Total Complaints
140 filings
LINCOLN LS · model year
140 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004LINCOLNLS carries 140 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 1 fire, 14 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 LS is engine and engine cooling with 15 filings, followed by electrical system (15) and vehicle speed control (14). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2004 LS, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
140 filings
Crashes Reported
11 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 15 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 15 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 14 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 11 |
| AIR BAGS | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN | 6 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 5 |
| SEATS | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 4 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| ENGINE | 3 |
| PARKING BRAKE | 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.
Mileage: 200,000
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
Mileage: 150,000
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.
Mileage: 121,000
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.
Mileage: 121,000
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.
Mileage: 105,000
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.
Mileage: 105,000
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.
Mileage: 105,000
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
Mileage: 109,132
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
Mileage: 112,622
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.
Mileage: 57,900
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
Mileage: 44,000
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
Mileage: 44,000
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
Mileage: 168,000
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
Mileage: 168,000
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
Mileage: 125,000
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE ECT ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE TCM WOULD NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, TWO WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A COIL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,448. KMJ
Mileage: 122,448
CARS STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAY OR SIDE STREET. *TR
Mileage: 74,389
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
Mileage: 88,600
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
Mileage: 86,000
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.
Mileage: 220,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.