARS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THEY WILL STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. YOU WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER AND ONCE YOU PULLOVER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT WILL NOT LET THE CAR ENGAGE INTO GEAR AND MOVE.

79mo ago
Engine 2

HI. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND I KEPT SMELLING GAS VERY BAD. TO THE POINT THE WHOLE HOUSE SMELT AND WHEN I PARK THE CAR I CAN SMELL IT. I FIGURED THERE HAD TO BE A PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. I DECIDED TO LOOK ONLINE AND FOUND LINCOLN HAD A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE GAS TANKS WHICH HAS THE SYMPTOMS I'M ENCOUNTERING. ITS A HIGH SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CAN START A FIRE AND OR HAVE HEALTH ISSUES WITH ME AND THE KIDS. WELL TURNS OUT MY CAR WITH THAT VIN DID NOT HAVE A RECALL EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SAME YEAR AND MAKE BUT NOT MINE FOR SOME REASON. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE RECALLED TO FIX IT. IM IN DESPERATE NEED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I DONT HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX THERE MISTAKE. PLEASE HELP IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

82mo ago
Electrical 3

WHILE DRIVING IN THE EVENING, ON A SLIGHTLY WINDING, SMOOTH, GRAVEL ROAD AT ABOUT 30 TO 35 MPH, TEMPERATURE ABOUT 34 DEGREES F, THE AIRBAG IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NOT ANY FORM OR TYPE OF COLLISION. DURING THE TIME I HAVE HAD THE CAR, ABOUT 2 YEARS, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY FORM OF COLLISION DAMAGE, AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE WAS NOT ANY PRIOR HISTORY OF ANY TYPE OF COLLISION DAMAGE. THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT, HIS SHOULDER FELT SORE AND HIS HEARING WAS AFFECTED AT THE TIME.

104mo ago
Engine 2

NORMAL CLEAR WEATHER DRIVING DOWN BUSY STREET WHEN CARE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN ALMOST RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH VEHICLES BEHIND ME. THE ENGINE STOPPED , I RESTARTED WITH VERY LIMITED DRIVABILITY THE ETC FAILSAFE MODE KICKED IN FOR NO APPARENT REASON THIS ISSUE MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

127mo ago
Electrical 2

WAS COMING HOME FROM THE STORE I WAS GOING 55MPH AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF....PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE CAR THEN BACK ON AND WORK FOR LIKE A MIN THEN AGAIN I ALMOST CRASH BECAUSE NO LIGHT..A 15MIN DRIVE HOME BECAME 50MIN HAD TO BE PULLING OVER ALL THE WAY HOME....DUE TO THE LIGHTS TURNING OFF ON THERE OWN... *TR

139mo ago
Electrical 3

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH ON A DRIVEWAY, THE PASSENGER CEILING AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM THE FRONT SEAT TO THE BACK SEAT. THE CAR DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. PASSENGER WAS INJURED. *TR

143mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE WRENCH WARNING SYMBOL DISPLAYED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,900.

143mo ago
Engine 1

BRAND NEW BATTERY IN CAR. COME OUT TO START CAR. BATTERY IS DEAD. MY MECHANIC HAS CAR FOR THREE DAYS. HE TRIED TO FIND A SHORT. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE SURE ALL DOORS ARE COMPLETELY CLOSED AND LIGHTS ARE ALL OUT. THIS WAS AFTER MULTIPLE DEAD BATTERIES. I MADE SURE OF ALL THE ABOVE AND STILL CAME OUT TO DEAD BATTERIES. I MANUALLY TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AS I CAME OUT TO THEM BEING ON AFTER I HAD WATCHED THEM DIM AND GO OUT. I REPLACED THE NEW BATTERY WITH ANOTHER NEW BATTERY AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. *TR

146mo ago
Electrical 3

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH ON FLAT, SMOOTH TWO LANE ROADWAY THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED STRIKING DRIVER ON LEFT SHOULDER AND FACIAL AREA. THERE WAS NO SIDE IMPACT OR ROUGH ROAD PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND MOVE TO BERM. DRIVER SUFFERED SOFT TISSUE TRAUMA TO LEFT SHOULDER, UPPER ARM AND FACE. SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DAMAGED INTERIOR ROOF HEADER UPON DEPLOYMENT. DRIVER SEAT SIDE AIRBAG APPEARS TO HAVE NOT FULLY DEPLOYED AND EXPANDED INSIDE THE SEAT RIPPING OUT A 3 FOOT AREA OF STITCHING AND TEARING THE LEATHER SEATING MATERIAL IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY. *JS

148mo ago
Brakes 1

NO BRAKES TILL ENGINE WARMS UP. PEDAL GOOD BUT NO BRAKES. NEW PADS AND ROTORS. NO IDIOT LITE. MECHANIC CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT DOES THIS. *JS

149mo ago
Transmission 2

CARS STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAY OR SIDE STREET. *TR

158mo ago
Transmission 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE RPM READING INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON WAS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,600. *TR

158mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MANUAL FORCE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 86,000. *TR

158mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE OFF THE ROAD, CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEG, CHEST, BACK AND NECK. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

163mo ago
Brakes 2

FILLED CAR WITH GAS. PULLED UP TO ENTER ROADWAY AND HAD TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC. WHEN I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKE CAME ON. PUT CAR IN PARK SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TWO DAYS. LEAVING GAS STATION. PULLED UP TO ENTER ROAD. HAD TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC. TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT EMERGENCY BRAKE CAME ON. PUT CAR IN PARK, SHUT OFF ENGINE. RESTARTED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE CAME OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

165mo ago
Electrical 2

DRIVING DOWN THE SIDE STREET AND MY CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE. READS ETC .START UP WILL MOVE ABOUT 1/4 OF THE BLOCK AND DOES IT AGAIN. HAD TO KEEP TURNING IT OFF AND ON TO GET HOME.ONCE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR LS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. HAVE NOT GOT MY CAR FIX BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

167mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND COIL PACKS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

170mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP AND DEPRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL, THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER STATED THE THROTTLE HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY SIX YEARS AFTER THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

173mo ago
Body 2

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AIR SUSPENSION - FRONT AND REAR. IT HAS THE TENDENCY TO GO UP AND DOWN AT WILL. WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER WHERE WE HAD THE SECOND ONE REPLACED AND IT IS GIVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS. THE FIRST ONE LASTED QUITE A FEW YEARS.(AT APPROX 43000 MILES) THE SECOND ONE ONLY MONTHS, AT ABOUT 86000. *TR

175mo ago
Engine 1

I SHOULD HAVE DONE MY HOMEWORK PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS CAR USED. 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, CAR STARTED SHAKING, AND JUMPING, WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE. MECHANIC UNABLE TO REPAIR, BUT REPLACED COILS AND CAR RAN "OK" FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND NOW DOES EXACT SAME THING TIMES 100. CAR STARTS, IDLES AT ABOUT 200 RPMS, SHAKES, POPS, JUMPS AND THEN DIES. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT TO DO EXCEPT REPLACE COILS AGAIN AND HE NOT EVEN SURE IF THAT WILL FIX THE CAR SINCE THAT IS WHAT THE CODE ON THE COMPUTER TOLD HIM TO DO IN THE 1ST PLACE. I HAVE A USED CAR THAT I HAVE MADE 2 PAYMENTS ON AND IS NOW A BEAUTIFUL, LUXURIOUS PILE OF SCRAP METAL STUCK IN A PARKING LOT WHERE IT LAST DIED. FROM WHAT ALL I HAVE READ, THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS CAR AND EVEN FORD DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD PRODUCT. *TR

176mo ago

90 total

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