Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Lincoln LS problems
Owners filed 90 complaints about the 2005 Lincoln LS with NHTSA between Jun 2005 and Apr 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (21).
Complaints
90
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system21
- Power train17
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Air bags10
- Engine9
- Vehicle speed control9
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Wheels8
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Tires4
- Service brakes4
- Steering3
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
- Parking brake3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
2
4
4
5
20
5
15
10
5
0
2
5
2
0
3
0
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
21 reports1 crash
“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”
Power train
17 reports
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
13 reports
“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”
Air bags
10 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Engine
9 reports
“THE CAR TURNS ON AND RUNS BUT LOSES POWER RANDOMLY. IT EITHER SPUTTERS DEAD OR STALLS AND BACKFIRES. WHEN I TURN IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT REPEATS THE CYCLE. I HAVE REPLACED FUEL PUMPS, THROTTLE BODY AND MAF SENSORS. AND STILL NO LUCK I SEE ON THE LINCOLN FORUMS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM NOT YET RECOGNIZED BY THE NHSTA OR LINCOLN.”
Vehicle speed control
9 reports1 crash
“I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED ON IT'S OWN. MY REACTION WAS TO APPLY BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE WITH FORCE. IN SPITE OF THAT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO CRAWL AND IT ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION. I WAS HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.